09/29/2024
While working on a lesson about “The Wings of Eagles and Valleys”, the Holy Spirit spoke to me regarding something unexpected. Scripture began to reveal to me that throughout time people have typically lived in valleys, but seldom atop mountains. It came to me that they would go to the mountain to meet with God as they sought out a quiet, private, and undisturbed, place to meet Him in prayer. I was captured by this concept because most sermons speak of valleys as hard places that are full of trials... but as I studied I found that they are so much more than that. Valleys are where we live. Valleys are where the lakes exist and rivers flow slowly to the sea as they carry and deposit the nutrients and silt washed from the mountains to fields of grain and grapes.
“It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and it shall be lifted up above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it”
Micah 4:1 ESV
Like the bible characters of old, I too find that praying in a quiet solitary place helps me to come close to God in a very special way, and allows me to hear His voice when He answers. There is a certain peace and solitude on mountaintops. They have a certain awe and holiness about them, and have very few distractions. These are places where we, and God, can be joined in a private conversation. I think anyone who prays on mountains, and in such quiet places, will find the same to be true. Amazing things happen here.
“Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white.”
Luke 9:28-29 ESV
On the other hand, men live in the valleys. The 23rd Psalm speaks of "the valley of the shadow of death" because that valley is where death lived. We live in valleys today as well, and our faith resides with us in them too. We name our valleys... the Valley of Hebron for instance. In ancient Hebrew, the word Hebron meant alliance... so this was the Valley of Alliance. The Valley of Eschol, which in Hebrew meant the Valley of Grapes. The word Eschol literally means cluster or bunch. This is where the Israelites sent spies into the promise land and they returned with evidence of its bounty. Isaiah refers to Jerusalem as the Valley of Vision, and my final example is the Valley of Elah, or more commonly, the Valley of Terebinth. Terebinth is a tree often referred to as an oak. This is where the Israelites were encamped when David met Goliath in battle.
“And Joshua said, “Why did you bring trouble on us? The Lord brings trouble on you today.” And all Israel stoned him with stones. They burned them with fire and stoned them with stones. 26 And they raised over him a great heap of stones that remains to this day. Then the Lord turned from his burning anger. Therefore, to this day the name of that place is called the Valley of Achor [trouble].”
Joshua 7:25-26 ESV
So we name our valleys. Interestingly, I can find no Valley of Prayer in the Bible... as close as we come is the valley of vision. Prayer occurs on mountains, mountainsides, and on high places. The most glorious of those being Mount Sinai where Moses received the Ten Commandments, and the Mount of Olives where the Garden of Gethsemane is located and Jesus prayed. We meet God in these high places for several reasons, but today let's consider the solitude we find there. Mountains are sparsely populated so they provide quiet places where we can meet with God in prayer.
On my grandfather's farm in North Carolina, the highest spot was atop the Coe Hill. On a summer night it was quiet, save the call of insects and whip-poor-wills, and covered in crops. From its crest you could see the shadow of Pilot Mountain in the distance and nearly every star in the universe. I would like a nickel for every prayer that has been offered from atop the Coe Hill. Life on a farm can be hard, and there were prayers offered for rain, prayers for harvest, prayers for sick children, prayers for sons gone to war, and daughters traveling the world in search of a new life. There were prayers for the young children they buried that day and sick and injured loved ones in beds and hospitals, but most of all there were prayers for the salvation of family members, and great prayers of thanksgiving to God.
Our quiet places, and high places, sustain us. In these refuges we can talk unencumbered with the Lord, and clearly hear His voice. We can sometimes feel the warmth of His hand, or the brush of His garment, but we can always experience His grandeur, grace, mercy, and love. Do each of us have a mountain we have named where we go to pray? Do we have valleys that carry the name of some happening, or act of faith?
In each of our homes we need a quiet place, or a peaceful time when we can be alone with God. This will become our high ground and a solitary place of prayer. I rise early each morning and sit in my “prayer chair”. Like the Coe Hill on my grandfather's farm, it has seen and heard many prayers. We each need to find that time and place of solitude in our homes and lives where we can speak with God. Do you have such a place?
“In these days he [Jesus] went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles:”
Luke 6:12-13 ESV
Lord, I pray today that each of us seeks out that special high place where we can be alone with you, and a valley where we can live in your abundance. I pray that you meet us on the mountains and high places of life, and not only hear our petitions, but speak with us as well. Holy Father, grace us each minute of every day with your presence, but especially bless us in the quiet moments we spend together when we thank you for your presence, and provision.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for calling us to the mountain, like you once did Elijah, and speaking with us there in its solitude. Thank you for making the rich and fertile valleys where we live in the midst of your abundance, and walk with you through all the times of our lives… good and bad, peaceful, and frightening. Thank you for being with us always, and never abandoning us. Help us Lord to keep our eyes fixed on the hills from whence you, our help, comes, and on the pillar of fire in every deserted place as we follow you through it. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who provides us with our names, who names the mountains, and the valleys, lest we forget their significance. Holy are you whose hand is upon us, and who loved us enough to draw us, while we were yet sinners, to your Son Jesus and His redemption. Merciful and kind are you who saves us, feeds us, and gives us every needed provision. You are full of grace Abba, and have sent your Son Jesus Christ to provide us with remission for our sins. Your love knows no bounds, and we are comforted in it. Hear us now as we pray from our mountains and places of solitude for you to send your Son quickly to resurrect us, and to bring us before you. In that moment surround us with your glory Father, and see in us our love, faith, and belief, in you and Jesus. See in us the perfect image of Christ, and be pleased with what you find there. We long to be in your presence Father, and ask that you grant us eternity with you. Praised be your name, now and forevermore, and may all glory and honor be yours always.
In the name of Jesus we pray, and say… Amen, Amen, Amen!
“And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.”
1 Kings 19:7-8 ESV
“Then he said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the Lord’s presence.” At that moment, the Lord passed by. A great and mighty wind was tearing at the mountains and was shattering cliffs before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was a voice, a soft whisper.”
1 Kings 19:11 ESV
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”
Psalm 23:4 KJV
Rich Forbes