Come up Higher!
I woke up at 3:44 am this morning with the words, "If you live above the clouds, you are less likely to be affected by the turbulence." As I lay there still half asleep, I pondered what this meant. Immediately, I remembered something my father-in-law shared with me recently. He took up flying as a hobby several years ago. He flew the other day to Colorado and had to land in New Mexico because of a storm; then he drove the rest of the way to his cabin. He told me that if he had a bigger airplane, he could have gone higher to miss the storm's turbulence.
The world is filled with with storms and turbulence right now. I have experienced several storms in the past few months… close family and friends walking through cancer, adjusting to significant changes in our business, getting COVID 19, being isolated, and grieving my oldest son moving out.
I want to propose our perspective is a lot like an airplane. One reason a plane cruises above the clouds is so it can fly fast. The higher an airplane climbs, the thinner the air gets alowing it to be more efficient because there is less resistance in the amtosphere, according to Ryan Jorgenson, an aviation data analyst.
Hmm, the key to going fast and efficient with less resistance is to GO HIGHER. I believe the Lord is reminding us that we are made to live above the clouds. He is moving us into a greater revelation of His goodness, lifting us out of discouragement, and bringing us HIGHER! He designed us to live in heavenly places with a higher perspective. In Ephesians 2:6 TPT, it says: "He raised us up with Christ the exalted One. We ascended with him into the glorious perfection and authority of the heavenly realm, for we are now co-seated as one with Christ!"
If we have Heaven's perspective, we live hopeful, confident, unoffended, joyful, and at rest. We can soar through life's challenges with greater ease. In Colossians 3:1-2 the Mirror Translation, it says:
"See yourself co-raised with Christ! Now ponder with persuasion the consequence of your co-inclusion in Him. Relocate yourself mentally! Engage your thoughts with throne room realities where you are co-seated with Christ in the executive authority of God's right hand. Becoming affectionately acquainted with throne room thoughts will keep you from being distracted again by the earthly realm."
The moment we drop to lower-level thinking and forget that we are a beloved son of God in union with Christ, we will encounter the turbulence around us. The "below the clouds" thinking focuses on the earth's point of view and makes us more susceptible to the enemy's attack. We give him a greater opportunity to ground us with fear, discouragement, lack, shame, doubt, anger, hate, etc.
It has been a fight these past few months for me to have "above the clouds" thinking. Our battleground is in our minds. God desires to renew your mind so you can soar above the clouds. I’m not saying you won’t have any trouble in this world but your perspective will be from a higher view. In Romans 12:2, The Passion Translation says: "Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God's will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes."
Sometimes, renewing your mind is easier said than done. Here are a few things that have helped me:
Take God at His Word.
Believe His promises are true, and His nature is always good before you see the proof around you.
Read and listen to His Word. "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Romans 10:17
Pick one Scripture in an area you are struggling with and ask the Holy Spirit to give you a revelation about the Scripture.
Take that Scripture and turn it into a declaration and speak it out. Example: I choose to believe the God of hope fills me with all joy and peace as I trust in Him, so that I may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
Choose to believe what you just declared then rest and receive. "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." Matthew 21:22 NIV
I encourage you not to put expectations on how God will show up for you. Things may manifest in different ways than we expect it. This year may look bleak, but it is not over yet! God will take you higher, give you divine strength, and raise you up to soar into your destiny. (Isaiah 40:31)
Until next time, may God bless you and your family!