Higher Ground

The hymn "Higher Ground" was written by Johnson Oatman, Jr. and composed by Charles H. Gabriel. The Bible reference is Philippians 3:14, to press forward for God's call.

The picture shown here is of "The Mittens" both East and West located in Monument Valley, Utah, USA and part of the Navajo Nation. Monument Valley Hospital is located nearby which was once operated by the Seventh Day Adventist Church. In 1924 Harry Goulding established a trading post which is still in operation today, although under different management. During the 1950s Goulding encouraged the employment of Navajos in the uranium industry as well as in holding parts in the movie industry.

Higher Ground

 Best Loved Hymns·

Uploaded on May 29, 2009

Best Loved Hymns - Higher Ground

Category:  People & Blogs

License:  Standard YouTube License

Higher Ground
I'm pressing on the upward way,
New heights I'm gaining every day;
Still praying as I'm onward bound,
'Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.'
 
Refrain
Lord, lift me up and let me stand,
By faith, on Heaven's table land,
A higher plane than I have found;
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
 
Verse Two
My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
Though some may dwell where those abound,
My prayer, my aim, is higher ground.
 
Refrain
 
Verse Three
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.
 
Refrain
 
Verse Four
I want to scale the utmost height
And catch a gleam of glory bright;
But still I'll pray till Heav'n I've found,
'Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.'
 
Refrain

I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly (upward) call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:14 (NRSV)

"Because Christ has first taken hold of him, Paul presses forward with single-minded devotion to take hold of the prize that awaits him at the finish line, perfect fellowship with Christ."

Maturity in Faith (Life Application) The John Wesley Study Bible (p.1443)
"Christian maturity involves fulfilling the purpose for our existence, namely to gain Christ, to know Christ, to be found in Christ, and to become like Christ in his death. Sometimes translated 'perfection,' this maturity is not so much a destination as the journey toward the destination. We are mature in that we are launched on the journey, but we also have further to go. Thus, Paul can talk about not having reached the goal and straining forward to what is ahead, while at the same time affirming maturity in faith..