NEW COVENANT CHRISTIANITY IS NOT A CONTINUAL MOUNTAIN TOP EXPERIENCE
Some believers think that when they go through times where they do not feel God, times when they are not excited, times when they are intimidated, afraid, discouraged or challenged in their faith that they must be doing something wrong. The fact is that New Covenant Christianity is not a continual mountain top experience. The fact is that our relationship with the Lord should get even more special when we go through life’s valleys. Anybody can be happy and blessed on the mountain top, but in Christ believers are not limited to only being blessed on their mountain tops. In Christ, believers can experience a deeper joy, a deeper peace and greater blessings than during mountain top times!
NEW COVENANT CHRISTIANITY IS FULL OF VALLEYS, BUT THERE ARE BLESSINGS IN THOSE VALLEYS
Valleys are challenging times, but in Christ these times can be the greatest, most memorable, most blessed times ever!
A VALLEY REPRESENTS A LOW POINT – A PLACE FULL OF SHADOWS – A PLACE WHERE EVERYTHING AROUND YOU IS BIGGER THAN YOU ARE
A valley is a low point, a challenging time, an intimidating time, a lonely time and a time where everything around you seems so much bigger than you are, but it is in these times when we see just how much bigger our God is than the giants we are facing!
A VALLEY IS A PLACE WHERE YOU HOLD ONTO JESUS TIGHTLY AND HE WILL LEAD YOU THROUGH
During these dark, shadowy times we cling tightly to our faithful shepherd. He is faithful to lead us through and He is faithful to help us embrace every diamond and every nugget of gold that He has hidden for us in the valleys of life.
THINGS GROW IN THE VALLEY, NOT ON THE MOUNTAIN TOP
Mountain tops are barren, valleys are full of vegetation. In the same way that things grow in the valley, because of Jesus, you grow in the valley as well! James says that when your faith is tested it stirs up power within you to endure all things. And then as your endurance grows even stronger it will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking.
A VALLEY IS A TIME WHERE YOUR FAITH IS TESTED
A valley is a time where there is temptation to question everything… did God really say? Is His Word really real? Do I really believe what I claim to believe? As we dig deep in the valley, our faith transcends philosophy and becomes reality.
Psalm 23
1-3 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
4-5 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
The Passion Translation
1-3 The Lord is my best friend and my shepherd. I always have more than enough. He offers a resting place for me in His luxurious love. His tracks take me to an oasis of peace, the quiet brook of bliss. That’s where He restores and revives my life. He opens before me pathways to God’s pleasure and leads me along in His footsteps of righteousness so that I can bring honor to His name.
4 Lord, even when Your path takes me through the valley of deepest darkness, fear will never conquer me, for You already have! You remain close to me and lead me through it all the way. Your authority is my strength and my peace. The comfort of Your love takes away my fear. I’ll never be lonely, for You are near.
5-6 You become my delicious feast even when my enemies dare to fight. You anoint me with the fragrance of Your Holy Spirit; You give me all I can drink of you until my heart overflows. So why would I fear the future? For Your goodness and love pursue me all the days of my life. Then afterward, when my life is through, I’ll return to Your glorious presence to be forever with you!
10 PROMISES FOR THE VALLEY’S OF LIFE…
1. I shall not want (Supernatural provision)
2. He makes me to lie down (a place of rest from your own works)
3. He leads me beside the still waters (a place of protection)
4. He restores my soul (from soul destroying to soul restoring)
5. He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake (He leads me onto the path of the rewards that are reserved for the righteous)
6. I will fear no evil
7. Comfort in the presence of the Lord
8. Blessings in the presence of your enemies (You prepare a table)
9. Increased anointing (You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over)
10. Goodness and mercy follow me
Psalm 84:5-7 (TPT)
5 How enriched are they who find their strength in the Lord; within their hearts are the highways of holiness!
6-7 Even when their paths wind through the dark valley of tears, they dig deep to find a pleasant pool where others find only pain. He gives to them a brook of blessing
filled from the rain of an outpouring. They grow stronger and stronger with every step forward, and the God of all gods will appear before them in Zion.
A valley is a place where you find your strength in the Lord, a place where you find a pleasant pool in your time of pain, a time where the devil’s attacks are turned into brooks of blessings. As you look to Jesus in your valley, He will anoint your head with Holy Ghost oil and raise you up stronger than you have ever been before! Friends, when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can! For you know that when your faith is tested it stirs up power within you to endure all things. And then as your endurance grows even stronger it will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking, in Jesus Name!
