Keep pressing forward to revive all

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"Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 3:13-14 NIV

We have a family motto around our house: “Suck it up.” It’s not very glamorous, but it has helped us get through some tough times. It wasn’t until we went through one of our Equip classes last summer that we realized there was a more glamorous way to say it and it was even biblical: “Keep Pressing Forward.”

Growing up, my dad was an example of what it meant to keep pressing forward. He was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis when I was 8 years old. I watched him deteriorate physically over the years, going from a cane to eventually a wheelchair. He entered a nursing home in his early 50s, but we never heard him complain about his circumstances and he knew that God could still use him there. He would pray with the workers and witness to everyone he came across. Even to the day my dad received his ultimate healing on October 17, 1998, he was praising God and thanking Him for all He had done. My dad was an amazing example of glorifying God in all circumstances and what it means to keep pressing forward in Him.

Are you dealing with something in your life that seems unbearable? It’s easy in today’s world to look at other people’s lives and think they have is so much easier than we do, but I want to encourage you today to keep pressing toward the goal. Keep your eyes on God and know that He can use your trial for His glory if you let Him. He never promised it would be easy, but He did promise that He would always be by our side. What sets us apart as believers is the goal of our gaze - stay in relationship with Him daily and He will revive all in you.

Keep Pressing Forward ~ It’s what we do!

Find a scripture that encourages you. Write it down, then put it on your bathroom mirror to remind you daily to keep your eyes on Him and to keep pressing forward.

Take a prayer-walk alone or with your family. As you are walking, be aware of how each step works together to bring you closer to the goal. Take this time to thank God for giving you the strength to walk through trials one step at a time.