2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV) For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Has God called you to climb higher, go deeper, be bolder, speak louder, be quieter, move swiftly, or be still? I do not know what your mountain looks like or where He is taking you, but somehow it is always something that will require a change. Why? God knows that if He needed us to change instantly, we would appear altered on the outside but never become different on the inside. It is easy to go from one “front” to another. It is easier to clean the outside of a cup and leave the inside dirty.
According to Luke 11:39, Jesus said, “Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter, but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness”. Religion will make us like the Pharisees. We will appear clean on the outside but have not made any “heart” changes. We will choose a mask for every role we play and never becoming a pure vessel of God – clean on the inside and the outside. A genuine relationship with God will clean the inside of the cup, giving us hearts that reflect God’s love. What difference does it make if I impress you with my dress, words, and deeds if they do not reflect a changed heart? Without a relationship with God, we will have a form of godliness but no power, judgment without love, and a lack of soundness of mind—self-control.
What does this have to do with mountain climbing? When we are merely religious as were the Pharisees, we will deceive ourselves and others while keeping up appearances without any real substance. Religion will cause you to climb the wrong mountain, become the sacrifice (instead of receiving the finished work of Calvary), and miss out on the benefits of salvation. Mere religious service will cause you to live a double life—Christ in you will war with your fears, doubt, and unbelief. However, you must be willing to lay aside every fear and weight that hinders you from running your race. An intimate relationship (getting to know God in the secret places of your heart and to be known of God) with God may not impress anyone at first, but it will give you the power to climb your mountain, walk in love, and have a sound mind (self-control).
Declaration: I declare that I will not settle for a form of godliness; I will be godly. I hear you, my Heavenly Father calling me to climb higher, go deeper, and be bolder to move into place. Moving in syncopation with you, Father requires intimacy with you, and I chose to grow in my relationship with you. I chose to synchronize with you and your heart for humanity. I will climb my mountain and possess my Canaan land. I know there will be giants in my land – but I will not back down in fear. I choose to take my place and occupy my space in your Kingdom as a Kingdom Ambassador. Whether in corporate America, the church, or the community, I choose to represent the Kingdom of God in all godliness, power, love, and a sound mind.