Live High

May 2009

Just as David prayed in Psalm 61:2, “Lead me to the rock that is higher than I,” I believe all of us long for revelation that will empower us to live at a higher place than we currently do.

What do I mean when I write about “a higher place”? I am not simply talking about eliminating blatant sin and unrighteousness in our lives, though that certainly takes us higher. I am also referring to our habits, thoughts, words, attitudes and motives—very real, yet often overlooked, aspects of our daily lives that affect our spiritual lives. We may need to come up higher in our conversation, time management, financial stewardship, or the things we allow ourselves to watch and listen to.

A Matter of Honor

One of the areas in which I believe the Lord is calling us higher is the area of relationships—especially the way we think of and relate to others in our hearts. First Peter 2:17 gives us a very clear command: “Honor all people.” But many of us do not know how to honor others because honor is not a widely-held value in the world today and many people have not had role models who taught them how to honor. 

The Holy Spirit is revealing to us ways in which we have actually been used by the enemy to dishonor people without even realizing it. Many of us are in the process of identifying dishonoring thoughts, attitudes and actions and exchanging them for expressions of honor. Our hearts are crying out for that higher place in God and learning how to honor will help us move in the right direction. 

The Greek word for honor means, “to highly value, to prize, to not take lightly, to esteem, to ascribe worth.” Simply valuing others instead of taking them for granted is a way to honor them. When we honor others, we are actually honoring the Lord because He created them and He loves them. 

There are several different types of honor, such as: honor based on performance, honor based on position, honor based on character, and intrinsic honor. Intrinsic honor is the honor that God possesses and gives to every human being. Because everyone we encounter is gifted with intrinsic honor from the Lord, we need to treat them with honor.

Three Ways to Honor

There are at least three ways to honor God, yourself, and others. These are simple, but powerful, and you can start using them immediately!  (Yes, it is important to honor yourself just as it is important to honor God and others. Remember, God created you as a vessel of honor).

 Honor with words

“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29).

Do your words honor God and impart grace to others?

Honor with actions

“And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:17).

Do your actions honor God and represent Him in your everyday life?

Honor with thoughts:

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure , whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things” (Philippians 4:8).

Do your thoughts honor God, honor others and reflect Kingdom values?

Determine to come up higher and live a life of honor today!