Further Up, Further In

“Come further up, come further in!” (C.S. Lewis, The Last Battle, pp. 195-197) is the whisper of the whole series of “The Chronicles of Narnia”—one of my ultimate favorite book series. “Come further up, come further in” was what the children experienced (especially Lucy) as she stepped into a new land and heard of and eventually met the wonderful “but not tame” lion, Aslan. It’s what Edmund experienced after he was forgiven by Aslan after his betrayal. It’s the voice of the Maker calling to each of the creatures of the magical land of Narnia. His desire is for them to “come further up, come further in” to all He had for them.

The same us true of us today. Our Maker whispers to each one of us, yes, even in the midst of Christmas busyness, activities and preparations galore… “Come further up, come further in!” It’s time for the next level with our Savior.

Wait, you may be thinking. It isn’t the new year yet. Shouldn’t all advancement wait until the ball drops and the clock strikes midnight? Well, sure it works then too. But I think one of the most powerful and proactive things we can do is to challenge ourselves now, even in the middle of the season, to finish the year out well and start the new year out strong.

How do we do this? Dwell in the Word. The Word is what propels us deeper into our relationship with the Lord. In His Word, we see and hear His heart for us and all mankind. We get to know Him, His love, His kindness, His character deeper. Our hearts glow inside of us when we dig into the Word.

Yes, friends, the Word works.

When faced with obstacles that seem they have no answer?

The Word works.

When faced with a lack of peace, depression or anxiety?

The Word works.

When faced with illness, lack or loneliness?

The Word works.

In any situation… the Word works.

His Word is always true. It never changes. It never shifts or ceases to apply to our lives.

The Word will stand the test of time. It never fades or loses its power.

Right now the Holy Spirit is whispering to each of our hearts “come further up, come further in”- come dwell on the promises He has given us in His Word!

Here are 30 Truths for us to dwell on from the Bible. Let’s meditate on them, remember them when the going gets tough, even the days get busy or when it seems there is no change. The Word works!

I challenge each of us… let’s find our favorites- the one that speaks to us in this moment, Let’s write it down, look it up in our Bibles, speak it and believe it. “”For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us” (2 Corinthians 1:20).

So without further adieu, here are 30 promises to propel us “further up and further in” in our relationship with the Lord:

He is for you! “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31.
His love can never be separated from you. “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[b] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” Romans 8:38-39.
God knew you before the earth was formed. “My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them” Psalm 139: 15-16.
He made you- you are wonderfully and fearfully made! “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well” Psalm 139:14.
He’s your shepherd. “The Lord is my shepherd” Psalm 23:1.
God is more than enough! “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us” Ephesians 3:20.
He has all we could ever need. “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by His own glory and goodness” 1 Peter 1:3.
He is provider. “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:19.
His love reaches to the sky! “Lord, your faithful love reaches to the sky! Your faithfulness is as high as the clouds” Psalm 36:5.
God casts our sin from us. “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us” Psalm 103:12.
He gives us a new heart. “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh” Ezekiel 36:26.
His kindness never fails. “Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” Lamentations 3:22-23.
Great is His faithfulness! (verse above)
His presence never leaves us. “If I ascend to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle by the farthest sea, even there Your hand will guide me; Your right hand will hold me fast.…” Psalm 139:8-10.
God gives peace to our minds. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” John 14:27.
He gives healing to our bodies. “He heals all your diseases” Psalm 103:2-3.
He strengthens us by His Spirit. “I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being” Ephesians 3:16.
God’s grace is more than enough. “My grace is always more than enough for you, and my power finds its full expression through your weakness” 2 Corinthians 12:9.
His Spirit is inside of us. “The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, He will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you” Romans 6:10-11.
He cares deeply for us. “And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won’t He more surely care for you, O men of little faith?” Matthew 6:30.
He is the burden bearer. “Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens” Psalm 68:19.
God delights in us. “The Lord your God …will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing” Zephaniah 3:17.
He sends us a helper (the Holy Spirit). “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth” John 14:16-17.
We are never alone. God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” Hebrews 13:5.
His mercy is new every morning. “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” Lamentations 3:22-23.
He forgives us time and time again. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” 1 John 1:9.
We are safeguarded by Him. “And into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, reserved in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power for the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time” 1 Peter 1:4-5.
God has a plan for our lives. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” Jeremiah 29:11.
He is our living hope! “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” 1 Peter 1:3.
He redeems our lives from the pit. “He redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion” Psalm 103:4.

Did you find your favorite? I know I did! (If it is even possible to pick just one?!) I encourage you… write it down, pray it, meditate it, speak it over your life this week.

The things we meditate on during the week is what will begin to grow in our hearts. I want to have more of Him and His Word planted in my heart. How about you?

My prayer for this week: Lord, may we be empowered by your Word to come “further up and further in” with you this week. May you propel us forward in our relationship with you as we hold onto the Word, mediate on it, and believe it. We believe we will see your promises come to pass in our lives by the help of your Holy Spirit. Show us how to go to the next level, the deeper level with you (much like Aslan whispering to Lucy— further up, further in). Help us not to compromise and live with our minds absorbed in this natural world, but instead “be transformed by the renewing of our minds” (in the Word)–Romans 12:2. Thank you for revealing more and more of yourself to us. We love you, Amen!

Until next time,

PS. We have close to 30 days until the start of 2023 which means one promise a day to meditate on. Now that’s a good way to end the year well and start the new year off strong! 💪

P.P.S. Here’s some of the books I am adding to my TBR (To Be Read pile) or I already use daily! (links under pictures)

Book 1 “Unwrapping the Names of Jesus”. I’m just starting this for Advent with my family!

Books 2-4: On my TBR pile! Looks like some great devotionals for the New Year.

Bibles (pictures 5 &6): Two of my favorite Bibles!