Going Low To Get High: Getting Unbound From Burdensome Obligations

I highly encourage you to read Psalm 146 before engaging with this word. It's only 10 verses:

1Praise the Lord! Let all that I am praise the Lord.  2 I will praise the Lord as long as I live.
I will sing praises to my God with my dying breath. 3 Don’t put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there.  4 When they breathe their last, they return to the earth, and all their plans die with them. 5 But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord their God. 6 He made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. He keeps every promise forever. 7 He gives justice to the oppressed and food to the hungry. The Lord frees the prisoners. 8 The Lord opens the eyes  of the blind.  The Lord lifts up those who are weighed down.  The Lord loves the godly.  9 The Lord protects the foreigners among us.  He cares for the orphans and widows,
but he frustrates the plans of the wicked.  10 The Lord will reign forever. He will be your God, O Jerusalem, throughout the generations.

Yes, deep calling unto deep. That phrase reverberates in my spirit this morning—deep calling to deep, calling us higher and higher in our worship and relationship with God. This is not about singing songs or music; this is about elevating ourselves into a profound place of intimacy with the Lord, where nothing can touch us. I want to share with you what God has been teaching me and where He is leading us, even as the world swirls around us in chaos and confusion.

The Upside-Down Kingdom: Humbling Low to Rise High

In the kingdom of God, everything is upside down from the natural world. The only way to go higher is to humble yourself and get lower. It makes no sense to the natural mind, but it is the spiritual truth. When we humble ourselves, get on our faces before God, and yield our entire being to Him, we begin to ascend to higher places in His presence. This journey upward starts with a deep surrender and a willingness to be broken and refined.

As the Lord has been showing us over the last several weeks, coming up higher means shutting down the noise of the world—the offense, fear, worry, threats, and distractions—and entering a place where nothing can touch us. In that sacred space, we become untouchable because our soul, mind, will, and emotions begin to obey the spirit inside us that worships God with reckless abandon.

Let All That I Am Praise the Lord

Pause with me for a moment and consider this declaration: Let all that I am praise the Lord. This means every fiber of your being—your thoughts, emotions, willpower, and even your physical potential—is fully engaged in praising God. It's a spiritual act that requires yielding to our spirit, compelling our soul to obey and join in the worship.

When you embrace this posture, you become untouchable in the spiritual realm. No matter what people do to offend or intimidate you, their efforts fail if you do not allow them to have power over your spirit. Remember, it’s all a decision. The Lord is calling us to decide—to come to Him and cast our burdens on Him because His yoke is easy, and His burden is light.

The Valley of Decision: Choosing Praise Over Fear

We are in a valley of decision right now. Nations and individuals alike must choose righteousness or judgment. The Lord invites all who are weary and burdened to come to Him. The only requirement is to praise Him with all that you have. This is not a call to perfection but to obedience and surrender.

Declare with me: I will praise the Lord as long as I live. Whether in this body or beyond, our spirits will continually worship God. Even when our earthly lives end, our spirits will rejoice forever in His presence. While we walk the "dash" between birth and death, let us live fully in praise, making worship the foundation of our daily lives.

Don’t Put Your Confidence in Earthly Powers

Do not place your confidence in powerful people or worldly systems—there is no help there. When their breath leaves their bodies, their plans perish with them. Instead, place your trust in the God of Israel, the One who made heaven and earth and keeps every promise forever.

Remember the words: Joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper. He gives justice to the oppressed, food to the hungry, freedom to prisoners, sight to the blind, and lifts up those weighed down. He protects the godly and frustrates the plans of the wicked. We stand with Israel and all nations seeking truth and freedom, trusting in God’s righteous judgment.

The Story of Saul: Obedience Over Sacrifice

Let me share a powerful lesson from 1 Samuel 15 about Saul, Israel’s first king. Saul was anointed by God but was disobedient. Though God commanded him to completely destroy the Amalekite nation—men, women, children, livestock—Saul spared the king and kept the best of the animals for himself. This was willful disobedience.

When confronted by Samuel, Saul tried to justify his actions, blaming his army and claiming he planned to sacrifice the best animals to God. But Samuel’s response cuts to the heart of true worship:

“Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.”

Rebellion against God’s commands is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness is as wrong as worshiping idols. This story reminds us to obey God fully, not picking and choosing what we want to do.

Learning to Hear God’s Voice: Silence is Not a Yes

Here’s something I’ve learned personally and want to share with you: sometimes God’s silence is not a yes. I once took on a contract thinking it was a blessing, but it became a burden because I never heard a clear yes from God. When I finally asked Him, He said, “Did I tell you to take that contract?” I had to admit no.

God told me, “My silence is not a yes. When I want you to move, I will make it clear.” So if you are facing decisions and not hearing from God, hold steady where you are. Wait for His clear instructions. He will send a messenger, a conviction, or a word at the right time.

Unwinding from Burdens: Ask for Grace and Favor

If you find yourself entangled in something that is a burden and not from God, ask Him for grace and favor to unwind it. I had to have a difficult conversation with my client to release myself from an overwhelming contract. Though I feared the conversation, God gave me grace, and it went smoothly.

Remember, God always provides a way out when we obey Him. Don’t let fear or stubbornness keep you trapped. Pick up the phone, write the letter, or knock on the door you need to. God’s hand is with you, and He will help you navigate through.

Worship as Intimacy, Not Just Music

Worship is not just about music or songs; it’s about intimacy with God. The music helps us enter that place, but true worship is a heart connection with the Father. When you worship in spirit and truth, you live and move in the rarefied atmosphere of His throne—an atmosphere of peace, power, and presence.

This is a call to come higher in worship, to experience the fullness of God’s presence beyond anything you’ve known before. It’s an invitation to leave the comfort zone and step into the miracle zone where God can do exceedingly abundantly in your life.

Receiving God’s Bounty: The Gilded Invitation

God’s table is prepared with every grace, goodness, and blessing you could ever need. He has issued a “gilded invitation” to come and partake fully of His love, kindness, and mercy. This invitation is more precious than any earthly gift or honor.

Imagine receiving a gold-embossed invitation from a billionaire—now imagine God’s invitation, infinitely more glorious, extended to you. You are a privileged child of a loving Father. Come to Him with a childlike heart, ready to receive all He has for you.

Moving Forward with Obedience and Trust

God is calling us to obedience, to say yes to Him even when it’s difficult. Obedience brings ease; disobedience brings burden. When we obey, God’s mercy and goodness chase us all our days. He will lift you, elevate you, and bring you into His presence like never before.

If you feel bound by something today, ask God to help you unwind it. Trust that He will provide grace and favor. Hear His gentle yet powerful call: “Come on up here. I have more for you.”

Let us stop being wound up like pretzels and step into freedom. When we are free and unencumbered, we can fully receive the destiny God has prepared for us. So, make the decision today to obey, praise, and worship with all that you are.

Conclusion: A Call to Praise and Obedience

Let all that you are praise the Lord. Let your mind, will, emotions, and spirit unite in worship. Choose obedience over sacrifice. Do not rely on earthly powers but place your trust fully in God, the righteous judge and deliverer.

Remember, God’s silence is not a yes—wait for His guidance. When you hear His voice, respond with faith and obedience. Ask for grace to unwind burdens and step into the abundant life He offers.

Today, receive the strong and overwhelming essence of God’s presence. Take a deep breath, exhale your destiny, and walk forward in peace. God’s table is prepared, His invitation is gilded with heavenly gold, and He is calling you higher.

May you live and move in the rarefied atmosphere of His throne, worshiping Him with reckless abandon and stepping into all He has for you. Amen.