It’s Important To Know What It Means To Be Exalted
What does it mean to be exalted?
The dictionary defines it as being elevated in rank, power, or character. The Biblical definition is – to raise up or elevate someone or something to a higher level in rank, honor, power, character, or quality . . . to be praised or held in high esteem.
It’s said that David most likely wrote Psalm 57 when he was hiding out in caves from King Saul. While he was on the run he asked God to have mercy on him and to protect him . . . he cried out for God’s help.
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy!
Psalm 57:1
I look to you for protection.
I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings
until the danger passes by.
But then he quickly seemed to pause and remember the truth about the One to whom he was praying. He acknowledged God’s past faithfulness…
He will send help from heaven to rescue me,
Psalm 57:3
disgracing those who hound me.
My God will send forth His unfailing love and faithfulness.
God had rescued David in the past and David trusted that God would rescue Him in the present. In fact, David was so confident that he paused his pleading and began to praise.
My heart is confident in you, O God;
Psalm 57:7–11
my heart is confident.
No wonder I can sing your praises!
Wake up, my heart!
Wake up, O lyre and harp!
I will wake the dawn with my song.
I will thank you, Lord, among all the people.
I will sing your praises among the nations.
For your unfailing love is as high as the heavens.
Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens.
May your glory shine over all the earth.
You see, David understood that God doesn’t need us to exalt Him. He is exalted . . . that’s who God is.
Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
Psalm 46:10 (ESV)
He is God. He can’t be elevated any higher. There is no higher rank, position, power, or quality that we could give Him.
The only thing we can do is raise Him up in our hearts, our minds, and our lives.
We can follow David’s example and lift Him up with gratitude and praise…
The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my Savior; my God is my rock in whom I find protection.
God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true.The Lord lives! Praise to my Rock! May God, the Rock of my salvation be exalted!
Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things.
2 Samuel 22:1, 31, & 47, 1 Chronicles 29:11
So, what does it mean for God to be exalted?
It means that we lift Him up in worship every day. It means we make it our heart’s desire to KNOW, TRUST, and LOVE Him. It means living for His glory. It means doing the things that will help us grow in faith and SEEKing Him first.
He is Exalted
He is exalted
The King is exalted on high
And I will praise Him
He is exalted
Forever exalted
And I will praise His Name
He is the Lord
Forever His truth shall reign
Heaven and earth
Rejoice in His Holy Name
He is exalted the King is exalted on high
by Twila Paris
Let’s pray…
A Prayer for the Lord to Be Exalted in My Life
Father God, You are holy. You are the Alpha and Omega Sovereign Lord. You are perfect in all Your ways. You are all-loving, all-knowing, all-powerful, and ever-present. You are gracious and merciful. You are my provider. You are faithful forever. You keep Your promises. You are worthy of my trust and all my worship and praise.
You are Lord of all and yet, You want to be known and loved by me. Oh, how that humbles me. Your Word tells me that You will strengthen me, help me, and guide me as You hold me by the hand.
Lord, by the power of Your Spirit, please make knowing and loving You my heart’s desire. Help me SEEK You first ahead of anything the world might offer me.
I want to live my life for Your glory. I want to tell everyone about all that You have done and continue to do for me. I pray that You will be exalted in my life now and always. For Yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
I love this quote by John Piper…
God created us to live with a single passion: to joyfully display His supreme excellence in all spheres of life. The wasted life is the life without this passion. God calls us to pray and think and dream and plan and work, not to be made much of, but to make much of Him in every part of our lives.
You and I were made to EXALT our Lord and Savior and when we make Him our heart’s desire we will experience the fullness life that He wants for us.
May you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think
Ephesians 3:18–20
May the Lord our salvation be exalted in all we say and do.
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Good morning and thank you, Deb – what a powerful Devo – I will exalt Him and praise His holy name – for He is worthy! Glory to God in the highest! Hallelujah!
Thank you, Bonnie! I truly appreciate your encouragement. God bless you!
Oh Deb! Again you have put into words, the joy of my heart today! When we exalt God, truly exalt ALL HE IS, everything else in this broken world is diminished to nothing! There is nothing my Exalted can’t do! For some reason, I am thinking of the song “You Raise Me Up” by Josh Groban…I think I will listen to it and exalt my God higher and higher! Blessings to You and all those who share in this wonderful devotion today!
That’s a great song, Kathy! This also made me think of a song Rev and I love called Be Glorified. It begins with, “I have made You too small in my eyes. Oh Lord, forgive me. And I have believed in a lie that You were unable to help me. But now, Oh Lord, I see my wrong. Heal my heart and show Yourself strong. And in my life and in my song, Oh Lord, be Glorified.” That is my prayer that He might be glorified and exalted in and through me. Blessings and hugs!
Another wonderful reminder to praise and exalt the Lord each and every day without reservation.
Blessings, Deb!
Thank you, Martha! Have a wonderful Monday! Blessings!
Beautiful devotional to read this morning! I love how David was so very honest with God about his feelings but always quickly returned to acknowledging God’s sovereign strength in his life. God is aready lifted high but, like you said, may He be glorified in our hearts and lives as well. Thank you Deb … ????????
Amen, Donna! May He be exalted in us. Thanks so much for visiting and for your kind encouragement. Blessings!
Thank you Deb for the beautiful topic and prayer to help us learn how to exalt God. He is all might after being our creator we love you Abba Father. I will exalt him daily and thank him for his unfailing love, grace, mercy, and faith he gives us freely and unconditional. Thank you for sharing such beautiful words and prayer. Have a wonderful blessed day ????
Hey Deb, great blog post! I really enjoyed reading about what it means for God to be exalted. Your insights about lifting Him up in our hearts, minds, and lives resonate deeply.
As Spurgeon once said, “God is already so high that He does not need us to elevate Him, but He invites us to look up to Him and exalt Him in our lives.”
Your words beautifully remind us that God’s exaltation surpasses any human measure, and our response should be to worship Him with gratitude and praise. Thank you for sharing this inspiring message!