Second Press

This weekend I went to a wonderful woman's conference where Pastor Kathy Hayes spoke on oil. She talked about how in an olive "garden" the way oil is harvested in they put the olives into a vat and pile them on at the bottom of the vat is a drain this is the first press and it goes straight to the temple this is extra extra virgin olive oil used for worship. The second press is when pressure is added this is extra virgin olive oil. It is used for personal nourishment, healing, balms and moisturizing. The third press is when oil is squeezed even from the seed that is used to light the lamps. This sermon was amazing but one thing that stuck out to me what Pastor Kathy's daughter Pastor Amy said you can't get to the third press without going through the second. Too many people want to move into being the light, into ministry but they haven't yet been fulfilled and nourished.

That got me thinking what does the second press look like for me. See God has been working on me for some years now on what other people think. He has been putting me in positions lately that are humbling forcing me to focus on what I know rather than what I think people think of me. I'm not a lay on your face in the carpet person I am a walk and talk with Jesus person. I may not read and study my bible chronologically I study based on a theme that God has put on my heart. I believe the second press is uncomfortable for many women because we are so used to pouring into everyone else that when we take the time to pour into ourselves it seems selfish. Or maybe that's just me.

The second press is a time of restoration, of nourishment, of preparation. What does the second press look like for you? I encourage you to find a scripture to remind you of why the second press is so important. For me its Galatians 1:10 "Obviously, I'm not trying to be a people pleaser! No, I am trying to please God. If I were still trying to please people, I would not be Christ's servant."