It was still well before 6 am. Eyes still half shut, I pushed open the screen door and ushered our beagle out into the darkness. I turned on my heels to head toward the coffee maker, but something made me change my mind.
The weather, for the first time, was refreshingly cool. I stepped out onto the deck and the moon cast a silvery light-soaked pathway down our back hill. There was not a cloud in the dark sky and the stars shone brightly. I simply had to stand there and take it in.
The longer I stood, transfixed, goosebumps raised on my arms, but in my mind I was transported back to a night sky that looked so similar, so many years ago. On that long-ago night I lay on my back in the cool grass. I was just thirteen. I could hear guitars around the campfire still strumming in the distance, but as I gazed up I knew, without a doubt, that I didn't want to go through life alone. I wanted Jesus Christ to be the Lord of my life.
I repented of my sins and invited Him in to take the pilot's seat - to be Lord of my life. I knew He was the One who could fill the gaping hole in my heart.
That night the love of Christ and the reality of what He'd sacrificed for me set my heart ablaze. I was on fire for the Lord for the very first time in my life.
That was over 45 years ago. I wish I could say that my heart has burned brightly for Him ever since, but that would be a lie. There have been seasons, both long and short, that the embers were fanned and burst into flames once again. There have also been long and short seasons of apathy, disinterest, laziness, obligation, and general spiritual blahs.
The Problem can be summed up in Revelation 2:4-5:
Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place.
These words were directed to the church in Ephesus. They were a church that had endured and persevered through suffering, but their love had grown cold. They were simply going through the motions of religion. Their deeds were good, but there was no love motivating them.
How often am I like them? Doing what I do out of obligation vs. a burning love for the Lord and wanting to serve Him?
The Solution can be summed up in 2 Timothy 1: 6-7:
For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.
Since my life-long MO is continually defaulting to pursuing "self-sufficiency" when I have the spiritual blahs, I think it's up to me to get busy and muster up some fiery faith.
The verse from 2nd Timothy reminds me that the source of my faith is NOT me, it is the Spirit of God moving in me.
We are to fan into flame the GIFT of God.
So if the Spirit is the source of my faith, HOW do I fan this gift into flame?
I ASK.
I remind myself that apart from the Lord, I can do nothing.
I don't do something, instead, I ASK the Lord's Spirit to work and move in me.
(Remember Seek, Knock, Ask...and it will be given unto you?) ASK the Spirit of God to move in you and guess what? He will.
Now the part that's up to me is to obey. What does obedience look like?
Obedience means I have to be in His Word daily. I need fuel to start a fire.
I need to be reading, meditating, dwelling, abiding, and communing with God. He's the lighter fluid.
Then, ASK for the spark of the Spirit and pretty soon you have a roaring fire!!
I have found that I can't "feel" my way into actions, but I can "act" my way into feelings.
When I get a case of the spiritual blahs, I seek; I ask; and then as God promises, I find.
Praying for you sweet friend, that the Lord would answer the desire of your heart and through the gift of the Holy Spirit, He would set your heart on fire once more. With God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, ALL things are possible.
Dear Heavenly Father, I praise you for kindling a fire in my heart so many years ago. I thank you that when the flames die down and my heart grows cold that I don't have to try, on my own, to muster up faith again. You have given me the very catalyst I need in the form of the Holy Spirit. Enable me to humble myself to ASK for a rekindled faith-fire. Give me strength to do my part in obedience. Let me abide in your presence Lord and wait with great expectation for what you will perform in my life. Set my heart ablaze once more. I'm asking. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
What about you? Has your heart grown cold or apathetic? Do you have a case of the spiritual blahs? What steps is God calling you to in order to be set on fire again? If you've never experienced the life transformation of inviting Jesus to come into your heart, forgive you of your sins, and be Lord of you life, might you want to ask Him now? Will you share in the Comments? If you'd like for me to pray for you...feel free to email me.
Be blessed...
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