Beloved, do you hear the call of the Lord, beckoning you to come closer, to press into His presence, and to abide in His love? The words of Paul in Philippians 3 echo the heartbeat of Scripture—a divine summons to forsake the fleeting treasures of this world and lay hold of the eternal treasure of knowing Christ Jesus our Lord.
“Abide in Me, and I in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you [bear fruit, producing evidence of your faith], unless you abide in Me” (John 15:4 AMP). Pressing into God begins with abiding—dwelling in Him as the source of all life and sustenance. It is in His presence that we find strength, wisdom, and the power to be conformed to His image. Press into God’s presence with a heart that seeks His face.
Consider the words of the psalmist: “One thing I have asked of the Lord, and that I will seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord [in His presence] all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty [the delightful loveliness and majestic grandeur] of the Lord and to meditate in His temple” (Psalm 27:4 AMP). Pressing into God requires a singular focus, a holy determination to pursue Him above all else. The world may offer distractions, but those who seek Him lack no good thing (Psalm 34:10).
Beloved, we are not called to pursue God with half-hearted devotion but with a heart ablaze with holy longing. John reminds us of the magnitude of God’s love: “See what an incredible quality of love the Father has shown to us, that we would [be permitted to] be named and called and counted as the children of God!” (1 John 3:1 AMP). If God has loved us so deeply, how can we not respond with an unyielding desire to know Him more intimately and press into His presence?
Paul’s pursuit of Christ resonates with the cry of those who long to go deeper: “I count everything as loss compared to the priceless privilege and supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:8 AMP). Yet this is not a journey of self-effort; it is one of dependence on His grace. “Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit,” says the Lord of hosts (Zechariah 4:6 AMP). Pressing into God requires humility, a surrender to the work of the Holy Spirit who empowers us to draw near and press into His presence.
The apostle John paints a vivid picture of the rewards of pressing into God: “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true [supreme and sovereign] God, and [in the same manner know] Jesus [as the] Christ whom You have sent” (John 17:3 AMP). To know Him is life itself—eternal, abundant, and overflowing.
Do not grow weary, dear one. Press in with all your heart. Fix your eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of your faith (Hebrews 12:2). Forget what lies behind and strain forward to what lies ahead (Philippians 3:13-14). As you abide in Him, as you press into the depths of His love, you will discover the fullness of joy and the power of resurrection life, pressing into God’s presence with hope and faith.
Sharing His Goodness with the World
Beloved, as you press into God and abide in His love, His heart becomes your heart. You cannot taste the goodness of God and keep it to yourself. The world is filled with those wandering in darkness, unaware of the hope and joy found in Christ. Jesus declared, “You are the light of [Christ to] the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden” (Matthew 5:14 AMP). As you dwell in Him, His light shines through you, drawing the lost to the Savior and showing them the way to press into God’s presence.
Do not fear sharing His goodness, for the same Spirit who empowers you to abide also equips you to proclaim the Gospel. Paul reminds us, “How will they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher [or messenger]?” (Romans 10:14 AMP). You are God’s chosen messenger, sent to testify of His unfailing love and salvation through Christ.
Let your life, rooted in intimacy with God, overflow with His grace and truth. Extend a hand to the brokenhearted. Speak boldly to those who are searching. Show the world that the same God who transformed you can bring them into the fullness of life. “Taste and see that the Lord [our God] is good; how blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the man who takes refuge in Him” (Psalm 34:8 AMP). Indeed, press into God’s presence and let His goodness overflow from your life.
Prayer:
Father, as we press into Your presence, let us not hold back from sharing Your goodness with those who are lost. Fill us with boldness to proclaim Your truth, wisdom to reach the searching, and love to reflect Your heart. Let our lives be living testimonies of Your grace, drawing others to the salvation found in Christ alone. May Your light shine through us, Lord, for Your glory and the building of Your Kingdom as we press into Your holy presence. In Jesus’ name, Amen.