It was during this place of desolation, my journey to His Mountain that the Lord spoke to my heart with a resounding clarity; “Truth, love, obedience, and do My will!” This refreshing revelation would become the very foundation stones for the path that He was preparing before me, the path that I had to walk.

We felt like we’d been sent to death row that it was all over for us. As it turned out, it was the best thing that could have happened. Instead of trusting in our own strength or wits to get out of it, we were forced to trust God totally—not a bad idea since he’s the God who raises the dead! And he did it, rescued us from certain doom. And he’ll do it again, rescuing us as many times as we need rescuing. —2 Corinthians 1:9, 10 (MSG)

As I began to slowly release my grip of the fear rooted in my brokenness, the soft gentle wind of His Spirit began to prepare me for my exodus out of the Egypt I had created in my life. This journey would be brushed with plagues, an angry Pharaoh, many times of doubting God and overwhelming obstacles to overcome. Remember, it didn’t take much time for God to get the Israelites out of Egypt, but it took years to get Egypt out of the Israelites. I was no different.

Many of us begin this journey from bondage to freedom only to walk so far with the Lord. We then become intoxicated with the sweet wine of complacency and again buy into the continued false promises of this world. We come to a place where Egypt looks so good in the rear view mirror, even though it was our place of bondage, and we begin to complain. One can almost see the Lord rolling His eyes and shaking His head, saying, “If you only knew.” This is a very dangerous place to get to and many of us sadly arrive here. It is a place where satan prowls around like a lion searching for those he can devour, lurking and looking for any area of weakness in us that has not gone to the cross so that he can use it at a strategic time. The enemy waits patiently for us to get to this place, so he can strike—and he is usually successful in taking us down. This is a place where satan will call your bluff.

Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You’re not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It’s the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. —1 Peter 5:8, 9 (MSG)

I was truly hoping for a short, easy sprint as so many of us do, but this race I had to run began at the base of a mountain, the mountain of God. He had brought me here to this place of new beginnings to have my mountaintop experience, to show me the way home to the Promised Land.

I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out–plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. —Jeremiah 29:11 (MSG)

I still could not see the beautiful picture He was painting, but when He brought me to the mountaintop I realized that He had a plan and a purpose for my life. Walking with Him began to calm the raging storm within me, which gave me clarity to see that the joy of the Kingdom lay on the other side of the comforts of this world!