Pressing Upward: From Burden to Vision, Prayer, and Praise

Opening Hymn: “Higher Ground”

So I think you all know “Higher Ground,” but I have a different version. It’s going to take you a while to learn it, so here we go. It goes like this:

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.

Lord, lift me up and let me stand,
By faith, on Canaan’s tableland;
A higher plane than I have found,
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

Okay, so, same words, because we’re heading up to higher ground, ladies and gentlemen. This is today: pressed upward. You ready?

Now, the one thing that throws people off: “I’m pressing on the upward way, new heights I’m gaining every day, still praying…” They want to go as—no, no, no, no. “Still praying as I’m onward bound,” not the other way around. Ah, good luck with that one.

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.

Lord, lift me up and let me stand,
By faith, on Canaan’s tableland;
A higher plane than I have found,
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
Though some may dwell where these abound,
My prayer, my aim, is higher ground.

Lord