8_31_20025_Matt_From_Glory_to_Grit.docx

Devotional

Day 1: Awe Is an Invitation to Transformation

Awe and wonder are not destinations to camp upon, but invitations to step deeper into God’s story. When we encounter God’s presence—whether in worship, in nature, or in moments of quiet revelation—our hearts are awakened to the reality that we stand on holy ground. These mountaintop experiences are not meant to be preserved in isolation, but to change us from the inside out, equipping us to carry God’s light into the everyday valleys of life.

God’s glory is not given so we can remain in comfort, but so we can be sent with courage. The soul’s recognition of the sacred and the heart’s response to mystery are meant to draw us closer to God and to prepare us for the journey ahead. Let awe move you to action, and let wonder open your heart to the next step God is calling you to take.

“And the LORD said to Moses, ‘Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.’ And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.” (Exodus 3:5-6, ESV)

Reflection: When was the last time you felt genuine awe in God’s presence? How might you let that experience move you to serve or love someone in your daily life this week?

Day 2: Revelation Equips Us for the Valleys

God’s revelations are not just for our comfort, but for our calling. The disciples saw Jesus’ glory on the mountain so they could face the darkness and need in the valley below. Encounters with God are meant to strengthen us for the real work of faith—serving, praying, and persevering in a world that is often broken and resistant.

When God reveals Himself, He is preparing us for the challenges ahead. The mountaintop is a place of preparation, not escape. As you move from moments of clarity and joy into seasons of struggle or uncertainty, remember that God’s presence goes with you. The courage to face resistance comes from the assurance that you have seen His glory and heard His voice.

“And he said to me, ‘Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak with you.’ And as he spoke to me, the Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard him speaking to me.” (Ezekiel 2:1-2, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a recent moment when you sensed God’s nearness. How can you let that experience equip you to face a current challenge or serve someone in need today?

Day 3: Faith Grows When Planted, Not Performed

Jesus does not require a mountain of belief, but a seed of faith—small, alive, and willing to grow. Real faith is not about feeling strong or certain all the time; it is about being rooted in Christ, persistent in prayer, and obedient in action. The power of faith is not in its size, but in its source.

God honors honest, living faith that is willing to be planted and nurtured, even when it feels weak or incomplete. You do not have to perform or pretend; you are invited to bring your real, imperfect faith to Jesus and trust Him to do what only He can do. Let your faith take root today, and watch how God grows it in His time.

“For thus says the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem: ‘Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns. Circumcise yourselves to the LORD; remove the foreskin of your hearts, O men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem…’” (Jeremiah 4:3-4a, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area where your faith feels small or fragile? How can you plant that seed of faith in prayer or action today, trusting God to grow it?

Day 4: Prayer Is Where the Battle Is Won

Prayer is not a warm-up or a last resort—it is the very place where spiritual battles are fought and mountains are moved. The disciples’ struggle in the valley was not for lack of effort, but for lack of faith expressed through prayer. When we pray, we are not preparing for the fight; we are in the fight.

Let prayer become your first response, not your fallback. In prayer, we bring our needs, our doubts, and our hopes before God, trusting Him to do what we cannot. The battleground of prayer is where God’s power meets our weakness, and where faith is forged in the fires of persistence and dependence.

“Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually! Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered.” (1 Chronicles 16:11-12, ESV)

Reflection: What is one situation you are facing right now that you have tried to handle on your own? How can you make prayer your first response today, inviting God into the battle?

Day 5: Faithfulness in the Space Between Glory and Grit

The Christian life is lived between the mountaintop and the valley, between moments of revelation and seasons of resistance. The challenge is to listen to Jesus in both places, to trust Him with whatever faith you have, and to keep moving forward. Faith that moves mountains is not flashy or perfect—it is faithful, persistent, and willing to follow Jesus wherever He leads.

God calls us to a life that is honest about struggle and hopeful about His promises. In the space between glory and grit, we are invited to keep our eyes on Jesus, to trust Him with our questions and our courage, and to take the next step He sets before us. This is the journey of faith—one that endures, persists, and grows in every season.

“Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.” (Hosea 6:3, ESV)

Reflection: Where are you currently living “between glory and grit”? What is one step of faithfulness you can take today to keep following Jesus in this season?

Sermon Summary

of the Sermon:**

Today’s sermon, “From Glory to Grit: Faith That Moves Mountains,” took us on a journey with Jesus and His closest disciples from the mountaintop of the Transfiguration to the valley of human need and spiritual struggle. We explored the awe, wonder, and holy fear that come from encountering God’s glory, and how those moments are not meant to be preserved but to prepare us for the challenges ahead. As Jesus and the disciples descended from the mountain, they were immediately confronted with suffering and spiritual oppression—a desperate father, a tormented son, and the disciples’ own failure. Jesus taught that faith, even as small as a mustard seed, is enough to move mountains when it is real, planted, and persistent. The call is not to heroic belief, but to honest, living faith that endures between the highs of revelation and the lows of resistance. We are challenged to listen to Jesus, pray as our first response, and trust Him with whatever faith we have, knowing that it is God who moves the mountains.

