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Ascend
The Invitation to Surrender and Be Transformed
God Isn’t Just Changing Your Circumstances. He’s Changing You.
What if the greatest work God is doing in your life isn’t around you but within you?
We often pray for God to change our circumstances, remove our struggles, or answer our prayers in the way we expect. Yet beneath every trial, every season of waiting, and every unexpected detour, God is accomplishing something far greater. He is transforming us into the likeness of Jesus.
The question isn’t whether God is at work. He is. The real question is whether we are cooperating with His transforming work or resisting it.
Throughout Scripture, transformation is rarely comfortable, but it is always purposeful.
The Mountain Is Calling
Mountains are woven throughout the biblical story as places where heaven and earth meet. They are places of encounter, surrender, testing, and revelation.
Abraham climbed a mountain to surrender Isaac. Moses met God on a mountain and received his calling. Elijah encountered the gentle voice of God after his greatest discouragement. Jesus frequently withdrew to mountains to pray, and ultimately climbed one to lay down His life for the world.
Every mountain asks the same question:
Will you trust Me?
God is still asking that question today. He isn’t calling us to admire the mountain from a distance. He’s inviting us to ascend.
The Danger of Living on Yesterday’s Revelation
One of the greatest obstacles to transformation is assuming that yesterday’s obedience is enough for today.
When Israel needed water in the wilderness, God first instructed Moses to strike the rock. Later, God gave a different instruction: speak to the rock. Moses responded according to what God had said before instead of listening for what He was saying in that moment.
The consequence was heartbreaking. Sometimes faithfulness isn’t repeating what God once said. Faithfulness is remaining close enough to hear what He is saying now.
Relationship always takes precedence over routine.
Miracles Can’t Transform the Heart
Israel witnessed miracle after miracle. The Red Sea parted, manna fell from heaven, water flowed from a rock, enemies were defeated before their eyes. Yet despite seeing God’s power, their hearts often remained unchanged.
Miracles are wonderful gifts from God, but they were never intended to replace intimacy with Him. They reveal His power, but only relationship transforms our hearts.
It’s possible to spend our lives chasing the hand of God while neglecting His face.
The Law Falls Short
The opposite danger is trusting rules instead of relationship. The Law was never given to save humanity. It revealed our need for a Savior.
Jesus didn’t invite people to become perfect before following Him. He invited ordinary, broken people into relationship. Fishermen, tax collectors, zealots, and sinners all heard the same invitation:
“Follow Me.”
Transformation has never come through trying harder. It comes through surrendering deeper.
The Holy Spirit changes what human effort never could.
A Butterfly Preaches the Gospel
One of the clearest pictures of spiritual transformation can be found in the life of a monarch butterfly. A caterpillar spends its early life feeding and growing, but it repeatedly pauses to shed its old skin. Growth requires letting go of what no longer fits.
Eventually, it searches for one thing: a high place.
Once it is securely attached, it forms a chrysalis. What appears to be the end is actually the beginning of something entirely new. Then comes the struggle. The butterfly must force its way through a tiny opening. Without that resistance, it can never develop the strength needed to fly.
How often do we ask God to remove the very pressure He is using to prepare us? Often the struggle isn’t standing in the way of God’s purpose. Sometimes it is the pathway to it.
Don’t Hold On to Yesterday’s Shape
Scripture often compares God to a potter and His people to clay. Clay must remain soft. It must stay in the Potter’s hands. Sometimes God forms one vessel for one season before reshaping it for another.
Our greatest temptation is falling in love with who we used to be.
But God never intended yesterday’s calling, gifting, or season to become our identity. He continually shapes those who remain surrendered.
Building Our Own Mountains
Years ago, the Lord gave me a vision of towering pyramids stretching across the earth. Smoke rose from them, filling the air with spiritual deception. Many people, including believers, unknowingly breathed it in while building kingdoms that looked impressive but were disconnected from God’s heart.
At the same time, I saw Jesus, the Good Shepherd, calling His people. One by one, they awakened, heard His voice, and began climbing His mountain.
That vision continues to remind me that our assignment isn’t to build monuments to ourselves or create more impressive ministries.
Jesus has already made the way.
Our calling is to prepare it.
Like those who maintain mountain trails, we are called to remove obstacles that keep people from seeing Christ clearly. We don’t create the path. We simply help others find the One who already has.
The Invitation to Ascend His Mountain
I believe Jesus is calling His Bride higher. Not into greater performance or more religious activity, but into deeper surrender. Into greater intimacy, a lasting transformation.
Perhaps God is asking you the same questions He has been asking me:
- Where is God inviting you to surrender?
- What old shape are you trying to hold onto?
- What layer is He asking you to shed?
- How is He inviting you to help clear the path for someone else to follow Jesus?
The mountain is still there. The invitation is still open. Don’t settle for admiring it from a distance.
Ascend.
Discovering the Hebrew Months Newsletter
Understanding the Times and Seasons
Become a Steward of Time
Discovering the Hebrew months helps you see how the Old Testament points to Jesus and discern God’s timing, so you can stay aligned with His Spirit.
Click here to subscribe.
Now My Eyes See You
When pain becomes an invitation to encounter God face-to-face
If this episode has stirred something in you, Janell invites you to go deeper with her. Explore her devotional Now My Eyes See You. In it, she shares how suffering, though disorienting, can become the place where we encounter God’s redeeming presence. Like Job, we are not alone in the ashes. Jesus steps in and leads us into healing. The devotional is available on Amazon in all formats. And Janell has a free Bible study to accompany it, link is below.
Grab Your FREE Bible Study!
Click above to join Janell’s Substack for a Bible Study on the Book of Job
Download the pdf notes and all seven videos. You can use it forever! Whether you have questions about suffering, this resource will help. If you know of people in your life that do, this resource will be a rich and meaningful addition to your faith toolbox.
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*Music by LiteSaturation, Music Unlimited, soundbay, and Silentvoice from Pixabay
Janell Kremer 
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