Who is responsible for your passion? Ever think about it? I’m talking about your spiritual hunger- your desire to serve God and be a disciple of Jesus.
Have you ever noticed how sometimes you just aren’t feelin’ it?
Some days, we don’t feel like praying or getting our Bibles out. We’d rather watch TV than step out in faith.
So, who is responsible to motivate you?
Paul gives us a clue when he writes to his friend and spiritual son, Timothy. He says:
“This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline” (1 Timothy 1:6-7 NLT).
Paul is writing to a less mature believer and telling him to stoke the fire! God gives us gifts, yet we are responsible to use them and cultivate them in our lives!
We are at the beginning of a new year. This is a great time to take account of where you are at. How are you doing? Be honest with yourself. As I do some self-reflection, I hear God echoing Paul saying, "Fan the flames! Get stirred up! Stoke the fire!"
But HOW? Good question.
Often we receive gifts from God as a deposit. It’s in “seed” form.
Remember that Paul said that we received these spiritual gifts through the “laying-on” of hands. This is referring to prayer and impartation. It’s the idea that people have prayed for us and we were given a spiritual gift. Often we receive gifts from God as a deposit. It’s in “seed” form. In other words, we have to nourish gifts from God in order to see them grow to maturity. God does it this way so that we can mature along-side the gift!
For example, if you ask God to help you stop worrying. He may not take away all of your anxiety at once. Perhaps he will give you a short reprieve as you connect to him. Then you have to learn how to continue to stay in this position to receive more peace. John Mark Comer says that we must become the type of people that don’t worry. It’s a discipleship process that takes time.
How frustrating, right!?
It can be hard to wait on things to take shape in us, but the journey with God is worth it. Notice that Paul reminds Timothy what God has given us—not fear and timidity—but power, love, and self-discipline. Wow! I’d like to have more of those please!
“…We begin to experience them as we cultivate them!”
God says, “here you go!” He has given us these things, but we begin to experience them as we cultivate them! We learn to be the type of people who walk in power, love, and self-discipline through the help of the Holy Spirit.
I’m getting pumped for the new year. This Scripture reminds me that there is more that God wants to do it me. As we begin this new year, I encourage you to fan into flames the spiritual gifts that you have been given! Stoke the fire and stir up a hunger for things of God!
From Peter's Blog: https://peterbales.substack.com.