This is a weekly series with things I’m reading and pondering from Oswald Chambers. You can read the original seed thought here, or type “Thursdays With Oswald” in the search box to read more entries.
The Mountain And The Valley
It is a wonderful thing to be on the mountain with God, but a person only gets there so that he may later go down and lift up the demon-possessed people in the valley (see Mark 9:14-18). We are not made for the mountains, for sunrises, or for the other beautiful attractions in life—those are simply intended to be moments of inspiration. We are made for the valley and the ordinary things of life, and that is where we have to prove our stamina and strength. Yet our spiritual selfishness always wants repeated moments on the mountain. We feel that we could talk and live like perfect angels, if we could only stay on the mountaintop. Those times of exaltation are exceptional and they have their meaning in our life with God, but we must beware to prevent our spiritual selfishness from wanting to make them the only time.
…The moments on the mountaintop are rare moments, and they are meant for something in God’s purpose.
…The height of the mountaintop is measured by the dismal drudgery of the valley, but it is in the valley that we have to live for the glory of God. We see His glory on the mountain, but we never live for His glory there. It is in the place of humiliation that we find our true worth to God—that is where our faithfulness is revealed.
From My Utmost For His Highest
God gives me mountaintop experiences to prepare me to live for Him in the valley experiences. So I must never doubt in the valley what God revealed to me on the mountain. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me.
It is true: it is in the valley that I have to live for the glory of God. Otherwise, my experience on the mountaintop was meaningless.
Craig T. Owens 