What is the most frequently climbed mountain in the world? Is it Mount Everest, Mount Rainer or Mount Kilimanjaro?
Rising to 19,341 feet, Mount Kilimanjaro boasts #1. Found in Tanzania, Africa, it supports several ecosystems including a rain forest and a barren artic summit. It is the world’s highest walkable mountain.1
I’m going mountain climbing, but I won’t be climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. Instead, I’m climbing the mountain of unforgiveness. Sometimes unforgiveness is small enough to simply be a bump or a hill to overcome. However, on this journey, it is a mountain blocking my blessings. My aim is to reach its’ summit of forgiveness.
BACKPACK
For a successful ascent to the mountain summit, mountain climbers need to carry a backpack full of gear.
We too, need to carry gear. Not just for this one climb, but in the backpack we wear every day. Our backpacks may include both items we intentionally place in there and others which slip in unnoticed.
ROCKS
In life’s journey I have accumulated a heavy backpack full of rocks.
These rocks have developed into unforgiveness towards the offenders, thus making the mountain in front of me.
NAVIGATOR
Where do I begin? Like a mountain climber needs a navigator, so do I. My navigator will be the Holy Spirit who will teach me 5 steps to take to forgive.
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit,
whom the Father will send in My name,
He will teach you all things,
and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you,
John 14:26
REFRESHMENT
The weight of the rocks makes the journey up the mountain strenuous and stressful. It’s time for my first lesson in forgiving.
STEP #1 – STOP, LEARN GOD’S TRUTH AND BE REFRESHED.
So, I take the step by stopping and pulling two things from my backpack which will refresh and strengthen me; water and food. But my food and water are different than a mountain climber ingests.
And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life.
He who comes to Me shall never hunger,
and he who believes in Me shall never thirst,
John 6:35
Ingesting the truthful Words of Jesus reveals step #2.
STEP #2 – EXAMINE THE ROCKS OF OFFENSE
Reaching into my backpack, I pull out a few rocks to examine. “OH! This is a rock of hurt!” Recognizing that I was wrong to hold onto the hurt, I learn step #3.
STEP #3 – ASKING THE LORD TO FORGIVE ME
Examining several other rocks, I select the ones that are easiest to cast away and take step #4.
STEP #4 – FORGIVE THE OFFENDER AND CAST THE ROCK AWAY
With a slightly lighter load I can continue climbing the mountain of unforgiveness.
If we confess our sins,
He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness,
1 John 1:9
WATCH OUT FOR THE ROCKS!
Without frequent refreshment, I begin to dwell on negative words and actions. I get stuck in self-pity reviewing all the rocks of hurts, fears, and disappointment. As they replay in my mind, an avalanche occurs pounding me with rocks. The rocks where I refuse to forgive the offender land firmly onto the mountain of unforgiveness. However, in faith, as I refuse to dwell on the memories of offences I have forgiven, those rocks bounce off me and disappear.
Therefore, submit to God.
Resist the devil and he will flee from you,
James 4:7
HEADLAMP
Once darkness starts to fall, a mountain climber turns on his headlamp to light up his path. As I continue up the mountain, unforgiving thoughts once again darken my mind. I am stopped in my tracks by a very large boulder of unforgiveness. I don’t know how it got there.
I call on Jesus to bring light to my darkness. What comes to mind is an offense which is hard to forgive. Although I don’t feel like forgiving, once again I follow the steps to forgive. This time I need to take step #5.
Step #5 – FORGIVE OUT OF OBEDIENCE
For if you forgive men their trespasses,
your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
But if you do not forgive men their trespasses,
neither will your Father forgive your trespasses,
Matthew 6:14-15
As I forgive out of obedience to God’s Word, part of the boulder falls away. Each day when I climb the mountain, I repeat, “I forgive” out of obedience. I can see the boulder crumbling as compassion for the offender’s soul fills my heart.
FORGIVENESS!
Along the journey I have forgiven and now I have reached the summit! I feel peaceful and free as I view the cares of life from God’s love and perspective. By faith I know that I am forgiven.
As we journey through life, there will be times we are faced with bumps, hills or even mountains of unforgiveness to climb. Whether they are offenses that occur as an avalanche, a boulder or many small rocks that fill up our backpacks over time, Jesus can relieve us of them all.
It is not always easy and our backpack may not always be empty of rocks, but with Jesus we can lighten the load.
Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you,
1 Peter 5:7
REFLECTION
Are you carrying any rocks in your backpack?
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, as I write Matthew 6:14-15, and say it aloud, forgive me, help me to forgive and fill my heart with compassion for the offender. In Jesus name. Amen.
BY FAITH, FORGIVE & LIGHTEN YOUR LOAD
May your day be filled with love and laughter!
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For information on making Jesus Christ your Savior, email me or visit, http://www.peacewithgod.net/
1 climbmountkilimanjaro.com
Photo mountain, David Clode
Photo backpack, ulli
Photo rock, Simon Schmitt
Photo headlamp, Julian Paul
