The Holy Mountain Within Us

By Ken Woodley

What a transcendent moment for Peter, James and John.

Jesus leads them up a high mountain, the Gospel of Matthew tells us, and is suddenly transfigured, right before their eyes. His face shines like the sun and his clothes are a dazzling white. Then Moses and Elijah appear and the apostles next hear the voice of God. Clearly, something extraordinary was happening. 

Though they are unlikely to replicate the experience of Peter, James and John, transcendent moments also await us upon our own “holy mountain”—the places where we feel most connected to God’s holy spirit and the presence of Jesus Christ. Where we experience a spiritual understanding or revelation, an answer to prayer.

Nurturing and cultivating these moments is essential. Peter, James and John had to follow Jesus up the mountain. We do, too. By regularly and consistently setting aside time for God—quieting ourselves with prayerful meditation—we offer an invitation that, we will come to realize, has already been accepted.

Don’t assume that God is distant. Expect God to be there beside you. Talk to God—silently or aloud. Write God a note or a letter and slip it into your Bible. Read it to God every morning or evening. Pray about those words during the day. When that letter has been answered, if something is else troubling you, write God another one.

The Holy Spirit will deliver an answer. We’ll sense God or Jesus telling us something. We can feel a nudge in our soul or, as Peter describes it, “the morning star” rising in our hearts: the peace that passes all understanding.

No, it is not always the answer that we expect or, perhaps, even want. But there are bends in the road around which only God knows what is waiting. God is with us on the way to that bend in the road, and God will remain with us afterwards after that bend has become the next straight stretch of our lives. Jesus will too.

So, let’s go climb our “holy mountain” with Jesus and see what we find there, discover what happens. Right now. Right where we are. We don’t need to go anywhere because the “holy mountain” most worth climbing is the one deep inside us, that special place in our soul where we are revealed as our deepest selves.

There, with Christ, we are transfigured.

No, our face may not shine like the sun, and our clothes won’t become dazzlingly white, but we will feel the voice of God telling us that we, too, are beloved. And that love transfigures our inner landscape, transforms the topography of our soul. 

The feeling that we have heard God’s answering voice, and the spirit of Jesus, may only last a second, but the echoes go on and on and they are worth holding onto like a strong and sturdy hiking stick.

Our own transfiguration is a journey that sometimes feels long.

Walk on.

Persevere.

You are not alone.

Your prayer is being answered.

Step by step.

By Ken Woodley

What a transcendent moment for Peter, James and John.
Jesus leads them up a high mountain, the Gospel of Matthew tells us, and is suddenly transfigured, right before their eyes. His face shines like the sun and his clothes are a dazzling white. Then Moses and Elijah appear and the apostles next hear the voice of God. Clearly, something extraordinary was happening.
Though they are unlikely to replicate the experience of Peter, James and John, transcendent moments also await us upon our own “holy mountain”—the places where we feel most connected to God’s holy spirit and the presence of Jesus Christ. Where we experience a spiritual understanding or revelation, an answer to prayer.
Nurturing and cultivating these moments is essential. Peter, James and John had to follow Jesus up the mountain. We do, too. By regularly and consistently setting aside time for God—quieting ourselves with prayerful meditation—we offer an invitation that, we will come to realize, has already been accepted.
Don’t assume that God is distant. Expect God to be there beside you. Talk to God—silently or aloud. Write God a note or a letter and slip it into your Bible. Read it to God every morning or evening. Pray about those words during the day. When that letter has been answered, if something is else troubling you, write God another one.
The Holy Spirit will deliver an answer. We’ll sense God or Jesus telling us something. We can feel a nudge in our soul or, as Peter describes it, “the morning star” rising in our hearts: the peace that passes all understanding.
No, it is not always the answer that we expect or, perhaps, even want. But there are bends in the road around which only God knows what is waiting. God is with us on the way to that bend in the road, and God will remain with us afterwards after that bend has become the next straight stretch of our lives. Jesus will too.
So, let’s go climb our “holy mountain” with Jesus and see what we find there, discover what happens. Right now. Right where we are. We don’t need to go anywhere because the “holy mountain” most worth climbing is the one deep inside us, that special place in our soul where we are revealed as our deepest selves.
There, with Christ, we are transfigured.
No, our face may not shine like the sun, and our clothes won’t become dazzlingly white, but we will feel the voice of God telling us that we, too, are beloved. And that love transfigures our inner landscape, transforms the topography of our soul.
The feeling that we have heard God’s answering voice, and the spirit of Jesus, may only last a second, but the echoes go on and on and they are worth holding onto like a strong and sturdy hiking stick.
Our own transfiguration is a journey that sometimes feels long.
Walk on.
Persevere.
You are not alone.
Your prayer is being answered.
Step by step.