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Key Takeaways

1. Awe and Wonder Are Invitations, Not Destinations: The mountaintop moments—when God’s presence is undeniable and His glory overwhelming—are not given so we can stay there, but so we can be changed. Awe is the soul’s recognition of sacred ground, and wonder is the heart’s response to mystery. These experiences are meant to draw us deeper into God’s story, preparing us to carry His light into the valleys of life.
2. Revelation Prepares Us for Resistance: The disciples saw Jesus’ glory so they could face the darkness below with courage. God’s revelations are not just for our comfort, but for our calling. When we encounter God’s presence, it is to equip us for the real work of faith—serving, praying, and persevering in a broken world.
3. Faith Is Planted, Not Performed: Jesus does not demand a mountain of belief, but a seed of faith—small, alive, and willing to grow. Real faith is not about feeling strong or certain; it is about being rooted in Christ, persistent in prayer, and obedient in action. The power of faith is not in its size, but in its source.
4. Prayer Is the Battleground, Not the Warm-Up: The disciples’ failure in the valley was not due to lack of effort, but lack of faith expressed through prayer. Prayer is not a last resort or a spiritual formality—it is the very place where battles are won and mountains are moved. When we pray, we are not preparing for the fight; we are in the fight.
5. Living Between Glory and Grit Is the Christian Life: We are called to live between the mountaintop and the valley, between moments of revelation and seasons of resistance. The challenge is to listen to Jesus in both places, to trust Him with whatever faith we have, and to keep moving forward. Faith that moves mountains is not flashy or perfect—it is faithful, persistent, and willing to follow Jesus wherever He leads.

Bible Study Guide

**Bible Study Discussion Guide: From Glory to Grit—Faith That Moves Mountains**

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### Bible Reading

- **Matthew 17:1–21** (The Transfiguration and Healing of the Boy with a Demon)

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### Observation Questions

What did Peter, James, and John experience on the mountain with Jesus? How did they respond to what they saw and heard?
After coming down from the mountain, what situation did Jesus and the disciples immediately encounter in the valley?
According to Jesus, what was the reason the disciples could not heal the boy?
What does Jesus say about the size of faith and its power in Matthew 17:20?

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### Interpretation Questions

Why do you think God allowed the disciples to witness the Transfiguration before facing the challenges in the valley?
What does it mean that awe and wonder are “invitations, not destinations”? How might this change the way someone views spiritual “mountaintop” experiences?
Jesus says faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains. What does this reveal about the nature of faith and its source?
The sermon says, “Prayer is the battleground, not the warm-up.” How does this challenge common attitudes toward prayer in difficult situations?

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### Application Questions

Think about a time when you experienced a “mountaintop moment” with God—maybe during worship, prayer, or a special event. Did you try to hold onto that feeling, or did it prepare you for something difficult that came next? How did you respond?
The disciples failed to help the suffering boy, even though they had tried. Have you ever felt like you failed in your faith or ministry? How did you handle it, and what did you learn?
Where in your life right now do you feel like you are in the “valley”—facing resistance, struggle, or spiritual opposition? How can you bring that situation to Jesus in prayer?
The sermon challenges us to pray as our first response, not our last resort. What is one specific area where you tend to act first and pray later? How can you change that pattern this week?
Jesus calls for honest, living faith—not heroic or perfect belief. Is there a situation where you feel your faith is “small” or weak? What would it look like to trust God with the little faith you have?
The disciples were told to “listen to Him”—to Jesus. What is one practical way you can listen to Jesus’ voice this week, whether you are on the mountaintop or in the valley?
The sermon says, “Faith that moves mountains is not flashy or perfect—it is faithful, persistent, and willing to follow Jesus wherever He leads.” What is one step of faith you sense God is asking you to take, even if it feels small or risky?

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Sermon Quotes

Awe isn’t just amazement—it’s the soul’s recognition that it’s standing on sacred ground. Wonder is what happens when the mind can’t explain what the heart knows is true.

We love mountaintop moments—worship that moves us, scripture that speaks directly to our hearts. But those moments aren’t meant to be preserved—they’re meant to prepare us for the valleys where faith is truly lived out.

Prayer isn’t preparation for the battle—it is the battle. And faith isn’t a feeling—it’s a force.

Jesus isn’t asking for heroic belief. He’s asking for real belief. Faith that’s planted. Faith that’s persistent. Faith that doesn’t quit in the valley.