“This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you.” (2 Timothy 1:6, NLT)

It’s always a good time for us to be reminded to keep up with the task of “fanning our flames.” I love maintaining the fire in our fireplace, but I have to admit – it is work. It takes a continuous feed of logs, repositioning them. Sometimes I even get down on my knees and gently blow into the logs to get a spark to ignite. The entire process fascinates me.

“Practice these things; be committed to them, so that your progress may be evident to all.” (1 Timothy 4:15, CSB)

Practice –> doing something again and again, repeatedly, until it comes natural and consistently (my definition).

We tire of doing things repeatedly, and yet, those are often the things that are the best things for our bodies and our souls.

The devotional brings these questions: How can you tell when your internal fire is growing dim? What specific and intentional practices can you put in place today to fan the flame?

I can tell my internal flame is dimming when I begin to not care about things. Perhaps we need to fan our flame this week. Perhaps we need to be a “human bellow” and blow a gentle wind into the dimming flame of someone else. We all need encouragement now and then.

~*~*~

“As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them.” (Luke 24:15, NLT)

Right there in the middle of the walk, Jesus appeared. In the middle of the ordinary, their day suddenly became extraordinary.

I love the reminder that we can can meet with Him anytime, anywhere. In the middle of mopping the floors, cooking, cleaning the bathrooms, or crawling under the dining room table with a toddler – our Lord can appear to us. He can speak into our hearts exactly what we need to keep on going.

The devotional used a few words which came together for me like a “plan”:

• Present your day to God even before we get out of bed.
• Listen for His voice throughout the day.
• Turn your attention inward to see if the Lord is stirring your heart towards something.
• Keep His Word out where it can grab your attention.
• Speak words of blessing throughout the day over your family.

Every day we can: “lift up the cup of salvation and praise the Lord’s name for saving me” (Psalm 116:13).

What will you do to be engage with the Lord in the midst of your activities?

~*~*~

“I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives.” (John 12:24, NLT)

We’re talking about seeds, and dying, and growing.

Every seed has potential. Whether it grows or not depends upon the dying. Potential means the possibility of but not necessarily the actuality of it.

“Living requires dying. Abundance requires yielding and relinquishing, surrendering and sacrificing.” (from Awaken by Priscilla Shirer, page 248)

The choice is ours. What are some of the seed husks you still keep around you, despite the limitations they place on your spiritual growth and freedom?

~*~*~

As we fan the flames,
our daily activities
can produce many new seeds of growth in our lives.

Photo 1: by Maurice Sahl on Unsplash
Wed.: Photo by SnapbyThree MY on Unsplash
Fri.: Photo by Matt Artz on Unsplash

Today I am joining … Tell His Story and Purposeful Faith and InstaEncouragements .