“Press forward. Do not stop, do not linger in your journey, but strive for the mark set before you.” – George Whitefield

Philippians 3:14 “I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”

Pressing forward…. The word press is defined as, to move or cause to move into a position of contact with something by exerting continuous physical force.  The word forward is defined as, onward so as to make progress, toward a successful conclusion.

I think back to Naval boot camp, that was a daily press!!  From the moment our bus arrived at the Naval base, the company commanders stormed the bus and began yelling, forcing us to get off the bus quickly.  I thought to myself…what in the world have I gotten myself into???  Twelve weeks of this???  But I had a goal…. if your goal is important enough to you, you will endure…you will sacrifice…. you will go through in order to achieve that goal. 

Not only was boot camp a physical challenge but also an emotional and mental one.  It is the goal of the instructors to get you into good physical shape and also get our mind and emotions in check.  How do they do this?  By placing you in an environment that feels hostile, taking you out of your comfort zone, challenging you physically and mentally.  Many times, I wanted to quit, I was exhausted mentally and physically. 

I didn’t think I could make it through twelve weeks of this torment.  But then I realized their purpose and my purpose.  I couldn’t take the attacks personal.  It was their job to try to break me because in the breaking I was made stronger…. are we catching this? 

I had to take the teaching…I had to flow with the order of things, not fight against it…. I had to focus on my goal which was to complete the military training and move upward in my assignment!

How similar is this to our Christian walk?  No, God isn’t beating us down…the world does a good enough job at that!  But He does allow the discipline…we are made in our trials….it is a time of receiving instruction…it is a time of walking in obedience….it is a time of receiving guidance….it is a time of being made strong in Christ Jesus! 

Zachariah 13:9 says, “And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people’; and they will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’” 

When metals are going through the purification process, it is heated by fire.  The hotter the flame and the longer the metal is in the heat of the flame the purer it becomes and is the most beautiful in this state.   

We also read in 1 Peter 1:7 “So that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 

1 Peter 4:12 says, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.”

Isaiah 43:2 says, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.”

You will not be consumed in the midst of the test!  Press forward!  Look beyond your current situation…. look beyond today…. look toward the goal!

Meditation verse – James 1:12 “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”

If this teaching was a blessing to you, learn more about discovering your purpose and your why in my new book. Daughter, Why Do You Worry? Available for purchase through most online retailers including Amazon.

Blessings!!

Keishana