“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the Lord.”
– Romans 12:11 NIV
If you’ve ever seen open-fire cooking, you’ll notice that there’s a lot of activity to keep the fire from going out before the cooking is finished. This frequently entails adding more wood, stoking the coals, or fanning the embers. The combustion triangle, a scientific principle, can explain this phenomenon. It specifies three ingredients for starting and maintaining a fire: heat, fuel, and oxygen. Taking away any of these elements will put out the fire. This principle also applies to spiritual fire.
With the right elements in place, you will ‘catch’ fire. On the other hand, failing to do certain things will cause the fire to go out. It is possible to lose your zeal for the Lord! Many people are only energized and enthusiastic in the weeks following a powerful spiritual event or retreat. Most likely due to the ‘atmosphere’ and euphoria of that meeting.
However, months later, they may discover that their enthusiasm has waned and they are struggling. True, revival fire is contagious, but keep in mind that if you leave a fire unattended, it will eventually die out. If you do not take consistent steps toward spiritual growth, you will eventually stop being as hot and burning as you once were.
In 2 Timothy 1:6 (HCSB), Apostle Paul says something worthy of note. He says, “Therefore, I remind you to keep ablaze the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands.” When it comes to Christian devotions and spiritual growth, there is no ‘automatic.’ Staying on fire is your responsibility; it is up to you to fan the flames of the gifts of the Spirit in you.
Start by setting a prayer schedule. In addition to not missing the general devotion times, have a personal target to pray for at least fifteen minutes every day. Don’t snooze your prayer alarms. Challenge yourself to not touch your phone or scroll social media until you have prayed every morning. Choose to put fire on your altar daily.
Study and meditate on God’s word. The need to keep God’s teachings and laws in our hearts and in front of our eyes is echoed in several verses of Scripture. Joshua 1:8 (NLT) says, “Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.” A consistent study will yield visible results.
Lastly, get an accountability partner. Find someone with whom you are united in the singular purpose of growing in the faith. This will help you stay on track, and you will gain a prayer partner who will fuel and spur you to good works.
CONFESSION:
I will do everything within my power, helped by the Holy Ghost, to maintain spiritual fervour.
I will not lose steam; my fire will not go out.
Daily, I will fan to flame the gifts of the Spirit within me,
And my profiting will appear to all.
Bible Reading Plan: Genesis 6-8