Pressing toward the high calling of God

By Humphrey Mtandwa | 2h ago

Scripture reminds us that there is always a higher calling

There is a place in life where you know what you are called to do. You understand the sacrifices that are required, yet fear whispers, I cannot do it. It is in these moments that the Word of God calls us forward. In Philippians 3:14, the apostle Paul declares, “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” To reach the fullness of God’s blessing, there is always a pressing—an intentional, often painful, forward movement that demands faith and courage.

I remember a vision I had of a woman standing before a great river. The waters were overflowing, the currents violent, and yet she knew in her heart that she must cross. At the riverbank, she gestured for me to join her. I looked at the torrents and the waves, and fear gripped me. She stepped forward alone, moving with courage beyond what I could comprehend. When she reached the other side, angels I had never seen before met her. God spoke, revealing a truth: favor and breakthrough belong to those willing to make sacrifice. That woman’s crossing was not merely a journey across water—it symbolized the pressing, the sacrifice, and the faith required to move into the next realm of destiny.

Scripture reminds us that there is always a higher calling. The children of Israel, when they reached the valley just before crossing into the Promised Land, were in a place that seemed good. Comfortable, even safe. Yet it was not the promise. Comfort can become a snare, keeping us from confronting the challenges that God has set to elevate us. Too often, we settle for the “good” and miss the “best” because we are afraid to step into the unknown.

Fear paralyzes. Many dreams remain buried not because God withheld them, but because those called to birth them were unwilling to pay the price. Dr. Myles Munroe once said, “The grave is the wealthiest place, because it holds books that were never written, businesses that were never birthed, and families that were never established.” Fear stops people from moving forward, even when the goal is clear. It is not lack of vision that holds many back—it is lack of courage to sacrifice for what is beyond.

So, what price are you willing to pay for the fullness of God’s blessing? Are you prepared to sacrifice comfort, time, or even relationships to step into your next level? Jesus spoke in Luke 14:27, “Whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.” The pressing, the pressure, the exhaustion you feel, often signals that you are on the edge of your breakthrough. This is the time to press forward. This is the moment when faith must rise above fear.

Every revolution, every business that succeeds, and every ministry that transforms lives has one thing in common: those who dared to sacrifice. They were willing to pay the cost. They refused to settle for mediocrity or temporary comfort. Do not allow fear to define the limits of your potential. Do not allow comfort to become your grave. The position you are in today may feel safe, but it may also be a trap that keeps you from your divine purpose.

Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us of God’s plan: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” There is a greater position, a higher level of influence, favor, and purpose that God is calling you to. Accessing it requires pressing, sacrifice, and courage. It requires stepping beyond fear and refusing to settle for what is merely good when God has something extraordinary.

Press toward the mark of the high calling of God. Press past fear. Press past comfort. Press past doubt. Every step taken in faith, every sacrifice made in obedience, brings you closer to the destiny God has set before you. The blessing, the favor, and the fullness of your calling are on the other side of the pressing. Are you ready to take that step?