BE BLESSED BY THE STORY BEHIND HYMN Higher Ground

Higher Ground Lyrics

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 Heaven’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 those abound,
My prayer, my aim, is higher ground.



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



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.



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



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.”





Higher Ground Guitar Chords



             A             D

I'm pressing on the upward way,

                A             E7

New heights I'm gaining every day;

              A           D   

Still praying as I onward bound,

                A           E7 A

"Lord, plant my feet on higher ground."
              A             E7

Lord, lift me up and let me stand,

                           A          

By faith, on heaven's tableland

                           D   

A higher plane than I have found;

               A           E7 A 

Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.



Scripture References

Philippians 3:14 - I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 18:33 - He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights.

The Story



Reverend Johnson Oatman, Jr. lived from 1856 to 1921. He joined the Methodist church at age 19. He was licensed to preach and even ordained, but he ended up never pastoring a church. Instead, he became a businessman, busy first in a mercantile business and later in the insurance business.



For many, the story would end there. But for Oatman, around the time he was 36 he started writing gospel songs. Between then and his death at age 65, he wrote an estimated 5,000 hymns in his "free time". That's about 4-5 new texts a week. His lyrics were in great demand by the leading gospel musicians of the day, and yet he never received more than $1.00 for any of his songs. Some of those songs include hymns that still continue to be sung and well loved today such as "Count Your Blessings" and "No, Not One".



Sometimes, especially in today's world, it seems that we need to choose between serving God and having a career. There's even the misconception that the only ones who really "serve God" are the ones who give up their careers and devote themselves full-time to a ministry or a charity. While those are certainly high callings, I really appreciate the example that Johnson Oatman left. He proved that having a career and serving God doesn't have to be mutually exclusive. All you need to do is know the gifts that God has given you, be willing to use them, and pray that He lift you above the world to higher ground. Once this happens, there's no telling what good works He will use you for.

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