Month: July 2016

(Photo Credit: Benjamin Earwicker)

Behold, I have made you into a new sharp threshing instrument with teeth. You will thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and will make the hills like chaff. – Isaiah 41:15 (World English Bible)

Threshing is probably not something we’re familiar with these days. But for many centuries, it was known to be the act of separating seeds of corn or wheat from the rest of the plant (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thresh).

Why would God mention threshing? We all have mountains in our life. We have things that seem to be huge and in our way. It may be lack of finances, anger, alcohol, our past, worry, lust, pride, a bad relationship we can’t seem to escape, loneliness, or anything else. These mountains seem entrenched, too massive to move.

Does God want these mountains in our life? Yes, He actually might. Does He want the mountains to defeat us? No, He does not. He knows that we do not have the strength to move mountains. But He does give us something that can: faith.

For most certainly I tell you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. – Matthew 17:20 (World English Bible)

If you feel like you don’t have any faith, don’t believe it. Faith is not based in feelings, it is based in the truth of God’s Word. We all have tests of faith, and often they are not easy. Don’t listen to the voice that tells you to give up, or that it’s not worth it to keep going. Those are destructive lies, and you are the target. Listen to the voice that tells you to keep going, the voice that says, “I am with you, and I will never leave you” (Matthew 28:20, Hebrews 13:5)  How do you build your faith? Read and listen to the Word of God every day.

So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. – Romans 10:17

This faith that God Himself gives you will be a mighty weapon. You will be able to speak to mountains, and move them. But what does threshing mountains mean? It means that after you have moved mountains with the faith God gives through the midst of your struggles, you will have victory. In your victory, a seed of faith is planted in your heart and mind. You will have faith to face the other mountains in your life as time passes. God will be with you as you do this. Don’t give up. Destroy the mountains in your life that hinder you, and gain the faith God will give to you!

Prayer for today: God, it feels like I lack faith, but I will trust in Your Word. If You say that You are making me into someone that can thresh mountains, then I believe You. Help me to see You doing this through me. I don’t know the way out of these situations, so bring me through the mountains. Show me how to beat the mountains and thresh them until they are small. I ask this in your Holy Name, Jesus. Amen.