One of the consistent messages of the prophets in scripture was the tearing down of the high places. High places are “what the prophets called high place worship — taking the forms of God’s dwelling and reorienting them around human ascent rather than divine descent”. (Claude)

The exaltation of self in our society has made room for high places in people’s hearts and they do not even recognize it as such. Self-promotion; self-preservation; self-identification; self-help; self-serve; self-self-self. The love of self has caused many high places to be erected and it feels so right, but it produces nothing of substance. It does not bring about transformation.

1 Chronicles 14:2-5 speaks of a king who brought peace to a people, “Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God, for he removed the altars of the foreign gods and the high places, and broke down the sacred pillars and cut down the wooden images. He commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and to observe the law and the commandment. He also removed the high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah, and the kingdom was quiet under him.”

In the midst of all the promoting of self, there has been an increase in competition, division, anxiety, FOMO, betrayal, loss of identity, confusion about sexuality, and the bending of Biblical truth. Promoting self has actually made us weaker, not stronger, sicker not healthier, and many are saying peace, peace but people know they have no peace. Jesus said, “He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” (Matthew 10:39)

God is tearing down high places in our lives. It may feel like you are losing your life, but what is actually happening is you are finding real life. A life that is not self-centered. Once the high place is torn down, once self is dethroned, abundant life will flood your heart and soul. Peace will be your portion and joy will be your reality. Do not resist the removing of the high places, they are for your peace. Www.apostolicresourcecenter.org