Life isn’t always easy. In fact, it often feels like the forces of darkness are throwing everything they’ve got at us, trying to knock us off course.
But we’re not called to back down or retreat. We’re called to press on, to keep moving forward in faith, even when the road is rough and the obstacles are many.
The Apostle Paul understood this perhaps better than anyone. His life was a testament to what it means to press on toward the mark of the prize, and his teachings offer us a roadmap for how to persevere when it feels like all hell is breaking loose against us.
What Does it Mean to Press On?
So, what does it mean to press on? It’s not just about surviving or enduring. Pressing on is about advancing, making progress, and pushing through barriers with the tenacity that comes from knowing God is with you.
The Greek word dioko—translated as “press on”—carries the connotation of pursuing with intense effort, not passively waiting for things to change. It’s about having a Holy Ghost fire in your belly that drives you to keep going no matter what.
Paul lays it out clearly in Philippians 3:13-14 when he says, “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Here, Paul is telling us that pressing on requires us to focus forward—on what God has in store, not on the baggage of the past. The prize isn’t some temporary, worldly accolade; it’s the eternal fulfillment of our calling in Christ. It’s the satisfaction of knowing we’ve run our race well and that we’ll hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” when we stand before the Lord.
But let’s be real—pressing on isn’t easy, especially when the enemy is throwing everything he can at you. So how do we press on when it feels like the gates of hell are arrayed against us?
1. Keep your eyes on the goal. Paul was laser-focused on Christ and the calling God had placed on his life. He didn’t let the trials, the beatings, the imprisonments, or the betrayals distract him from his mission. Hebrews 12:2 tells us to “fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” When you lock your gaze on Him, the storms around you lose their power to shake you.
2. Forget what is behind. Paul had plenty of reasons to let his past weigh him down—he was a persecutor of Christians, and he suffered countless hardships. But he made a deliberate choice to leave the past in the past. We’ve got to do the same. We can’t let yesterday’s failures or even successes dictate our future. Pressing on means choosing to move forward, leaving the dead weight of regret, guilt, and even nostalgia behind.
3. Don’t forget to rely on God’s strength. Paul knew that his power came from God, not from his own ability to endure. In 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Paul shares God’s word to him: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” When you feel overwhelmed, remember that His strength is made perfect in your weakness. You don’t have to press on in your own power—God’s grace will carry you through.
4. Embrace the process. Pressing on isn’t just about reaching the destination; it’s about what God is doing in you along the way. Paul’s life was filled with trials, but he embraced them as tools in God’s hands, shaping him to be more like Christ. Romans 5:3-4 tells us, “suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Every challenge is a divine opportunity for growth and refinement. If you can see your trials through this lens, you’ll find a strength and resilience you didn’t know you had.
5. Finally, learn to encourage yourself in the Lord. There will be days when pressing on feels impossible—when the enemy is whispering lies and your circumstances are screaming defeat. In those moments, you’ve got to do what David did in 1 Samuel 30:6—encourage yourself in the Lord. Stir up your spirit with prayer, worship, and by remembering God’s faithfulness. When you do, you’ll find the strength to keep pressing on.
Keep pressing! Every step forward brings us closer to fulfilling our divine purpose. No matter what opposition comes your way, know this: the prize awaiting you is worth every challenge, every tear, and every sacrifice. So press on, beloved, because victory is assured in Christ.
Pray with me:
