With my eyes closed, I asked Father God what He wanted to write. I saw the following image:
A man clothed in a robe, carrying a staff, climbing a mountain. The bright sun is cresting over the mountaintop. He’s walking along a trail of dirt and rock, his face towards the sun.
I feel the warmth of the sun on my face. I’m now ascending the mountain, wearing a sparkling white robe. My face is pointed towards the sun. I hear, “Who can ascend the mountain of the Lord?”
The phrase “who can ascend the mountain of the Lord” reminds me of a Bible verse.
Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to what is false, nor has sworn [oaths] deceitfully. He shall receive a blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. Psalms 24:3-5 (AMP)
In the New Living Translation (NLT), this same verse reads:
Who may climb the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies. They will receive the Lord’s blessing and have a right relationship with God their savior.
Ascending the mountain of the Lord represents a place of divine encounter with Father God. Being in the presence of a Holy God requires consecration (sanctification). Sanctification was (is) a prerequisite to enter the holy of holies.
Daily repentance is an important element of our time with God. This act allows us to hear from Him and to bask in His presence.
The sun shining is the light of God’s glory. His glory reveals and it heals. When light shines in a dark place (our hearts) it illuminates things, breaking through the darkness. What was once hidden becomes exposed in the light of God’s glory.
For the times that I’ve misused Your name and leveraged it for my own fame. For the kingdoms I’ve been building on my own. For the times I chose to play it safe when You said give it all away. For the idols that I’ve let into my home. (lyrics from “Clean Heart”)
When God looks at us, He doesn’t see brokenness, shame, or guilt. He sees what’s missing. He sees the areas of our lives where we have veered from our original design, and He longs to bring us freedom. He longs to provide the missing pieces, to restore our original design (true identity), and to bring us into a place of freedom IN HIM.
Returning to our original design requires surrender. Surrendering toward a loving Father. Surrendering our will and our way (our soul) to the revealing and restoring light of His glory.
For the times I chose the counterfeit. Dismissed Your voice like Jonah did. When I leaned into fear instead of faith. For the narrow path I didn’t take. When I fell short in my own strength. (lyrics from “Clean Heart”)
Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? He who has clean hands and a pure heart.
Won’t you surrender to the process? Allowing Father God to shine His glory on you. To reveal and to heal. To be changed back into your original design. To become more like our Father God and to radiate His glory in the earth.
Repentance prepares our hearts to receive from the Lord.
Create in me a clean heart God. And renew a right Spirit. And renew a right Spirit within me. (lyrics from “Clean Heart”)
In the Old Testament, entering the holy place required preparation. Although we are living under the new covenant and are not required to engage in purification rituals to encounter God, if we truly desire to encounter Him then we must allow the light of His glory to reveal the hidden places in our souls. We must allow His glory to change and transform us.
You gave me a clean heart; a place where Your Glory can rest. You made me a temple; a place where Your Presence can live. (lyrics from “Clean Heart”)
This is the message behind beholding and becoming. As we behold Him, we become more like Him. But to truly behold Him, we must be willing to lay our lives down. Not a literal laying down of our lives but a spiritual laying down – a laying down of our will, our way, our agenda. We must CHOOSE to surrender to be free!
Freedom comes in the place of returning to our original design; in knowing our true identity as sons and daughters of the King.
This isn’t just a call to repentance, it’s a call to ascension! Our holy and righteous Father God longs for deep, meaningful relationship with us. He longs to reveal the mysteries of His heart to His beloved children.
Will you give Him the desire of His heart? Will you choose a life of repentance and surrender to bask in the glory of His warm, loving light?
Choose repentance. Choose surrender. Choose a deep relationship with Father God. Hear His heart’s cry for intimacy with you.
Listen to the song “Clean Heart” by Bryan and Katie Torwalt (linked below). Allow God to reveal the areas of your heart and life that He wants to renew and cleanse so you can enter His presence and encounter Him without hindrance.
“Clean Heart” by Bryan & Katie Torwalt
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