There is a song I haven't heard for a while. It goes like this:

We are climbing Jacob's ladder,
We are climbing Jacob's ladder,
We are climbing Jacob's ladder,
Soldiers of the cross.

Ev'ry round goes higher, higher,
Ev'ry round goes higher, higher,
Ev'ry round goes higher, higher,
Soldiers of the cross.

The song speaks to the “strategy of elevation” ...that is, as we learn to trust God more and obey what the Spirit is showing us, we move to a higher plain of relationship with God...God reveals more to us and we experience more Christ-likeness. Think back a year ago...are you at a higher level in your relationship with God? If so, it's because you're “climbing higher.” Climbing a ladder requires effort and trust in that ladder, so too in the process of sanctified “elevation.” God waits for us to take the next step higher in our relationship with Him. We will experience Godly changes in how we think, our priorities, how we love others, our edifying usefulness among the brothers and sisters in the church.

This is the theme of today's My Utmost for His Highest:

“A higher state of mind and spiritual vision can only be achieved through the higher practice of personal character. If you live up to the highest and best that you know in the outer level of your life, God will continually say to you, “Friend, come up even higher.” Never allow God to show you a truth which you do not instantly begin to live up to, applying it to your life. Always work through it, staying in its light.

Your growth in grace is not measured by the fact that you haven't turned back, but that you have an insight and understanding into where you are spiritually. Have you heard God say, “Come up higher,” not audibly on the outer level, but to the innermost part of your character?

God has to hide from us what He does, until, due to the growth of our personal character, we get to the level where He is then able to reveal it.”

The point of today's Truth Matters is this: don't give up, keep climbing higher in your trust and obedience to God even when it's hard and seems beyond what you are able...after all, the song defines us as “soldiers” ...brave, committed, willing to endure hardship, trusting our Commander. My prayer for you and me this day is this:

Lord...many of us are struggling today. Help us to see that our struggle is another rung on our sanctification ladder. We'll trust You in the midst of our struggle, and as we do, we'll reach for that next rung where we will see You more clearly. We need Your help Lord through the struggle because sometimes we don't feel like “soldiers”... we're not reaching for that next rung. The enemy would love for us not to “reach.” We cling to Your promise:

No (circumstance) has overtaken you but such as is common to man, but God is faithful, who will not allow (a circumstance) beyond what you are able, but with the (circumstance) will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13 DB amplified version)

Walk with the King today and be a blessing.