Page 12 - Cornerstone Connection Magazine - Volume 22 - Issue 7

Press On to Better Things Never Give Up!

Many years ago, when God gave me a revelation of His When I talk about “pressing,” what I mean is we have to
promise for my life in John 10:10, it was literally life chang- press against the pressure that’s coming against us, holding us
ing. The truth that Jesus came “that they may have and enjoy back from doing what God is leading us to do. For example,
life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows]” maybe you’ve experienced rejection, betrayal, abandonment,
(AMP) gave me a determination to no longer settle for just injustices, discouragement or disappointment. You need to
barely getting by in my everyday life. forgive someone, but it feels impossible to do it and move on.
As I became more serious about my relationship with God In His Word, God says, “If you do not forgive others their
and discovered how to really “do life” with Him, the more I sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:15
experienced the peace and joy that only Jesus can give. And it NIV). And in John 13:34, Jesus says, “Love one another. As I
made me passionate about helping others take hold of every- have loved you, so you must love one another.” Romans 12:21
thing God has for their lives, too. clearly says, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil
So many people are hurting, struggling to find joy, peace with good.”
and fulfillment. They’re missing out on the good plan God You may be thinking, “Joyce, it’s too hard. You don’t know
has for them because they don’t know that He wants them to what they did to me!” I understand. And I know it’s not easy
have life in Christ “to the full, till it overflows” now, in this to press through your pain and fear to do what God is show-
life. Sadly, many who get this realization often settle for less ing you to do. It took time and determination for me to for-
than God’s best because it requires determination and dili- give my father for abusing me and my mother for knowing
gence to get there. about it but not having the courage to get me out of that situa-
tion. But God helped me to do it, and ultimately, it set me free
Hard Things Can Bring Good Results to move forward in His call on my life to minister to people
all over the world.
These days, with all the modern technology we have, it’s
easy to be lazy and expect to just glide through life. Some Press Past Feelings and Put Your Trust in God
people don’t have the tenacity to press through challenges be-
cause so much of life is automated and convenient. The key to getting your breakthrough is making a deter-
I remember when simply making a phone call required mined decision to press past the pain of feelings and do what
some effort. And when I first started studying the Bible and you know you should do even while you’re hurting. In other
teaching, it was quite a job to put even one message together words, you can’t wait until you feel like doing what is right.
because we didn’t have the Internet to get all of our informa- God wants you to move forward in His plan for your life.
tion from. But the only way you are going to do that is by starting now
We like things to be easy, but when things are too easy, it to do what you need to do, the things you’ve been putting off
isn’t necessarily good for us because we lack perseverance because you don’t feel like doing them. Choose to believe that
and determination to press through them. When hard times by God’s grace and with His help, you can do what you know
and challenges come (and they will come), we will need to do in your heart you should do, not just what feels good.
some pressing, or we’ll give up. If you’re struggling with this, let me encourage you. Phi-
lippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things [which He has called
me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me
[to fulfill His purpose…]” (AMP). And 2 Peter 1:3 (NIV) says
that God’s “divine power has given us everything we need for
a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by
his own glory and goodness.”
Whatever your challenge may be—getting out of debt,
strengthening your marriage, pursuing a new job, getting in
better physical health, etc.—God’s grace can empower you to
do it. Ask Him to help you. Trust Him to be with you, and
start taking steps of faith, doing what you know you can do
today. Press on to the great things Jesus came to give you! ✝

Joyce Meyer is a New York Times bestselling author and founder of Joyce Meyer Ministries, Inc.
She has authored nearly 100 books, including Battlefield of the Mind and Making Good Habits,
Breaking Bad Habits (Hachette). She hosts the Enjoying Everyday Life radio and TV programs,
which air on hundreds of stations worldwide. For more information, visit www.joycemeyer.org.
12 Volume 22 • Issue 7