LIGHT THE FIRE

I stand to praise You, but I fall on my knees. My spirit is willing, but my flesh is so weak. Light the fire in my soul; fan the flame, make me whole. Lord, You know where I’ve been; so light the fire in my heart again. I feel Your arms around me, as the power of Your healing begins. You breathe new life right thru me, like a mighty rushing wind. Light the fire in my soul; fan the flame, make me whole. Lord, You know where I've been; so light the fire in my heart again.

Passion to serve the Lord and share the gospel will ebb and flow throughout a Christian’s life. Some choose to settle for a lukewarm existence – neither risking much for His name nor receiving many blessings. Others stop ministering altogether and drift aimlessly through life. But whenever we feel indifferent, we should try to rekindle the flame of passion that was first lit at the moment of salvation.

When we were saved, we received the gift of the Holy Spirit. So, the first step is to pray for the Holy Spirit to fill – or control – us afresh. That requires self-examination and repentance of any sins the Lord brings to mind. It also means giving back to God the right to reign over our life.
Next, think about what was (and what wasn’t) happening in life when passion last burned brightly. What external pressures and activities affected our ministry then and now? How can we prioritize such things wisely?

Finally, devote a day or more to retreat and refocus on the Lord. Meditate on His words of encouragement, such as Isaiah 41:10: “‘Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand,’” (NASB). This way, instead of fixating on our problems, we can remember He is our shepherd in every situation. The passion we experienced at salvation can be ours again as we focus on the Lord.

Jeff