Tag Archives: spirituality

The Message Behind the Music-February 14

Posted on February 14, 2026 by expressyourself4him

Inspiration Behind Higher Love:

Higher Love was co-written by Steve Winwood and Will Jennings. The source of this higher love comes from childhood flashbacks of sinning Christian hymns in church. The goal for Higher Love was to create a modern-day hymn that would resonate with the spiritual condition of his generation. Steve isn’t looking for an earthly feeling that is temporary. Rather, he is searching for an eternal love that will last the test of time.

Biblical Application:

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved, Acts 2:42-47.

Exegesis of Higher Love:

Think about it, there must be higher love
Down in the heart or hidden in the stars above
Without it, life is wasted time
Look inside your heart, I’ll look inside mine

Steve and Will are searching for a higher power. Whether this exists inside your heart or in the skies above, life without this higher love is a waste of time. Each begin this quest to find a higher power.

Things look so bad everywhere
In this whole world, what is fair?
We walk blind and we try to see
Falling behind in what could be

When you look around, this world seems to be falling apart. The blind often leads the blind, falling behind the ideal life where a higher love exists.

Bring me a higher love
Bring me a higher love, oh
Bring me a higher love
Where’s that higher love I keep thinking of?

Steve is thinking about growing up in church as a child. Now as an adult, the absence of this higher love is fading from his memory.

Worlds are turning, and we’re just hanging on
Facing our fear and standing out there alone
A yearning and it’s real to me
There must be someone who’s feeling for me

The world is changing as most people are hanging on by a thread. Facing these fears alone, Steve is yearning for a higher love that is real.

Things look so bad everywhere
In this whole world, what is fair?
We walk blind and we try to see
Falling behind in what could be

The chorus points to current events filled with bad news. This lack of fairness makes the world blind from what is really going on with most failing to reach their full potential in life.

Bring me a higher love
Bring me a higher love, oh
Bring me a higher love
Where’s that higher love I keep thinking of?

This stanza serves as a prayer to God for higher love.

Bring me a higher love
Bring me a higher love, oh
Bring me a higher love
I could rise above on a higher love

Access to this higher love would make a difference in life.

I will wait for it
I’m not too late for it
Until then, I’ll sing my song
To cheer the night along, bring it

Love doesn’t happen immediately. You have to wait for it. Until this arrives, stay hopeful.

I could light the night up with my soul on fire
I could make the sun shine from pure desire
Let me feel that love come over me
Let me feel how strong it could be

Steve points to a spiritual event where God ignited his soul with passion. This excitement filled Steve’s life, overflowing and making him stronger in his faith.

Oh-oh, bring me a higher love
Bring me a higher love, oh
Bring me a higher love
Where’s that higher love I keep thinking of?
Alright

Since Steve knows higher love exists, he is praying for this higher power to return to his life.

Bring me a higher love
Bring me a higher love, oh
Bring me a higher love
Oh, bring me a higher love, oh

This is what Steve’s soul craves.

Bring me a higher love (yes, I know, bring me a higher love)
Bring me a higher love, oh (bring me a higher love)
Bring me a higher love (yes, I know, bring me a higher love)
Bring me a higher love, oh

Steve is persistent in his request for higher love.

Bring me a higher love (yes, I know, bring me a higher love)
Bring me a higher love, oh
Bring me a higher love (yes, I know, bring me a higher love)
Bring me a higher

Steve is searching for a spiritual spark.

Thank you, thank you so much
Thank you

Steve appears to be thanking God in advance for answering his prayer.

Final Thoughts:

Most of my encounters with God as a young person was either a youth group or on retreats. This is where I was first introduced to the concept of a living God. During events in college, this living God began to dwell in my heart, bringing me joy. Yet like Steve, we all experience spiritual dry spells, longing for this higher power to return, John 10:10. May this February revive your soul and bring you into fellowship with a higher love, Romans 10:9-11.

by Jay Mankus

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Use the Force of the Holy Spirit

Posted on February 20, 2018 by expressyourself4him

In the context of Star Wars, the force is a metaphysical and ubiquitous power.  King Kayos is the first character to utter the expression, “may the force be with you.”  To awaken a certain kind of spirituality within his audience, George Lucas uses the concept of dualism to illustrate two opposing powers.  While the Jedi utilize the light side of the force, the Sith exploit the dark side, setting the stage for an epic battle between good and evil for dominance in the universe.

At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, 13 and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted[by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him, Mark 1:12-13.

Descending from heaven to restore what Adam lost, Luke 19:10, Jesus is sent to earth by God the Father to complete a secret mission.  When the timing was right, Jesus followed the force of the Holy Spirit.  This calling drew Jesus into the wilderness for forty days, similar to Jedi’s led to spend time with Yoda, training to prepare for future battles.  While in the desert, Jesus fasted and prayed, using the power of the Holy Spirit to prepare his heart, soul and mind for a three year ministry on earth.

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words, Romans 8:26.

After completing God’s will, Jesus died on a cross, rose from the dead and ascended back into heaven.  Prior to his exit from earth, Jesus spent forty days, relaying a great commission for his disciples to carry out.  Today, followers of Jesus are still seeking to complete the instructions found in Matthew 28:18-20.  To help us on this journey, the apostle Paul provides further directions in the passage above to guide individuals along the way.  Therefore, if you’re not sure where to go or what to do, cry out to the Lord so that the force of the Holy Spirit will intercede on your behalf to guide you toward the light and away from Satan’s darkness.  Use the force daily, Galatians 5:25.

by Jay Mankus

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Paranormal Survivors

Posted on January 28, 2016 by expressyourself4him

Paranormal Survivor is now in its second season on Destination America.  This show interviews eyewitnesses to strange encounters, often bringing in experts in the field to explain supernatural events.  In recent years, reality television has shined light on topics that in previous years was considered taboo or too bizarre to consider.  However, one of the first documented cases of paranormal survivors comes right out of the Bible.

One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?”- Acts 19:15

Casting out demons in the middle of the first century became a common experience for apostles and disciples of Jesus.  This fascination led some outside the faith to begin to emulate the apostle Paul.  According to Luke, seven sons and a Jewish chief priest were in the middle of an exorcism when a demon manifested itself.  The individual who was possessed was filled with multiple spirits.  Since the sons of Sceva were powerless without a personal relationship with God or access to the Holy Spirit, they were attacked and fled.

Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding, Acts 19:16.

A generation ago, churches were afraid to bring up the topic of demons, dismissing it as an exaggeration or waste of time.  However, in this age of spirituality, people are opening doors for the Devil and demons to come into their lives.  Subsequently, manifestations of ghosts and spirits as detailed on the show Paranormal Survivor are not as uncommon as it use to be.  Therefore, depending upon where you move to, work or visit, don’t be surprised if you encounter the paranormal.  Until then, fast, pray and draw near to God.

by Jay Mankus

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