Higher, Deeper, Wider

I was at my girls’ choir practice, waiting outside on a bench in the sunshine on October 7th, 2026. I pressed in faith to receive my first set of lyrics.  This song was my first fruits of that prophetic promise. It didn’t look like a song, just a longwinded paragraph until ChatGPT helped take my journaling and break it into verses/chorus format.  The first time my minstrel piano teacher tried putting these lyrics to a melody, he was so choked up in tears, he didn’t get past the chorus.  Enjoy! 

HIGHER, DEEPER, WIDER
Julia E. Kelly (Oct 7th, 2026)

[Verse 1 — intimate, piano only]
I gotta love You like You loved me first
Can I endure a little discomfort
So, others may be saved?
Can I lay down my lifestyle,
My pleasures and my luxuries,
To love the lost and make a way?

[Pre-Chorus — begin building]
The Son of Man had no place
To lay His head
Can I give up my couch?
The extra guest room?
The empty chair at my table?
So my neighbour doesn’t have to
“Suffer like Jesus”
When You already paid the price instead

[Chorus — warm, memorable, congregational]
Higher, deeper, wider
Than the world can contain
Let Your love pour through me
Till nothing stays the same

Higher, deeper, wider
Let Your love be seen
Let the world behold the Father
Through Your love in me

[Verse 2 — pull back slightly]
He paid the price
So I didn’t have to
Love is freely given
And freely received
Will I freely give
Or will I pay to play
In the name of love
When You have already set me free?

[Pre-Chorus — stronger]
What is higher?
What is deeper?
What is wider
Than the Father’s love?
Don’t let my love be skin-deep
Let Your love pour out of me
Till they see the Father’s heart

[Chorus — bigger]
Higher, deeper, wider
Then the world can contain
Let Your love pour through me
Till nothing stays the same

Higher, deeper, wider
Let Your love be seen
Let the world behold the Father
Through Your love in me

[Bridge — begin softly, then build]
Let it pour higher
Let it pour deeper
Let it pour wider
Then the world can contain

Let it pour higher
Let it pour deeper
Let it pour wider
Till every unloving thing is exposed

Let His nature
Let His character
Let His love
Saturate the soil of our hearts
Let His nature
Let His character
Let His love
Saturate the soil of our hearts
[Instrumental Build]

[Final Chorus — full band, soaring vocals, congregational]
Higher, deeper, wider
Than the world can contain
Let Your love pour through us
Till nothing stays the same

Higher, deeper, wider
Let Your love be seen
Let the world behold the Father
Through Your love in me

[Outro — strip back]
For love will bloom
Where it’s planted
Love will bloom
Where it’s planted
Let Your love take root in me

Higher…
Deeper…
Wider…
Let Your love take root in me.

© 2026 Julia Kelly. All rights reserved.