Higher

Bishop Alexis A. Thomas preached, "It's Time to Go Up Higher!" He used Revelation 4:1 as his reference scripture.

 

It's definitely a testament to how the Word of God is alive. Each time you read a scripture it blossoms and there is more beauty to be found.

 

It may be hard to believe, but some people don’t want to do better.  No matter what you say or do with them or for them, they choose not to change. You know that old saying, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.”  There are those in the world who choose to live with “less” than God’s Best.  There are times in our lives when we also, “Normalize Abnormality”.  We would rather settle for comfort and convenience, than to face the unknown of moving up higher. 

 

Bishop mentioned the television show, “Hoarders”.  If you’ve ever seen even a short clip, you know how overwhelmed, debilitated, and trapped the subjects are.  Each slip of paper, each article of clothing, or each memento holds some significance.  The hoarder looks to those “things” for security and self-worth.  Now, I’m no psychiatrist, psychologist, or counselor, but I believe if we ignore our hurts and pains the residue of those issues eventually surfaces.  I know it well.  My office was being painted.  My supervisor came in and said, “Don’t you just love to see them painting?  I even like the smell of the paint.”  Without thinking, I was taken back to childhood.  I remembered painting the exterior of our two story house with my younger brother James.  I remembered being so afraid of being up on the ladder.  I remembered the bees swarming around the paint can. I’m allergic to bees.  I remembered my mother yelling at us, “Smooth even strokes, smooth even strokes!”  I answered my boss, by telling him how much I hated painting and about my mother’s comments.  He said quickly and without emotion, “Get over it, Cynthia!”  It was just what I needed.  I had been internalizing that junk for years. 

 

God wants us to go up higher!  But just like climbing a ladder or running a race, we have to strip off the weights.  The Apostle Paul wrote, “Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it.” Hebrews 12:1-2 (Message Translation)

 

In John 5:6, Jesus asked the lame man if he wanted to be made whole.  We have to ask ourselves.  Do we want to be made whole? Do we want to do better? Do we want our lives to change?  If we really want to be made whole we will have to face the truth.  If I want to be better financially, I will have to change the way I spend, invest, and even make my money.  If I want to be better physically, I will have to fight laziness and complacency and get moving.  If I want to be better spiritually, I will have to submit to the Spirit of God and devote more time to study and prayer.  If I want better relationships, I will have to move away from selfishness and self-centeredness.  That lame man had been in that condition for 38 years!  He spent 38 valuable years feeling sorry for himself, making excuses and blaming others for making it to the water before him.  Let’s not waste another minute!  It’s Time to Go Up Higher!

 

Alicia Keys sang, “It’s called the PAST ‘cause I’m getting PAST”.  God wants to take us higher!  Spiritually, Emotionally, Physically, and Financially!  It’s Time!  Are you ready?

 

You are not ordinary, you are extraordinary!  The Psalmist sang, “I will give thanks to you
because I have been so amazingly and miraculously made.  Your works are miraculous, and my soul is fully aware of this.” Psalm 139:14 (God’s Word Translation)

 

It’s Time to Go Up Higher!

 

Love and prayers, Cynthia