Making the Climb – to the Mountain of the Lord by Julie Meyer

Santa Maria, CA

Dream: The Mountain of the Lord

Psalm 24:3-4 Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His Holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart...

I had a dream, and it was as if I was "within" Psalm 24 walking up the Mountain of the Lord.

I had to set my heart for the journey. It was a steep and narrow path, though it was a path well-trodden, and I pondered the patriarchs of old who had walked this same path. (Photo via Julie Meyer)

In the dream, I was carrying baggage with me. I realized I would never make it to the top of the Mountain carrying it, so I took it off and laid it aside.

There were many people on this path walking alongside me, however I noticed that several on this same trek up the Mountain didn't want to remove their baggage. The higher they began to climb, the heavier the baggage became; still they held on tight, not wanting to set any of it down, not even the smallest of bags. They became so pre-occupied with what they were carrying, they were unable to ascend. So, tightly clinging onto their baggage, they simply stopped, turned around, and started walking back down the Mountain.

There was Only One Path to the top. I began to notice whispers and grumbling because the Mountain was real, the path was narrow, and it was steep. It required endurance and diligence to stay steady and to stay focused on the small narrow path.

I came upon an elderly man with a long wooden rod in his right hand. He had a long, white beard and long, wild, white hair that fell down over his shoulders. His face was set looking onward and upward. He was not looking to the left or the right. He was not turning around or even grumbling about the steepness of the path. He was not carrying any baggage; he was walking in one direction with a face that was set on arriving at the peak and nothing less. He looked as if he knew where he was going and how to get there, so I found my stride right with his. He had authority upon him, yet a deep, humble spirit.

Out of the corner of my eye, I began to see people looking for shortcuts or different, possibly-easier ways to reach the top. The elderly man would say to each one, "There are no shortcuts and there are no other paths. There is only one way, and it is this path. If you stay on it, it will lead you straight to the top; and to make the climb, you have to lay down all your baggage." (Photo via Pixabay)

As he spoke, his words penetrated the very core of my heart, and I kept telling myself, "Stay on the path, lay down all the baggage, and there are no shortcuts. Just keep walking, stay steady."

I happened to look up just in time to see a road sign: The Pathway of Humility. At that exact moment it was as if I was transported back in time, and I realized the man in front of me was Moses; in an instant, my eyes were open to see humility, diligence, steadiness, and zeal.

He continued up the Mountain, saying over and over, "There are no short cuts and there are no other paths. There is only one way and it is this path. If you stay on it, it will lead you straight to the top. It will also change you from the inside out. This journey will do a work of humility within. If you stay steady in the midst of the steep climb, it will produce diligence and endurance for your next season."

There Are No Shortcuts

Finally, we ascended to the very top of the magnificent Mountain. Very few men and women actually endured for the whole climb. But those who laid it all down were standing at the very top and crying out Psalm 24:7: "Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in."

I realized that I was standing in a place of great authority. This is the place where we have the authority to cry out, "Lift up your heads, O you gates!"

Many people get this invitation, but few make the whole journey. For many start the climb yet want to keep their baggage and are unable to continue up the Mountain. Some people wandered off the trodden path for other adventures that looked better to the eyes but were worthless to the soul.

I saw clearly there are no shortcuts to the top of this Mountain. It is easier to stay on the path. It is easier to keep walking. This Mountain, this climb, is an invitation of the Lord to climb His Holy Mountain with clean hands and a pure heart, and all the while embracing humility which produces great authority. Though some people start with baggage, or offenses, or unforgiveness – we all have the opportunity to lay it down. In order to continue upward, you have to lay everything down, otherwise it is impossible to make the climb, for the weight of these will make the climb too burdensome. (Photo via Pixabay)

The pathway called Humility is a steep climb, but it produces an inward life, a steadiness that you can only get if you stay on the path. No pain, no gain – but this trek is a place of great gain, living from the inside out...and if you can make it to the very peak, it's a place of new authority. Those who laid it all down and just did the journey, they began to proclaim in authority: "Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in" (Psalm 24:7).

Where are you in this climb? Is the path too steep and hard because you need to lay down some baggage? Do you find yourself looking for easier paths, easier ways to reach the peak? Maybe you have become distracted with the pleasures of this age, they might have caught your eye...

For we are all invited. We all receive the invitation to lay down our baggage, to stay on the path. We all get to be a part of this great climb up the Mountain of the Lord.

This is the season to lay it all down and to stay on the path: Lay down offenses, lay down unforgiveness, lay it all down and stay steady for the journey. You can do it...the Patriarchs of old walked this path. Jesus walked this path. Paul walked this path. Will you? (Photo by Jennifer Page "Forgiven"via elijahshopper.com)

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.

Julie Meyer
Julie Meyer Ministries
Email: click here
Website: www.juliemeyerministries.com