Fired Up!

“Don’t put out the Spirit’s fire.” (l Thessalonians 5:19 GWT)

“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor.” (Romans 12:11 NIV)

Anyone who knows me very well knows that I can’t resist the challenge of a really hot chili pepper.  I love all varieties, and enthusiastically wait to get “fired up” when I indulge in them; they have the ability to speed up my metabolism by releasing endorphins all through my body!  Just like I wait with anticipation on the effects of a chili pepper, God waits for red-hot, enthusiastic followers who love Him more than anything to do His will. Being fired up is also an expression used to describe our spiritual fervor; if there’s anything that catches people’s attention, it’s the enthusiasm we have when we act and speak about our great love for Him! To be on fire is to burn with zeal for God with a desire to please and serve Him.  We are all expected to be zealously on fire for Him serving with all of our heart in our service and in the witness of our faith.

In 2 Timothy 1:6-7, Paul’s words to Timothy are: “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.”

We are challenged in our spiritual life to keep up our fervor and not to put out the spirit’s fire. Believers need to stay hot, not lukewarm or cold, and we can never compromise or overlook anything. God gives all of us gifts to use to build Him up and do His work, and when we use the gifts He has given us He will give us all the power we need. When Paul tells us not to put out the Spirit’s fire, he is telling us that we shouldn’t ignore or put aside the gifts that the Holy Spirit gives. Whatever our hands find to do, we must be determined not to rest until the job is done, and give eagerly according to our ability and even beyond our ability! 

“Each day is God’s gift. It’s all you get in exchange for the hard work of staying alive. Make the most of each one! Whatever turns up, grab it and do it. And heartily! This is your last and only chance at it. (Ecclesiastes 9:9-10) 

It’s important in my daily walk to surround myself with people, places and things that keep me filled with a desire to please and serve Him cheerfully and vigorously, and for others to see the character of enthusiasm working in me. I know I can’t kindle a fire in anyone else’s heart unless the fire is burning in my own! We need to make up our minds to keep a fiery zeal for God always in our hearts and resist the devil by refusing to submit to any negative thoughts that could suppress our enthusiasm!

…Following Tracy on Winsome Wednesday…

What Are You Thinking?

“Serve Him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought.”  (l Chronicles 28:9)

~God knows and can read our very minds~

Since God knows everything I am thinking and doing, it sure would be to my advantage to make sure He is pleased with my thoughts and attitudes! It doesn’t make any sense for me to try and hide any thoughts or actions from an all-knowing God, because He reads all of my thoughts continuously and searches for evidence of my trust and faithfulness in Him. I challenge myself every day to fill my mind with positive words and effective actions, but how do I control those negative and judgmental thoughts that creep into my mind sometimes? The greatest battle that many of us face is the battle of our minds, but if we meditate and fill our thoughts with God’s word we can blot out our negative thoughts and replace them with thoughts of peace, joy, and purpose. “Let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes” (Ephesians 4:23)  If we allow Him, God has the ability to control our minds; He created our minds and He knows exactly how to help us think and see things differently. 

“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.” Philippians 4:8

Our good thoughts are contagious; they color our world and have the ability to create happiness and inner peace. Positive and loving thoughts have higher levels of energy than our negative thoughts do! What we put into our minds determines what comes out in our words and actions, and to be successful in using our minds the way that God wants us to, we must understand and be prepared to fight against any unwelcome thoughts that take over our minds. The strength of our faith can be determined by what we think about, and that’s why it is so important to meditate on the word of God with a submissive heart so that we can reap the thoughts that will glorify Him.

  
We need to ask God to help us focus our minds on what is good and pure, because the very best thoughts we can think are God-centered. Isn’t it awesome that that HE cares enough to pay attention to every thought we have?

“I’m an open book to you; even from a distance, you know what I am thinking. You know when I leave and when I get back; I’m never out of your sight. You know everything I’m going to say before I start the first sentence.” (Psalm 1392-4 MSG)

Linking up with Angel on “Follow Me Fridays"

His Perfect Timing

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible." (Hebrews 11:1,3)

Waiting is one of the most difficult things for me to do, and I am an anxious and impatient person who likes things done in my own way and in my own time. Sometimes things just don't happen the way I hope and expect them too, and it's hard for me to accept setbacks and delays. But when I believe and trust that God hears my dreams, desires, and concerns and wait for Him to respond and work things out in His own timing, (maybe not NOW but LATER!) I am demonstrating true faith and love. I know that He works things out in my life for my own good, and strengthens me to rise above life's difficulties when I trust Him and wait for His answers. He has a perfect timing for everything in my life, and He knows all the answers!

"These things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day!" (Habakkuk 2:3)

 

Our faith will never grow and develop if we expect God to do everything we ask for immediately and in our own terms. God's timing is very different from our own. He knows the future and we can be assured that He will see us through to the end; whenever we stumble and fall He will be there to pick us up! We may not know how or when He has plans to fulfill our needs, but trusting Him requires not knowing when He will do it. So many times when we are hoping, praying, and waiting for something it's easy to stray from our faith and trust in Him. However, God uses these opportunities to stretch our faith, and when we accept and acknowledge that He has His own agenda, we actually grow during these times of waiting.

