Pressing in = continuing to apply even pressure, without easing up, in order to get closer.
Have you ever been in a crowded lobby of a concert hall, where everyone is shoulder to shoulder, waiting for the doors to open? Everyone wants to get into the theater and find the best possible seat -- right in front of the stage. The doors finally open, and all the people in the lobby slowly, "press in" with a steady determination, and they move themselves forward, funneling through the open door.
That's kind of what it was like in prayer today. I just had to get into "that place." - Right in front of the Master, Himself. (I'm tired of sitting in the balcony and having to use someone's binoculars to see what's going on). LOL!
Seriously... I just wanted to go deeper... deeper in prayer. My heart is hungry for a good seat. A seat that's close to God. Press -- Press -- Press.
I had to push through all sorts of things. Every so often these random thoughts would pop up in my mind like,
- "Ok... that's enough... Let's go watch t.v. now." or
- "Isn't it time to stop and do some work?"
- "I wonder what's to eat in the refrigerator?"
- "What's on my calendar for tomorrow?"
- "Is that the sound of someone texting me?"
I had to shut the voices off - too distracting! I had to FOCUS if I was going to get there.
It took TIME. We're not talking McDonald's Drive Thru here!
It was 15 minutes before the first barrier presented itself. It was so obvious... I just shook it off! Then just when I really started entering into worship (to a CD I had playing), along came distraction #2. I pushed that aside...made some good headway... and #1 returned for an encore. I shook that off again, and pressed in closer... still not close enough for me, though. Along came #3, accompanied by growls from my stomach. Didn't I just eat, not that long ago? I closed my eyes, changed my position, and pushed in further. Oh no! The big one... #4 "What's on my calendar for tomorrow?" Ok... let's just focus on the here and now, and move into His Presence. There's #1 again. I shook it off, totally annoyed.
I'd like to tell you that it ended at #5. But no... the list of obstacles went on and on. But I was determined. I stayed focused on pushing through.... only to find that when I got through the door... I still needed to press through to get to the front of the stage (sort a speak).
Needless to say... my flesh presented numerous distractions, but I didn't give up. I fought them off. I kept praying. I kept singing. When my mind filled up with pictures of people I knew, I presented them to The Lord in my prayers. I prayed in the Spirit.
At one point I cried, "I want to go deeper, Lord!"
and He responded, "This is how you go deeper!"
So I continued.
I've come to find that keeping my eyes shut, shuts out a lot of distractions. But even still, here and there my eyes would check the clock and I'd think... Just 15 minutes more... O.k., just til the hour is up... Maybe just a little longer... I can't stop now, I'm in the middle of something... This is really good, surely a few more minutes will be ok?... What time is it now? Really? Where did the time go?... O.k., just a minute or two longer... Just one more song... Alright. I guess it's a good time to take a break... if I have to.
A few hours had gone by. (Deep breath).
Who would have thought that these RED SHOES would get me in -- front and center?
Tell me your "Pressing In" experience.
Gail
