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My husband, Brad, and I celebrated 20 years of marriage by taking a trip to several cities, far away. We planned our days and painstakingly plotted touring strategies in order to see the sites, view the views, eat the foods, experience the local charms and soak in the unfamiliar cultures as best we could. Each city boasted different personalities and attractions, but one thing was consistent about our approach in every location: we climbed to high places.
And. We. Climbed.
We climbed and we climbed… thousands of steps. I kid you not!
We climbed up creaky, dusty, windy staircases of old cathedrals and up small steps in tall buildings. We climbed fancy-schmancy staircases in opulent castles, up ancient stone staircases in an arena, up earthen lava trails on the sides of a dormant volcano and up steep, grassy paths on scenic hills.
Every ascent was both an adventure and a challenge. The rewards of each strenuous climb, however, were breath-taking views that gave us a bigger picture of the locations we were visiting. We saw beauty and grandeur. We gained clarity and focus. We got fresh perspectives. It was awesome.
Have you ever looked out an airplane window and seen the world from above the clouds? Have you ever taken in mountain hike views or climbed to the top of a lighthouse?
High places are incredible. They’re humbling because they show how small we are in light of this grand earth… and in light of the massive galaxy that echoes the majesty of our Creator.
God is El Elyon, the Lord Most High. The highest of all things high! The psalmist said it this way, “How awesome is the Lord Most High, the great King over all the earth.” (Psalm 47:2)
God is all-knowing, all-powerful, glorious and full of splendor.
He. Is. Awesome!
So, how should knowing this – and knowing Him – affect our day-to-day views?
Our perspectives change when we look up and climb to the sacred chambers of the Most High God. Think about the way your mindset changes when you get a fresh perspective.
Maybe you have a few heart burdens or disappointments that are keeping you from high views. This current pandemic is throwing most everyone for a loop! We all find ourselves discouraged at times. Psalm 123:1-2 says, “To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens! Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he has mercy upon us.” (ESV)
The Hebrew word for “lift” is nasa’ meaning, “to lift, bear up, carry, take.” So when we look up, bear up, carry up and take up our concerns to God His mercy meets with us.
God meets us with mercy because He loves us.
But… we still have challenges and they weigh us down. And our burdens shouldn’t keep us from climbing to high places – to the highest place – but they often do. They keep us from experiencing the mercy and help of God as they consume our mind with low and discouraging thoughts.
How can we connect our low or average life places to God’s highest place… to the place of His grace… His power… His provision… His love… His forgiveness… His rest?
We can ask God for help.
We can be still before Him, confess our sins, remember that He is God and we are not
We can ask Him for the courage we need to move forward in His strength.
When Brad and I wanted to get a better view we climbed. It required intentional effort. We took step after step until we reached the top and each climb met us with a beautiful reward. The distance between our low, dim-viewed living and the high places we’re invited to experience in Christ will only change if we climb.
Dear Lord,
Thank you for reminding me that You are the Most High God! Help me to climb beyond my discouragements and challenges toward Your provision and help.
In Jesus’ name, amen
FOR YOUR REFLECTION and RESPONSE
Read Psalm 47 and a write a prayer response in your journal, or visit my blog to post a prayer response and pray with each other as a community.
Love you so much, fam!
GWEN
PS. NOT. EVEN. KIDDING… Jeremy Camp joins me on the new GRACEOLOGIE episode, along with his beautiful wife Adie, for a fascinating and rich conversation you won’t want to miss! Also dropped new shows with author/speaker Lisa Whittle and business coach Jennifer Allwood!
PSS. Coronavirus has us all quarantined. How can we process this new reality and make the most of our time inside? Kathi Lipp joins me on the GRACEOLOGIE podcast for a conversation about ways to sift through, organize and strengthen our minds, hearts and homes in a season of quarantine, loss and confusion. Listen here.
Comments 6
Dear Heavenly Father,
I wish to greatly exalt you today. You have told your people in all the nations to clap their hands and shout to you in cries of joy. May I grow in joy for You! You are the Most High, Awesome God. You are the Great King of over all the Earth. You subued enemy nations under us. Your great power as You sit on Your holy throne causes us to sing, as we know you look out and rule the nations. Let me heart sing out a psalm of praise. Let the Lord ascend at the sounds of His people’s cry for joy. Keep my heart joyful because of Who You Are, all day and night!
In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen!
Praying for a new environment with better views.
I really connected with today’s devotional ! What a blessing to remember that when it seems so hard to have peace in spite of whats happening around us… we can simply be honest with our Most High God and ask Him for help!
The view from where He stands is filled with hope and grace! How lucky are we to be able to be see things His way ??
God knows what we are going through; He wants us to draw close to Him in prayer. Thank God that you are doing this. Praises to God for the blessing of the peace that surpasses all understanding. I pray for unity among humans of this earth, as we endure this coronavirus crisis. HELP US LORD.
Praying for Christian mum friends in the coming months
My heart prayers is for all to repent, confess their sins and receive the salvation of Jesus.