Hello!
It’s Sunday! I hope that you’ve been having a WONDERFUL weekend.
My brother and sister in law are staying with us for the weekend, which has been ALL THE FUN. You may remember they got married a few weeks back so they’re all cute and honeymoon phase.
It’s fun to watch. AND KNOW THAT IT WILL ALL CHANGE.
I’m totally kidding. Marriage is always sunshine and rainbows.
Anyway.
Shall we get onto the reflections? HERE WE GOOOOOOOOOOOO.
Sermon: “The Mountain of Praise” by Pastor Orlando of City Bible Church North Sound.
Synopsis: Talking about how God wants us to learn how rise up, and continually praise him, even in the midst of our struggles. If we learn to come up to the “mountain top” even when things are rough, we are able to be THAT MUCH closer to God, and it’s so much easier for us to hear his voice. He also talked about how he wants us to RISE UP, so that He can make our enemies (or our current struggles) our footstools. Coming up the mountain top changes our perspective, so we are looking down at our problems, as opposed to looking up at them, and making them seem SO MUCH bigger and scarier than they truly are. HOWEVER, he also talked about having a “mountain top” experience, and then coming down off it, only to go back into our old ways. We need to learn to have these experiences, and carry them out through our lives.
My thoughts: I feel like this is exactly how I have functioned in my own life. I can’t even count the number of church services, worship nights, conferences etc. where I have just left feeling SO close to God, SO pumped up and basically so ready to just live for HIM and change the WORLD.
Then, I go back to fear and worry and stress the VERY NEXT DAY. Sometimes, an hour later. BUT WHY?
I loved the point about the mountain top experiences being a way to change our perspective because I am SO guilty of just thinking my problems/issues are so much bigger and un-conquerable than they truly are. But, I am still learning about how to keep that same “high elevation perspective” once I come off one of these experiences. Especially with learning how to deal with my food stuff right now. I am pretty sure that EVERY SINGLE morning when I do my devos, I am all “GOD IS AWESOME AND TODAY IS GONNA BE AWESOME TOO BECAUSE I AM GONNA EAT WHATEVER I WANT.” Then breakfast time hits and I get all anxious. It’s like that all my praise of realizations of God’s power just went POOF.
Have you guys ever had a mountain top experience before? How did you make it STICK? Or is it something that are also still learning how to do? I would love to hear your thoughts!
molly says
I’ve never heard the “mountain top experience” expression, but when I was in middle and high school we called it the “church camp high” … you leave camp all YAY God! Only to return to school in the fall and pretty much forget everything you learned. I fell guilty of it each summer! I think when you find yourself sliding back down the mountain, it’s important to catch it, and remind yourself of how you felt (physically, emotionally, spiritually) when you were on the top. And to keep striving to be at the top! Life is ups and downs, and we can’t ALWAYS be at the top, but to keep your mindset focused on it I think keeps our heart in the right place. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and your breakfast struggles 🙂 you are strong girlfriend, with God on your side you can overcome anything 🙂
Taylor Kiser says
Thank you so much for always having such encouraging words Molly! It really means a lot to me! I love the idea of trying to keep our hearts right, and really being aware of when we are sliding. Truly developing a relationship with the Lord really requires us to be self-dedicated and really conscious of what is going on inside of us – so I think you’re totally right!xoxo
Shashi at RunninSrilankan says
I so know what you mean – it can be indeed hard to stick to that “mountain top” feeling when we get into our daily grind – believe me, I struggle with it constantly. But, what seems to make it better for me is forging a relationship with The Big Guy – incorporating him into everything – not just the good – but the tough times too – seeking what he might want me to learn or understand sure helps me from falling too far off that mountain top.
Awesome post Taylor – most weekends I take a break from Blogging and reading – but today I found myself on here and I must say, it never ceases to amaze me how God speaks to us – I heard a very similar message at the church that this guy I am dating is going too – and at my church too!
Happy Sunday lady – hope you enjoy your bro and your sis-in-law’s company!
Taylor Kiser says
That is SO crazy how you’ve been hearing similar messages everywhere. I love how God just works that like that sometimes 🙂
I LOVE your thoughts on “forging” the relationship. Sometimes you just need to MAKE it happen if it’s not happening at the moment. Thank you friend! <3
allie @ ThroughHerLookingGlass says
Taylor, loved your thoughts today on Psalm 110, thanks for sharing. For me, the mountaintop experiences have prepared me for the valleys. But it’s in the valley that I’ve truly gained sight and vision, learned dependency, where I’ve grown…You may enjoy The Valley of Vision, a beautiful collection of Puritan prayers and devotions. Have a wonderful weekend with your family!
Taylor Kiser says
Thanks so much for the recommendation and for reading Allie! You are so right about the valleys…that is where we grow!