"Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us."
Ephesians 3:20

Psalm 72:3 “Let the mountains bring peace to the people, and the hills in righteousness.” Lessons from Bicycling Bicycling became an integral part of my life and health when my daughter asked me if I loved our new dog more than her. I asked her what she wanted to do and she wanted to ride a bicycle. So I bought our family all bikes and we went to parks to ride. At this time the Lord was showing me lessons from Psalm 72:3 That would strengthen my walk with Him. “Let the mountains bring peace to the people, and the hills in righteousness.” This verse did not make any sense to me because I understood mountains to mean obstacles. Such as Mark 11:23 “Truly I say to you, Whoever says to this mountain, 'be taken up and cast into the sea' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him.” I would go over this and other verses often and because of this when I read Ps 72:3 I was to expect the mountain or problems to bring peace to my life. How could problems bring peace. Or was I looking for the wrong thing in life? Is life to be lived for personal peace and affluence, or to bring light in darkness? If we are going to go into an area of darkness and bring light there will be opposition. The kingdom of darkness will not sit idly by and let light ruin their kingdom without a fight. Was I willing to go into the darkness with the light of Jesus and bring people to salvation? Or was I content to enjoy my personal peace and affluence? I knew that I couldn't sit idly by and let the darkness remain in others. Years ago we moved to the house we are in, I thought it would be too much work to ride a bicycle because of the many hills. When my daughter asked for a bicycle it dawned on me that just as problems will bring peace to my heart, if I am willing to serve as the Lord asks, So the hills would allow me to build strength. I learned problems build strength both in the spiritual realm and in the physical realm. If you look in the Bible that is what it teaches. Romans 5:3 “And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance.” You will not exalt in tribulation if the purpose of your life is personal peace and affluence. You will exalt, if you want to bring the fight to the enemy. “Let the mountains bring peace to the people, and the hills in righteousness.” James 1:2-4 “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” Again for those seeking personal peace and affluence this verse makes no sense. But we are not of the darkness but of the light when we shine the light of Jesus in a world filled with greed, covetousness and pride etc. In Matthew 5:3-12 the beatitudes are opposites of those who love the things of the world. But we can't be both a lover of the world and a lover of God. 1 John 2 We have to make a choice. So I am learning not to seek personal peace and affluence but to serve God as He leads. I climb hills and use them as a way to build strength. I now attack hills and accept them as a way to become stronger. Without problems I stay weak. I am serving God now in areas that I would not of thought of before. Why? Because I am attacking problems not avoiding them. Riding a bicycle has its own set of gear and ways of doing things. I have learned some roads to ride on that are conducive to riding. I now have routes to get to different parts of the city. And I can talk the talk of bicycling with other people with the same passion. Following Jesus has its own set of lifestyle and ways. Just as riding a bicycle causes one to think, eat and sleep riding. So following Jesus will cause you to eat and sleep and think of the things of God. You can't ride a bike in traffic without being aware of your surroundings. You are aware of the width of the road the # of lanes and the existence of a rideable shoulder. You see in your mirror what is coming up behind you and praying for God's protection and direction of when and where to ride. Constant watchfulness is useful in the spirit as well. I am looking if there is someone to hand a tract to and share the gospel with. I am praying for the ministry I will be doing in the days ahead and taking authority over the enemy not to take the word that I will share, from people hearts. My bike that I ride has 27 gears, 3 in front and 9 in back. I am constantly shifting gears to maintain the correct cadence and effort or strength exerted. It can be the same with the spiritual realm. Life throws many things at you. And I try to let the Lord deal with them by bringing them to Him in prayer. I also look to Jesus and the promises He has given me and not the problems of life. I want to be content in all that I do. Yet not to be content to let the enemy steal and ruin peoples lives. I have seen how food will allow me to ride with more strength. We eat to gain strength. But eating by itself will not produce strength. Eating gives us the ability to use the strength we have. If I don't eat I don't have the ability to use strength. To build strength I exercise. This exercising gives strength to my muscles. It is the work that builds strength. Food gives me the ability to work, but by itself, food will just make me fat. In spiritual life knowledge of the Bible is like food. But knowledge by itself will not bring spiritual strength. It is using the knowledge that builds strength. I have heard it said, “It is not what we know, but what we can testify to that is important.” The work of faith God has for us, builds strength. Our knowledge of the Bible without work will build arrogance. 1 Cor. 8:1 I spend a lot of time in the Bible and if I am not careful I become arrogant. Prayer for humbleness and repentance are things I do to guard against this problem of arrogance. But this alone will not succeed if I don't do what the Bible teaches. Actions are needed if I am to be a workman/servant/disciple for Christ. It is in this prayer and repentance that I get direction on what I am to do for the Lord. For the bicycle the elements are eating, riding and rest. In the Spirit it's Bible, prayer/relationship and service, and quietness. The motto I live by is: "Pray and go daily." I pray and get God's direction, then I go as I am led. The next day I evaluate what I did yesterday and pray over it and get God's direction again. Then I go again to serve as I am led. I have found that sometimes it takes God a while to get me to do something. But if I pray every day over the issues of my life I have to face up the to the fact that I am living in direct disobedience to God's direction. To be honest with God is to be honest with yourself. I cry out for His help. Then live and act in faith to what He is leading me to do. Home | Back to Top

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