I am blogging for Lent. Pouring in not taking out by sending excerpts from my new book,

THE TOV HEART: God's Design for a Life Rooted in What Matters Most 

If you are intrigued, you can order it from Amazon here THE TOV HEART

Whether you get your own copy of the book or not, it is my hope and prayer that you will be blessed and challenged to look for more with God - Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit. No matter how much you think you have, there is always MORE! Godspeed!

“It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.” – Sir Edmund Hillary

There are three crucial “ascents” on our journey that go largely unconsidered today. I call them ascents because, as in climbing, each requires preparation and effort. And each varies in their level of difficulty, distance covered, and altitude.

The concept of ascents in our walk with God is not new. Psalms 120 to 134 are called the Songs of Ascent because Jews traveling to Jerusalem for one of the three primary annual Jewish festivals traditionally sang these songs on the uphill road or ascent to the city. The “Songs of Ascent” provided these pilgrims with a united source of praise, remembrance, encouragement, and worship.

The ascents I am referring to are ancient ascents known to saints who have traveled the road before us. They are not hidden. They’ve always been available. But they are often unseen, untried, and unacknowledged, nonetheless.

If they are glimpsed at all, we sweep by them with no more consideration and, possibly, the same annoyance given a fly or gnat buzzing around our head. They are, in the order of our consideration,

• the “if” in Scripture

• control of our will

• the allowance for mystery

If, Will, and Mystery.

I also call them ascents because each one requires something of us. We must exert ourselves to mine their fruit. And to benefit, we must prepare and leave something behind.

Excerpt From THE TOV HEART: God's Design for a Life Rooted in What Matters Most

Copyright © 2025 Ray Schmidt