Karen Herrick is a freelance artist-educator with Harlequin Arts, and leads creative Quiet Days at Whirlow. For more information visit our What’s On page.
I have just been doing the weekly ironing and chuntering to myself about the creases in the clothes. As I press and steam them out of work shirts and cotton dresses my mind turns to that passage in Philippians about ‘pressing on’, and I find myself wondering what God might be teaching us through the creases in our clothes…
‘Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on towards the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.’
Everyday life is not always easy. No matter what happens, there are some things that we just get on with. These patterns of ordinary living can keep us on track!
What physical practices do you maintain in your everyday life, that enable you to live better?
What regular spiritual practices do you intentionally maintain that will enable you to ‘press on’ in your journey with the Lord?
What daily rhythms do you hold onto through the ordinary days to help keep your prayer life on track through extraordinary times?
We are encouraged to:
‘…press on towards the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.’
Stay with these words for a moment if you like.
Photo by cottonbro
Do you know your own divine purpose in life; the assignment you have been given; your unique purpose in Christ?
This purpose is the reason why we are to press on: that God’s Kingdom may come on earth through Christ in us. Christ took hold of us, out of deep love that we might live in him and He in us.
It’s not easy to continually press on, and there are times when we simply need to stop and let the creases show, resting in Christ, allowing others to help and uphold. So often we want to remove all the wrinkles in our lives, when it is they that reveal our character, flaws, and unique God- given individuality.
Pressing on takes daily determination; resolve to move forward and not remain in rhythms that no longer serve us. We are to dedicate ourselves to press on, into all that God has in store for us ahead, trusting that he waits at the finish line, just as he runs with us along the route.
Indeed, in Hosea 6.3 we read:
‘Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord;
his appearing is as sure as the dawn;
he will come to us like the showers,
like the spring rains that water the earth.’
If you are finding it hard to ‘press on’ at this time, you might find it helpful to listen to this version of ‘You Raise Me Up’ sung by Aled Jones