Pool Float = Life Giver (Action Required)

Something that keeps going through my mind lately is something that I read in a Priscilla Shirer book called "Discerning the Voice of God". This book has a lot of wisdom about how to hear and recognize the voice of the Lord and also what we should do in response to His voice. The Lord showed me a lot of things as I read this book and also through doing a Video Bible Study on the same book with some girls at church. One thing that has really stayed with me is something that she referred to as "pressing into the Lord." When things are hard to figure out or they don't make sense or when life seems to be throwing you nothing but curve balls or even when you feel like the Heavens are just utterly silent, Priscilla tells us in the book to "press into the Lord." And I know it may seem like a small little nothing thing to have gotten out of a book that says so many other things, but this idea of "pressing into" really got me thinking. I think because it implies an action (or movement) on our part as the child of God (not to be confused in any way that our actions "earn" anything from the Lord, but simply a way of showing the Lord that our faith and trust is in Him no matter what). I think so many times we just sit back and wait for God to bless us and wait for Him to reveal things to us or wait for Him to heal our loved ones or wait for Him to steer the direction of our lives, but that puts everything on God as if we play no role at all in the outcome of our own lives. But the Lord has given us options and choices. And while I think it's important to wait on the Lord, I think in our waiting we should be applying this action of "pressing into" Him. I think our normal reaction when adversity falls upon our lives is to recoil and to become withdrawn, sometimes especially when it comes to the Lord, because we think He should have done something to stop whatever the adversity is. But I think we need to do quite the opposite. As Priscilla says, "Press Into The Lord". This means, when you feel like moving away from Him, move closer to Him instead. It is not always the easy thing to do, but it is absolutely the best thing to do. Press closer into Him. One way that I have found that I can Press Into Him is by claiming the promises He has given us in Scripture and reading them often (I find that reading scripture out loud really helps me to grasp it - and pay closer attention to the Words). And then when you feel like you aren't seeing the light at the end of that long tunnel you've been going down....Press Into Him even more! Be diligent! He really is right there with you the whole time. Hang onto Him and Press Into Him the same as you would if you were out in the middle of the sea and had only a little pool float to keep you above water. You wouldn't let go even for a minute to see if you could make it on your own...and you wouldn't just float on your back waiting for a helicopter to rescue you. No, you would cling to that thing with every bit of strength you could muster...until your muscles were sore and shaking and then you'd hang on some more because you would know it was the only way you would stay alive in that sea and get back onto solid ground. In the same way, Press Into Him because He is the Life Giver!! (or pool float in this example). He will keep your head above water and keep you afloat and will give you assurance that you will see solid ground again if you hang onto Him and Press Into Him. Oh how much more your faith will increase and your love for the Lord will grow. Clinging to the Lord in times of struggle, heart-ache or confusion is sometimes the sweetest place you could ever be. James 1:2-6 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like the wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind."