Sparking a Holy Fire In You

Is anyone else still in complete awe over the wildfires that plague California throughout the late summer and early fall of 2018? It was sheer devastation unleashed upon thousands and thousands of acres. Embers flittered and flew freely without containment. Firefighters tirelessly waged war against the unrelenting flames.

The day the Holy Fire started, I was pulling into work seeing the small dark plume of smoke emerging from the Trabuco Canyon area. I would have never fathomed the rapidity of the plume transforming into a massive wildfire in mere hours. And then to hear still days later that the containment level was at a mere 5% is horrifying. It caused me to pause and wonder if, what, or how will containment increase at a much faster rate.

On that same day that the Holy Fire sparked into action, I was also facing a crossroads in my ministry. The role I had served in for more than 10 years had expanded, grown, and changed in a matter of months. Good, even great things to come! Yet, I was still confused and uncertain of what lay ahead. I think it was no mistake that when I sat in the parking lot and Googled “Holy Fire” to see the latest update about the fires that one of the first search results was instead about God’s Holy Fire. God was definitely speaking directly to my heart via this Google search. He knew the true update that I needed. Much like the all-consuming fire in the canyon, God wanted and needed to be the all-consuming fire in my heart. “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” (1 Timothy 1:6-7). That was it! God reminded me that my gifts and talents were being fanned into flame for His Kingdom purposes. It was now up to me to accept and live out the power, love, and self-discipline from there in this new ministry season.

What gifts has God given you that have lain dormant for far too long? Or what gifts has God given you that you use often, even on a daily basis, that go unrecognized? There is great potential for the gift(s) that God has given to you. May your heart and mind be open to how He wants to fan it into flame. Praying for the same power, love, and self-discipline that I will intentionally infuse into my daily walk only through Christ’s power.