Endure Through the Pressing

2 Corinthians 4:7-9 – “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;”

I may be writing this for myself, but as I look around I see a common theme happening throughout the congregation: a pressing or sifting like Pastor spoke about a few services ago. (If you haven’t experienced the pressure yet, rest assured its coming so prepare now!) I’d like to say that throughout the pressing, I always remain holy and righteous, but that would not be truthful. While the end result is a more holy, better-preserved self, the transition – if I am not mindful – can sometimes bring out an unpleasant or withdrawn form of myself; the exact reason I decided to write about holding fast and finding encouragement throughout the refining process!

To begin with, you must accept (and remind yourself continuously) that there is purpose in the pressing. It’s twofold actually: the outset is to glorify Jesus and the prolonging is to refine our righteousness. Remember the words of the Lord (I’m paraphrasing), it’s better to suffer the excruciating pain of a gouged-out eye than to let any sin remain in your heart (Matthew 5:29). That one is never easy to hear, but it’s a perfect representation of how Jesus views sin in our lives. He’d rather we suffer some now while we’re still in His presence, and can be transformed, as opposed to the alternative of eternity without Him.

We must also sanctify (or make holy) our fasting. This is tough. It requires meaningful prayer, honesty with yourself, and true sacrifice. Our fasting, especially in pressing times, cannot become ritualistic. If it does, it becomes ineffective and meaningless. The Lord created each of us uniquely and will expect unique sacrifices during our individual time of fasting. He expects us to disconnect from the world and from things that hinder our relationship with Him. If you find yourself on social media often, then deleting your app(s) might be your sacrifice. If you find yourself over-eating, then pushing more than one plate away might be yours. You will need to pray about what the Lord is asking from you. Don’t just fast to fast. Be sure that connecting with Jesus and obedience is part of the sacrifice.

This is also a good one: cast down imaginations, they become high things! (2 Corinthians 10:5) Satan likes to tempt us even more when the heat is turned up. Take heed, the pressure is persuasive and can cause us to slip back into old ways. Offense might linger; thoughts of “taking the edge off” may circulate; anger and bitterness also like to roar their ugly heads in these times. Whatever your stronghold was (or is), you can be certain the temptation to revert will be at hand. Immediately rebuke those kinds of thoughts in the name of Jesus before they take hold and lead to sinfulness. Philippians 4:8 tells us to center our thoughts on the goodness of the Lord. Speak positivity and life into the situation! It is impossible to overcome if you are thinking on the negative.

Lastly, but most important, encourage yourself in the Lord. You may find there is a learning curve in this point; be patient, the Lord will show you what works best for you. Try different approaches – prayer, reading the Word or worship. Sometimes just sitting in a quiet room and listening for the voice of God is all you need for encouragement. When we are renewed in the Spirit, peace and joy become abundant in our lives. Renew yourself every chance you get. When the Holy Spirit moves in church don’t wallow in your misery; get up, sing and dance! Rejoice in the Lord and embrace the removal process – the finished product is holy, anointed, and righteous in the eyes of Jesus!