"But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40:31)

 

We need to make every effort to be encouraged, believe and wait patiently on the Lord even when we don't understand His timing. I know that if I place all of my trust in God and make myself available to Him in every situation, He will work things out in my life. I can then look back and reflect on God's perfect outcome to my needs and desires.

 

It may not be tomorrow

and yet it may

It will happen on God's set day.

The burden will be lifted

The lost will be won

The trial will be over

The long task will be done.

We cannot know the hour

but we will trust Him as we wait,

for He knows just what must come to pass

He will not be a moment l late.

So praise Him in the trial

give thanks for the task

rejoice and be obedient

He knows what you have asked.

It may not be tomorrow

and yet it may

It will happen on God's set day.

(Unknown)

Linking up with Joan at “The Beauty In His Grip”

In Every Situation

"Your lives will begin to glow in the darkness; your shadowed lives will be bathed in the sunlight. I will always show you where to go; I'll give you a full life in the emptiest of places." (Isaiah 58:11)

Do you sometimes find it difficult to see the hand of God's goodness in every situation?

Whether it’s a good thing or a bad thing, our joy shouldn’t waver based on our circumstances or feelings; we should rely on God to orchestrate every situation we encounter to make us a better person, and it’s really going to depend on whether we respond to the trial or blessing in the way God wants us to. Our trouble is a blessing when it makes us stronger, but our good fortune and blessings can be an affliction if they entice us away from God. We need to rely and trust in Him to be stronger when we are weak, but also remember that when we are successful and thriving to use our prosperity for Him. In every situation God gives us comfort and encouragement that will make us stronger.

• The more we experience and believe in God's goodness in every aspect of our lives, the more we trust Him.

• The more we trust Him, the easier it is for us to put our lives into His hands.

Only by placing our lives in His hands will He bless us and work through us...

...so that His wonderful will can be done. 

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (2 Thessalonians 5:16)

The conditions and situations in my life are always changing, and I should never take for granted or become dependent on any of life's cycles, because whatever my conditions may be at the present moment are only temporary. My joy, prayers, and thankfulness should not be determined by the actions of others or the ups and downs I encounter in my day. God has a plan for me and each cycle of my life is an opportunity to reflect on His goodness and accept and appreciate God's perfect timing. Whatever my day brings, I should be content and have a heart that responds to God. Wherever I am, or whatever has happened, I can make a positive commitment to move forward, following God no matter what. Once our hearts really grasp the goodness of God, we can be confident that He will never let us down. As long as we follow Him and rely on His power for strength and contentment, He will always be on our side in every situation.

"I have learned the secret in being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." (Philippians 4:12)

Linking up with Angel on Follow Me Fridays

Refuse to Excuse

EXCUSE means to…..

            …..overlook some (usually) slight offense

                  …..to make allowance for a short coming

                        …..a desire to avoid punishment or rebuke

OUCH !!

Excuses, excuses…what are yours?

Sometimes it is all too easy to make excuses for our wrong-doing, times when we have failed, things we don’t want to do, or in situations we don’t want to be in. Are you one of those (like me!) who have made excuses when you wanted to avoid responsibility for your actions, or didn’t want to obey or go where God wanted to send you? What excuse do we use when God requires something of us? The Lord really doesn’t want our excuses and He most certainly doesn’t need them! He wants us to come clean, and provide us with the spiritual maturity not to excuse ourselves in uncomfortable situations or try to hide our sin. We may not be able to tackle a situation or sin on our own, but regardless of what we are facing or what God has called us to endure, He is with us. We can’t run away from God!

We can do it if we trust His strength!

“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, this is the way; walk in it”. (Isaiah 30:21)

o   Why me God?

o   Why not someone else?

Even some of the great hero's of the Bible questioned God’s orders. Jonah ran from God as fast as he could when God called him to preach; Moses pleaded with God to send someone else more eloquent to free the Israelites. At times, we all make excuses to God; we just don’t see ourselves capable of handling or achieving the task or situation that God has laid before us, or we may feel that the time is just not right for us. But the best way to grow in knowledge is to step out in faith, and God is never off schedule; His timing is always right. It’s usually us that are running a little ahead of our time, or a little behind! We have to quit resisting and hiding behind the excuses we are so good at making, and quit saying, “I can’t”, but rather start saying “HE can”, and be willing to follow wherever He leads us. Who knows? If we can get past our excuses and be obedient to the Lord’s calling, we may be able to rejoice and be blessed by all the wonderful things He has planned for us before they pass before our eyes!

“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations. You must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and protect you. (Jeremiah 1:5, 7-8)

Linking up with Joan at “Sharing His Beauty”