Our new little cat, Frankie, was quite timid when we first brought him home. Being in a strange new place with new sounds and people, he was unsure of what he should do. Frankie had had a tough time of it prior to being adopted by us and it was obvious as he first lived in our home that he didn’t yet trust us. However, over the past several weeks, he has been intently watching us and getting to know our character. Each day as he has observed our behavior he has become more and more trusting and open to our leading. In fact, now that he has been with us for a little over a month, he will happily approach us at the sound of our voice, with tail held high, and press in to our hands in an effort let us know what is on his mind. Most often, what is on his mind is that he wants a good back rub or a scratch behind his ears! But, sometimes he simply wants the comfort of being close to us. And, as he has gotten to know us, he has already learned that we represent safety and love.

The more he gets to know us, the better he is at discerning what we are doing and what we want him to do in order to keep him safe. When he is unsure of something he will come near to the people he trusts and simply rest in the security of our closeness. He is learning to understand what we want for him by pressing in.

Do you press in? When you are afraid and you don’t know which road to travel, do you frantically try to figure it out on your own? Or, do you press in to God and get to know Him better? In the Bible study I am going through right now, we are learning that the closer we get to God, the more easily we will be able to discern His voice and the better we will know His will for our lives.

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” John 10:27

God’s greatest desire is to make Himself known to us and lead us into a more intimate relationship with Him. Unfortunately, we often try to figure out what God wants us to do rather than simply getting to know Him and trusting that He will reveal His will for us at the right time. God doesn’t want to keep His desires for us a secret! He wants us to hear and follow Him.

“Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust Him, and He will help you.” Psalm 37:4-5

I love the quote by Priscilla Shirer that says, “No longer do I frantically search for God’s will; I frantically search for God.” We can be confident that as we press in to God, getting to know Him and His character better, our relationship with Him will become more intimate and we will become more sensitive to His desires for us. God will reveal His will. There is such freedom in that! The pressure is off of us in trying to figure out what God wants. Our responsibility is simply to press in to God and get to know Him better. When we do, He will make clear our path.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

Pressing in,
Joan


20 Comments

  1. Joan, I love that quote of Priscilla's as well! This week I seem to have landed onto reading upon reading that is a reminder of pressing into Christ. Knowing Him. Taking the time. I have been too busy trying to fit too many things in (as usual). I cram my Jesus time in here and there rushing off to the next thing. I need to put Him first and all else around it. I need to press in! Thanks for being God's conduit tonight, Joan!
    Blessings and smiles,
    Lori

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Lori! I find that I often try to squeeze in my time with Jesus rather than coming to Him first. But, when I reverse that, I discover that our relationship deepens so much! The closer I get to Him, the clearer His will becomes! I love that He cares so much that He wants us in a relationship with Him!

      Have a great day! Joan

      Delete
  2. Joan, What a beautiful analogy using the experience you had with your new cat to show the blessings of pressing into our Heavenly Father.

    I was really struck by your insight that, "we often try to figure out what God wants us to do rather than simply getting to know Him and trusting that He will reveal His will for us at the right time.". I am a fixer by nature and as such, tend to want things fixed ASAP. I found your words so comforting that all we need to do is to press in and trust and God will indeed reveal His perfect will to us at just the right time, His perfect time...

    I leave here today feeling encouraged and blessed. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It sure does take the pressure off of us to figure things out, doesn't it, Karen? I so want to know what God wants me to do in any given situation. But, I'm learning that He will tell me when it is the right time to know! My job is to simply get close to Him! I'm so glad that you were encouraged today!

      Blessings, Joan

      Delete
  3. Your words underscore the message that God is trying to impress on my own heart in these days of busy -- it's about relationship with Him. He doesn't need my full planner to prove my love for Him. He wants me to press into HIM and his faithfulness.
    Thanks, Joan.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. When I first gave my life to Christ, it was following a sermon that told us that God wants a personal relationship with us! I don't know where I had been in the years previously that I hadn't heard that...or at least it hadn't clicked. However, on that day, following that message, I began the "pressing in" process and have been so blessed by our loving God by our relationship!

      Blessings, Joan

      Delete
  4. Getting to know God and searching for Him is something I was taught from the time I was young. I wish the teachings would have been a little different because I can't believe all the years I wasted on not wanting to know Him more. I'm so thankful He has drawn me in and makes me want to know Him more. Thanks, Joan, for sharing with Thankful Thursdays.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Lori! It is such a gift to be loved by God so much that he actually wants to have a deep and meaningful relationship with us, isn't it? Praising Him that His mercies are new each day!

      Blessings, Joan

      Delete
  5. I'm guilty of once trying to fix things myself or do things my way. I'm finally learning to surrender it and seek God's will first. I love how you used your newest family member in this post :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Carrie! For years I tried to do things my way, but like you, I'm finally learning how to surrender it to God! His way is always better than anything I could figure out on my own!
      Blessings, Joan

      Delete
  6. If we didn't lead such frantic lives, I wonder if we would see Him more in our moments. He is present even when we are unaware.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, I know we would! I'm learning that when I consciously slow down and put aside my busyness, His voice is more easily heard! I'm thankful, though, that even when I'm distracted, He never leaves my side. What a faithful love!

      Blessings, Joan

      Delete
  7. I love this! It's so important to take time to just sit at the Lord's feet and take the time to get to know Him. What an incredible blessing this is! Thank you for sharing this

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Bree! There is such comfort and peace while sitting at the Lord's feet, isn't there? We can count on Him to always welcome us when we take the time to press in...

      Blessings, Joan

      Delete
  8. Joan - thank you for this beautiful offering of words this morning. I am blessed by knowing that drawing close to God is a safe place and one that provides comfort, peace, love and grace. I'm not sure why John 10:27 spoke to me so clearly today but those words say it all. It is the gift of being known by our Father and it brings me so much comfort. Blessings on this Sabbath.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Mary! I love how God's word reaches us at just the right time. I love John 10:27 because it is amazing to me that our God loves us so much that He would desire to know us and for us to know Him! I so agree -- what a gift it is!

      Blessings, Joan

      Delete
  9. Love the idea of pressing into God. So true, we often try to know what God wants us to do instead of focusing on getting to know him.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think it is an easy habit to fall into. But, I'm learning that the more I get to know Him, the more my faith and trust grows...and thankfully, the more clearly I hear His voice!

      Blessings, Joan

      Delete
  10. Thank you for sharing your inspirational stories with us at Create With Joy!

    Congratulations Joan - you are our Friend of the Week at this week's Friendship Friday Party (Week 214) at Create With Joy! :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much! What a blessing to be the "Friend of the Week" over at Create with Joy!

      Blessings, Joan

      Delete

Join the conversation! (Be sure to add your first name so I know who I'm talking to!)