by June Yates-Boykin

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We’ve all stared at a huge mountain wondering what we were going to do about it.  As far as we could see the rocky tower had our way blocked, and it reached to the sky. 

Maybe there is one standing in front of you now.

Sometimes we create those mountains through sin or unwise choices.  Others appear at no fault of our own. Either way, they rise up and stand in our way. 

We can’t do a thing about them in our own power; we’ve tried.  But there is nothing too hard for God.  He assured us, “Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.  Who are you, O great mountain? …you shall become a plain!” (Zechariah 4:6,7 NKJV).  

Jesus explained just how to get the mighty Spirit of God working on our behalf to bring about victory when our problem seems unsurmountable.   

The disciples were amazed that the fig tree Jesus cursed earlier now stood dead.  Matthew 21:21 shares His response, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done.”

We convince ourselves that if God spoke to the mountain and Jesus instructed us to speak to ours, that is exactly what we should do.  

So we override how foolish it seems to be looking into thin air speaking to inanimate, invisible, foes.  You know the kind I’m talking about – depression,  addiction, sickness, marital and family problems, oppressive work situations – whatever our mountain may be – and we speak to it. 

We may even wait until no one is watching to pick up our check book or point our finger at that stack of unpaid bills and tell poverty and lack to take a hike.

But we do it.  We do it because Jesus told us to and He knows best.

By the power and authority given us in Jesus’ name we command that interfering, path-blocking, trouble-making mountain to crumble so we can walk sure footedly on level ground.  We stand in confidence knowing our faith is in the all-powerful God, expecting the mountain to disintegrate before our eyes.

Then the unthinkable happens.  The mountain opens its ugly mouth and spits back in our face, “And just who’s going to make me move?  You?  Who are you to be telling me what do to do?”

And instead of things getting better, they get worse. We cover our heads to avoid the blow of the rocks the mountain hurls in our direction. 

Satan starts filling our mind with every reason for what appears to be failure on our part.  We haven’t fasted enough.  We’ve made too many mistakes.  We brought this all on ourselves so now we’re stuck with it.  God isn’t so loving and powerful as we believed him to be.

Lies.  All lies. 

Instead of running for cover, stand firm.  Realize that the mountain (the spirit behind it, that is, which is what we’re really speaking to) is going to test you.  Especially if you are new to exercising your God-given authority.  Satan turns the heat up a notch and fires back, hoping to scare you off before you destroy his plan to destroy you. 

He’s a lot like that child you had to tell not once, not twice, but three times to put away their toys and go to bed.  Not until you gave them the “look” and your demand contained more oomph did they realize they pushed you too far.  Obey or face the consequences. 

Satan will try to intimidate you when in reality he’s the one who is scared.  He knows he is defeated.  He also knows if you grab ahold of the power of God within you and exercise the authority Jesus gave you, you are going to know it, too.

So he puts on his best poker face and plays all his cards to convince you otherwise.

Stand your ground and speak again.  And again and again if necessary.  Keep the faith.  Every stone that mountain throws at you is one less in its stature.  Rock by rock it is destroying itself.   

The boulders may fall and the ground may shake, but God’s got you.  He’ll hold you steady as the mountain crumbles into nothingness.  Soon you will walk freely across a grass covered plain. 

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