I’m Pressing On
Friday, November 12
I’m Pressing On
I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14
The apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Philippi from a place of imprisonment, not knowing whether he faced death because of his faith in Jesus. He wanted these new believers in Philippi to press on towards the goal. He wanted them to grow and mature in their Christian faith. He wrote, ‘God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus. I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God. (Philippians 1:9-11).
The Philippians were surrounded by spiritual heaviness and Paul prayed they would rise up and shine the light of Jesus Christ into that darkness. Paul was choosing not to think about the past, but to focus all his energy on what lay ahead.
In recalling this encouragement to the believers, I am reminded of the old hymn, ‘Higher Ground’
I’m pressing on the upward way,
New heights I’m gaining every day;
Still praying as I onward bound,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”
Lord, lift me up, and let me stand
By faith on Canaan’s tableland;
A higher plane than I have found,
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
Though some may dwell where these abound,
My prayer, my aim, is higher ground.
Today take courage in the words penned by Paul or in the hymn and keep pressing on. I am sure that Paul would have thoroughly agreed with these words. It is all too easy to let oneself become discouraged with the doubts and fears others have, as well as the attacks of Satan upon our faith. In these moments find comfort in the first verse of the hymn says, ‘I’m pressing on the upward way, new heights I’m gaining every day; still praying as I’m onward bound, “Lord, plant my feet on higher ground”’.