What’s Up?

by Pam Clark

Why are you going up the mountain of the Lord? What do you expect to find there? Do you expect change? Do you expect victory? Do you expect dominance?

I believe there are many people who want to go “up the mountain of the Lord” because they want personal power more than they want more submission to the Lord. Sometimes when things don’t work out the way we think they should, I think we need to recheck our motives.

As David penned it in Psalm 51:5, “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.” That verse does not mean that David was an illegitimate child--in fact, he was the youngest son of many brothers of the family of Jesse. No, David knew that we were born in sinful flesh because of the sin of Adam and this is what he was writing about there. David was dealing with his sinful nature.

The apostle Paul wrote in Romans 7:18, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing...” and Jesus responded to the young ruler in Matthew 19:17, “And He said unto him, Why callest thou Me good? there is none good but One, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.”

There is none good but God; there is none other as God, but God! But in us sometimes the lusts (or desires) of our flesh war against the Spirit and our motives are not pure.

Of course we all want more of God, or we think that we do. But what does that “more of Him” mean? I have determined in these days to seek the Presence of God more than what is called “the plans” of God by other people. Many mean well and are right, but some are not and we must know that by what His Word says.

In His Presence is fullness of joy. In God’s Presence, sin cannot remain. In His Presence there is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. In His Will is His Presence. And in His Presence I will more likely respond correctly to His Will. We are to worship in Spirit and in Truth.

Psalm 22:3 says that God inhabits the praises of His people. More of God means more fellowship, worship and praise with others in His Presence. More of God means more of Him and less of me.

That does not mean I put myself down (as in condemnation) to receive more of God. No! He went to the Cross and died for me because He wanted me and loves me and cares for me, and you! It means that our focus should be more on Him and less on ourselves.

Going up to the mountain of the Lord does not mean playing “King of the Hill.” There are many who want to be in authority because they have no self respect. They do not understand the work and love of God.

In Isaiah 14:12-15 it is written: "How you are fallen from Heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: 'I will ascend into Heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.' Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit.”

God strengthens His people; Satan weakens them. God wants us to share in what He is doing but as recipients of His will who cooperate, not take over His Position as Satan tried to do. Then we will fulfill our desires as children and servants made in His Image.

God is the One who judges, not man. The keys of death and hell belong to Him. He paid the price and by our will, as we choose to make Him Lord of our lives, He will redeem us.

Then as we ascend the Mountain of the Lord, we are energized by His power of rightness. When we know the will of the Lord, we can cooperate with Him and attain great blessing. (Psalm 24) If we stay in it, we will be established and remain.

In God, there is great blessing. God desires us all to know Him and love Him and serve Him so that we might be blessed. Won’t you be a part of His Family today? Ask Him to really be Lord of your life. Things will get better!