"I will lift up my eyes to the mountains, from where shall my help come? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber." Psalms 121:1-3
In August of 1973, after three days of climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, I wrote this Scripture reference in a book at the summit of the mountain. I was at the highest point on the continent of Africa, and what I saw was an unforgettable scene.
The view from 19,800 ft. high Uhuru Peak was spectacular. The equatorial sun was brilliantly reflected off of the wall of the glacier, and the bright blue sky kissed the pure white clouds that surrounded the summit of the mountain. I had never seen anything like it, and words still fail me to describe it adequately.
Squinting, shivering, scribbling, and fresh from the climb, I knew the mountain was not my friend. It had resisted me, but God had assisted me every step along the way. He still does.
In short order, the three day ascent turned into a swift, two day descent. Every mountain climber knows the highest peak is only part of the journey, not the final destination. Returning alive is the real goal. The round trip climb was 85 miles long. My plans included getting safely back home.
The Psalmist sought more than a summit. He sought God. From mountain high and valley low, David had learned to trust in the rock solid integrity of these words, "My help comes from the LORD."
In his finest hours, David's life revealed a sense of direction that came from his personal intimacy with God. David was devoted to his Savior, not a religious system. Scripture repeatedly describes this intimacy with the words, "David inquired of the LORD."
When David prayed, he asked and received God's direction, protection and correction for the journey. When David was praying, his foot wasn't slipping. When David stopped praying, he started straying. Even a man after God's own heart is not immune from a heart attack.
David reached great heights, but lost sight of his goal. When he became breathless from the climb, he became prayerless at the summit. This set him up for a fall. David's prayerlessness was a sign of his pridefulness. It always is.
NOTE TO SELF: Protect your heart from busy-ness. It leads to barrenness. Your enemy is determined to see you slip and fall. God promises to be your help in time of need. Never confuse climbing higher for God with staying closer to God. The mountain is not your friend. God is. Enjoy the view of God's world, but never try to make it your own. Ask Him for the help you need. Find joy in the journey. It doesn't end until you are safe at home. Don't stay up all night worrying about your next step. Prayer enables you to find rest in His Presence. God never sleeps, so you don't have to stay up all night. Ask Him for help.
TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!