They went up on the mountain to pray

The third annual trip to the top of Idaho wasn't just about mountain climbing

In the previous two years, our time at the summit has been limited. In 1998, snow kept us huddled together for a quick worship service and prayer over the state. Last year's climb had the difficulty of a 50-mile-per-hour wind and a team that summited at different times throughout the day. Our time in prayer was centered around the Vineyard churches in Idaho but was kept to a minimum because of the challenges the team was facing.

This year, the focus changed when I read Luke 9:28 - "he (Jesus) took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray." 

God has been challenging me this summer about my prayer life. I've had some opportunities to be alone, away from the normal noise of daily life. When you think about all the distractions we face, especially all the forms of media available to us, it is difficult to find places of real quiet. It is hard to be disciplined enough to turn off the TV, radio or Internet. In fact it can be downright nerve-wracking when you are addicted to our many forms of sensory input.

But here I read that Jesus went out of his way to go up to the mountain to be alone, away from the crowds, away from the noise, just to be with his Father with a few of his close friends. They ended up having an incredible time on the mountain.

So as I got over the uncomfortable roar of quiet, I found that peace is much more conducive to a meaningful prayer life. I found myself listening to hear God speak to me rather than just me sharing my ideas and needs with Him. Of course, two-way conversation is much better at building relationships than just one person doing all of the talking, and what I found is that God does want to talk to me and relate to me.

This has excited me. I've recently read some books about others who have desired a more intimate prayer life with the Lord in this manner. It has made me want to share this experience with others. The climb to the top of Mt. Borah seemed to be a great way to encourage others to spend a day - a very long, grueling day! - not only praying to the Lord, but listening to Him too.

Climbing Idaho's highest mountain is not an easy task. It is exhaustingly steep and has exposure in places. It is not the sort of thing you want your mother to see you do. I kept expecting to hear my mom yell at me from base camp, "You get down from there, young man!" - as though I'd been caught up in the tree branches, higher than she gave me permission to climb.

I'm not saying the hike is overly dangerous, but you need to have a healthy respect for the route, understand your limitations, train accordingly and proceed with wisdom and caution. It is a great mountain to realize your need of God and lean on Him to get you through. It is also a climb that requires a good finish. The goal is not to get to the top, but to safely get to the top and back down again. We didn't want to have to call Harrison Ford to rescue us.

As a team we discussed how the mountain was a microcosm of life - we need to have respect for life's route, understand our limitations, train accordingly and proceed with wisdom and caution. We decided then to participate in a day of prayer, not just a summit prayer meeting.

We experienced a beautiful day on the mountain. It was clear, dry and warm. We got an early start and didn't need to worry about hurrying up the trail just to bag the peak. We stuck together and enjoyed each other's company, especially the encouragement from each other. After seven hours on the trail, we reached the summit. We were ready to celebrate, rest, eat and share what God had been sharing with us on the way up. This year we stayed for a couple of hours.

Together we sang a few worship songs, but only ones that referred to mountains. My favorite line is from the song "Shout to the Lord" - "mountains bow down ... at the sound of Your name."

At this point a few climbers shared what they had learned about themselves and about the Lord on the way up. One of the climbers, Stephanie Smith, described how getting over Chicken-Out Ridge had been such a challenge for her. She had to rely on the rest of the team being her eyes, describing the route in front of her. 

"Move your foot down about six inches," Trevor would say. "There is a good ledge to support you. Good, now put your hand in that crack. You will find a good hold."

Since Trevor had done the route right in front of her, she could watch him as well as listen to his instructions for getting across safely.

Stephanie discussed how she was realizing that she needed more involvement in her life with other people. She explained to the group that God had been teaching her how to include and depend on other Christians in her life, instead of walking independently. Her experience on the mountain was confirmation of this message. 

Then, instead of spending time in corporate prayer as we had in previous years, we all found a quiet place on the summit and spent another half-hour asking the Lord what He would say to us individually. It was His mountain, and we decided to let Him talk. He did.

God does speak. He speaks from the mountaintops, the valleys and all the Chicken-Out Ridges in between. He speaks in the quiet. He even speaks in the noisy din of daily life. He speaks through creation. He speaks through the Word. He speaks through the words of others. He speaks on the way up, the way down, and especially when you just take a moment to listen.

For more information about the prayer summit or climbing Mt. Borah contact chad@vineyardboise.org 

Next year's trip

The fourth annual Praying Over Idaho will take place Friday, August 3, 2001, on Table Mountain in the Tetons. 

The Table Mountain hike is 12.5 miles round-trip, with an elevation gain of more than 4,000 feet. To enjoy this hike, you need to be in good condition and allow plenty of time. The payoff is at the top of a non-technical scramble onto the flat top of Table Mountain, elevation 11,106 feet, just below the razor-edged summits of the Teton range.

Make this a part of your next summer's plans! Details will be available next spring.