It seems like in this day and age that many of our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ have lost the art of pressing in to God. “Pressing in” is definitely not the fast food mentality. A late night run to the drive-through to satisfy a sudden urge of hunger.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, “Be unceasing and persistent in prayer.”
Our directive is to never stop in prayer. Be it for thanksgiving or for a situation that is weighing on us spiritually.
Growing up, my Dad had a large and growing congregation in the City of Pietersburg, South Africa. Through the work of the enemy, this congregation had a major church split. It left many of the congregants devastated and the toll took my family years to recover from. We lost everything: the family home, cars, finances, friends – all gone.
My Mom and Dad never gave up on ministry though. One day in conversation with Dad, I asked him, “Why don’t you just give up and get a regular job?” He said: “Son, what if I give up today and the breakthrough came tomorrow?”
Those words have echoed in my head and I still hear them to this very day.
God was faithful and Mom and Dad eventually got their breakthrough. There were many life lessons learned and hard-earned testimonies along the way. Sometimes I wonder what life would have looked like if Dad gave up and took the easy way out.
As for me, I learned a valuable lesson through the experience: to press in to God, no matter what circumstance I find myself in. Have there been opportunities for me to give up on Church, on God and my Christianity? The answer is “Absolutely!” But I know I’m not living my life for the now. As the Apostle Paul writes: “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high call of God on my life!”
With everything we do, we need to apply pressure on both knees. Yes – we need to pray – but we don’t need to make prayer difficult! Instead, we pray out of our relationship with God. For me – my prayers are conversational. I know who I am in Christ, I don’t pray from the dust up, but from my position in Christ Jesus. That position says that I can come into the throne room of my Heavenly Father with boldness!
We need to get back to the lost art of pressing in to God. Pressing in will bring victory and peace to the areas of heaviness in your soul. Pray until the breakthrough comes! While you are praying and waiting on your breakthrough – God will give you many testimonies that will strengthen your faith and build your character.
The secret is not to give up and press into God with prayer.
