“And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.”  Mark 6:46

I had the opportunity not too long ago to rise early, enter into prayer and devotions with a group of others and then begin to ascend a mountain trail.  As a group we reached a beautiful stopping place but then was challenged to go even higher.  I really didn’t know what I was gettig myself into and honestly at a couple of points along the trail I questioned the wisdom of my actions.  My conclusion on the matter was I had gotten too close to the top to turn around and a sense that the work was worth it.  When we made the last ten or twelve steps on rocks and roots to arrive at the top, my breath was taken away with the beauty, the serenity and the sense of accomplishment.

As we paused to take it in, I reflected on how much mountain tops factor in to unique and life-changing moments for biblical figures.  Abraham passed an immense faith test on top of a mountain and met Jehovah Jireh (Gen. 22:14), Moses received the Ten Commandments on a mountain top (Ex. 20:1-17), Elijah was encouraged to return to the work of a prophet at the top of a mountain (1 Kings 19:8-18), Jesus prayed on the mountain (Mark 6:46) and the disciples met Jesus on a mountain to receive the Great Commission (Matt. 28:16-20).  These are just a few examples.  Why?  Perhaps it is because on the top of a mountain puts one in a place of solitude and quietness that gives God room to speak clearly.  Perhaps it is because God recognizes that only the few chosen will persevere the tests that takes them to the mountain top.  Whatever the reason, God seems to hold an affinity with giving mountain-top experiences that transform us and if we will press our way to that place, whether it is a real mountain or a figurative mountain, one thing I know is it is well worth it.