“Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Phl. 3:13b-14
As the new year begins, I find myself singing, “Take me higher, dear Lord. Take me higher in You…” Last year’s highlights notwithstanding, I long for higher ground.
In the late 1800’s, Johnson Oatman Jr. wrote the classic hymn, Higher Ground. Let’s take a moment and reflect upon the lyrics:
I’m pressing on the upward way,
New heights I’m gaining every day;
Still praying as I onward bound,
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
Serving God as a pastor’s wife is a high call and a high privilege. It’s a high calling conceived by God. “And the LORD God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” (Gen. 2:18)
It’s a high calling worthy of God. “For to me, to live is Christ…” (Phl. 1:21a)
It’s a high calling far surpassing the ideals of man. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isa. 55:8-9)
It’s a high calling that compels us to Christ and Christlikeness. “Therefore, be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” (Eph. 5:1-2)
My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
Tho’ some may dwell where these abound,
My prayer, my aim is higher ground.
In Luke chapter 1, the angel Gabriel appears to Mary and says, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” (verse 28)
At first, Mary is confused and troubled by the angel’s greeting. He then goes on to tell her that she would give birth to the Son of God (verses 29-33).
Being a virgin, understandably, Mary wants to know how this will happen, not if this will happen. The angel explains and Mary gives her consent saying, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” (verses 34-38).
Beloved, there is so much to glean from this story. As pastors’ wives, we can rejoice because we’re blessed, highly favored, and the Lord is with us. We may not always understand the calling upon our lives. Nevertheless, we have the same assurance given to Mary by the angel. Whatever God wants to birth through your life can only be done by the power of the Holy Spirit and with your consent. “For with God nothing will be impossible.” (verse 37)
You know the story. The angel departs and Mary goes to visit her cousin Elizabeth, who is also pregnant. Luke 1:39 says, “Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah.” The lesson here is this, don’t dilly-dally in the valley where doubts arise and fears dismay. Head for higher ground and get with someone who’s more pregnant than you, someone who can fuel your faith and affirm God’s promises. “Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.” (verse 45)
I want to live above the world,
Though Satan’s darts at me are hurled;
For faith has caught the joyful sound,
The song of saints on higher ground.
Higher heights can be attained, but not without its challenges. As my father-in-love used to say, “New levels, new devils.”
… But still I’ll pray till Heaven I’ve found,
Lord, lead me on to higher ground.