Higher (comparative adjective): greater than normal in height, quantity, size, quality, importance, or intensity; at a more advanced level or involving a greater degree of knowledge
During the quarantine, I have walked by many empty playgrounds. Bittersweet emotions arise. I am saddened that these play structures have sat unused, their purpose unfulfilled all these weeks. Yet I can hear the echoes of laughter from the many children who have played here… and will return again. I recall images from my own childhood, fond memories of exploring many different playgrounds.
And the swings! Before I could really pump myself very well, I would ask for a push. And then as a mother, I experienced being the pusher. The request, well more like a demand, of a child shouting gleefully, “Higher! Higher!” is nearly as exhilarating as being the child. When I was that child, I wanted to go so high that on the back swing, I would be able to see over the top of the swing set bar. That’s where I felt “On top of the world.” Invincible. Unstoppable.
HIGHER! HIGHER!
Higher seems like such a strange word to write about on a faith blog. But I’ve learned not to question the words God puts before me. No word is out of scope to Him! When I try to limit Him by selecting the words myself, the writing is stalled. But when He selects the word for me, the creativity cascades out of me like gushing waters from a spring. God tells me in His Word:
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9
I am always better off when I follow His ways. When I listen to His thoughts. When I go HIGHER! God’s ways are higher; above the ways of the world, culture, and society. His ways are heavenly, holy, and born of His Kingdom, not of the world. Following His ways may cause me to be different from others who do not follow His ways, but that does not and will not stop me from doing so.
Sometimes the best way for me to know that I am following His ways is that I don’t quite “fit in” with the world. And I’m OK with that. To be in this world, but not of this world, I must choose His ways and thoughts. They are HIGHER – exactly where I want to go…
HIGHER! HIGHER!
Close to Him is where I thrive, where I am in the “flow”, where I am authentically ME. I am on an adventure to go higher; to know Christ more each day. This is a lifelong journey, which fuels my wakening moments each day. I love a good mystery!
“Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty? They are higher than the heavens above—what can you do? They are deeper than the depths below—what can you know? Job 11:7-8
I seek God’s higher ways each day. It’s not a place I “arrive” and then coast. I am like a helium balloon that needs to be inflated each day. My spiritual disciplines of prayer, meditation, bible study, service, and worship provide the helium to rise to God’s ways and thoughts.
HIGHER! HIGHER!
If I do nothing to maintain this state, I start to deflate. The helium leaks out. I start sinking back down, and return to “my ways”… which ends in destruction. Even just the simple acts of acknowledging God is present, humming a praise song, or sending up a Thank You prayer, lifts me up higher. His Love – which is freely given – can only lift me higher if I accept it, make myself aware of it, embrace it, believe it, and share it with others.
His Love can lift me HIGHER and HIGHER!
Does that sound like a song lyric? Many of us know the song “Higher and Higher” because of its use in the Ghostbusters movie. The scene with the walking Statue of Liberty, music blasting out of her, as the Ghostbusters make their way to where the evil forces are trying to take over the city. The men choose this song because they need to stir up “hope” in the people of the city as part of the strategy to overcome the evil.
I like the Jackie Robinson version of the song. You can listen to it here: Higher and Higher
The joy and hope expressed in the words of this song can also be found in the words of this Psalm:
For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Psalm 108:4
God’s ways, thoughts, mysteries, limits, love, and faithfulness are higher than the heavens above.
Limitless.
Beyond comprehension.
Inconceivable.
He is not even on the same “measuring stick” as me! When I try to put His ways, thoughts, love, faithfulness on my measuring stick, I limit my own belief of what He can accomplish in me or in the world.
HIGHER! HIGHER!
The swings and helium balloons aren’t the only fascinations I have about “HIGHER”. My eyes are naturally attracted to anything “higher” than me: birds flying over my head, clouds floating in the sky, mountains rising up in the horizon. I live with three people who are all taller than me, so I am often looking “higher”!
But what I’m drawn to most is my Higher Power: Jesus Christ.
He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe. Ephesians 4:10
Jesus came “down to earth” to live among us, die for us, be resurrected for us, and rise beyond the heavens for us. His Power has no limit and no end. He is the “push” on my swing, the helium in my balloon, the song in my heart. He has, can, does, and will always lift me higher and higher.
As I contemplated this word, HIGHER, one visual Jesus put in my mind was of Him on the cross. And me standing at the foot of it. Looking up. Looking higher. My savior, in agony with every breath, exalted high for all to see. The people standing around mocked Him, and said things like this:
Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe. Mark 15:32
Thank you, Jesus, for not coming down from the cross! For staying the higher course, the excruciating death that awaited on the cross. For following Your Father’s will. For your obedience, your sacrifice, your faithfulness, your love.
And for so much more, Thank you.