A Lifetime of Pressing In

During the past several months, I have heard the same phrase over and over again in my heart; "Press into Me.  Press into Me."  I can't escape it.  I don't want to escape it.  The women's Bible Study group I belong to just wrapped up a study of Sheila Walsh's Book, The Shelter of God's Promises.  Sheila starts the book with a story of camping, bad weather, animals and finally, finding shelter from the storm in a cleft in the rocks.
                                                                  
That cleft in the rocks is Jesus.  He is our shelter from the storms of life.  Life can be hard.  It can batter us around and suck the very breath out of us.  But not if we're in the cleft of the Rock!  It was when our group started this book study, that I first heard the words, "Press into Me."  During moments alone, just me and my Lord, it's easy to press into Him.  I find I can be honest with Him there.  I can open my heart and show Him every hurt, every bit of anger and resentment, every wound.  He is so sweet with me there.

But I have also discovered that I can be in the cleft of my Rock anywhere; in my car, at the grocery store, at work, at my son's swim meets.  You see, we can take Him with us and be drenched in His sweetness, wherever we go.  It's not as easy as when we're alone with Him, but He promises to be our strength when we are weak.  He promises to be our peace that passes all understanding.  He promises He will never leave or forsake us.  So as we press into Him, become intimate with Him, as we learn to dwell in Him, then, when the storms of life come (and they will come) He will carry us through to victory. 

That victory will look different to each one of us and we never know what circumstance or situation He will use to bring us to victory, but be assured, He will.  He will turn our mourning into dancing.  He will put off our sackcloth and cloth us with gladness.  Will it be easy?  Will God be a magic wand that we wave to make bad things disappear?  No, He will be a presence, Who sometimes we can't even feel, but nonetheless there, to help us get through to that victory.  Living a lifestyle of "pressing in" isn't easy.  We can be distracted and walk away, so that we are caught off guard when we need Him most. 

I would encourage you, Dear One, to get in the habit of climbing into that cleft, getting up on His lap; whatever it looks like to you to be pressing into Him.  He will meet you there, of that, I'm sure.  And there is no better, safer, more peaceful place to be; in good times and bad.  Seek Him, not what He can do for you!  In finding Him, you will find all that you need. 

I intend to heed those words He has spoken in my heart.  I am dedicated to spending a lifetime of pressing in, leaning in to Him.  There's no where I'd rather be!

From His Lap, (the cleft in the Rock),

You Don't Have to Sink or Swim

I was talking with someone today about an unpleasant circumstance that she has found herself in.  She told me, "Right now, it's sink or swim for me." I have probably heard that euphemism hundreds of times in my life but I guess I never gave it much thought. But when my friend spoke those words to me today, they pierced right through my gut.

"No, no no", I wanted to say.  As believers, we never have to choose between "sink or swim" in a bad situation. Truly, we can rest and do neither for a time.  There is great peace to be found in getting quiet before the Lord and not panicking.  Fear drives us to panic and panic, to foolishness. That's when we either frantically swim for what we think is the far off shore, or we give in to despair and sink.

I recall a time when I found myself in a situation that literally took the breath out of me.  In one moment of time, it unexpectedly caught me by such surprise and was so life altering that I could hear my heart beating and my mind was swirling.  I could make no sense of what was happening to me. Have you ever been there; in a place where you felt you had no control over where your life was headed and you were at the mercy of something bigger than you?  That the only options you had were to sink or swim?

During this time, I immediately pulled myself inward.  I went to a safe, quiet place and sat on my heavenly Father's lap.  I didn't speak of the issue to others.  I didn't run around trying to get advice from anyone who would talk to me.  And I didn't stop my life.  I literally stayed in His presence every step of every day.  I surrounded myself with praise and worship music, with Scripture.  Sometimes, when I was alone, I would get down on my knees and cry out to Him in despair, in anguish, even in anger.  And then, I would get quiet and listen to my heart.

His sweet presence never left me.  I did not feel the need to "swim" for safety, because He was my safety.  As I stayed there with Him, my heart quieted, my mind felt peace and my direction became clear.  I slowly and carefully started sharing with people what had happened to me (I didn't tell people who would have pulled me back into anguish and fear) and they were amazed at my peace and confidence in the midst of this horrible situation.

Dear One, if you have been handed something that's heavy and heartbreaking, don't panic, don't react too swiftly, taking the chance of sinking.  But rather, take some time to sit with Him, pour your heart out to Him and wrap yourself in His presence.  His love is a balm that can heal any wound and make life sweet again.  You are His child and He is your Father.  You can stay there, on His lap as long as you want to.

Take some time to visit Ann Voskamp at A Holy Experience and see what others are saying about faith.



From His lap,