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Feel The Burn

The thoughts you couldn’t shake.

 

The nudging from the Holy Spirit that you couldn’t ignore.

 

Yes, that was what I was feeling when the Lord continually pursued me with thoughts of His Fire. You can read more about the prayer for Fire Fall HERE. In response to His nudging I said yes and the fire began to rain down. Under the shower of fire, I lifted my face and welcomed the burn.

 

Do you welcome His fire fall?

 

Do you want to feel the burn?

 

Feeling the burn is a bit of a conundrum. When you feel the burn during exercise you KNOW that you are digging deep into those muscles, causing change. During exercise muscles burn available fuel for energy and contract. When the muscles burn that fuel, microscopic tears occur in the tissue. This tearing triggers muscle repair and this process of tearing and repair creates a stronger, more resilient body. Calves on fire don’t really feel good but knowing you’ve done your body good any looking good in a pair of short just seems to make the burn worthwhile.

 

The same can be said for our spiritual lives. To experience the burn of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we have to put in work. We have to be intentional about seeking Him and soaking in His presence so we can reap the benefits of the after burn.

 

Are you close enough to Him to feel the burn?

 

Though I’m from Boston and have dealt with the cold, I DO NOT like the cold. My poor children have even been shortchanged from outside time because of my dislike of the cold. And as much as I don’t like the cold, I’ve had seasons where I’ve been spiritually cold. And that is just miserable. To be distant from God, to not feel the heat from His glowing embers, to be removed from His presence, is just torture. Oh friends, have you ever been there? Sometimes a tragic life experience can put you in that space or it can be the slow ebbing away when the issues of everyday life begin to consume your time, energy and thoughts. You may stop reading your word daily, stop attending bible study, miss a few Sunday services, pass up fellowshipping with Christian friends, or avoiding people who hold you accountable and before you know it, BAM! You’ve baby stepped your way miles away from the flame and run smack into an iceberg.

 

The beach is my absolute favorite place I love the feel of the heat from the sun radiating on my skin. As I sense the rays hitting my cheek, it’s like a kiss from the Lord. As I feel the beams permeate my skin, its heat prickles and tingles. I find this sensation so comforting, like being enveloped in a blanket of love.

 

Lord, In Your presence I can’t help but feel the heat of your love for me. I am engulfed and welcome the burn.

 

“As I looked, “thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.” Daniel 7:9

 

Not only am I warmed, comforted and loved in Your presence; You are so gracious to speak to me.

 

“Then you came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, and the mountain burned with fire to the midst of heaven, with darkness, cloud, and thick darkness. And the Lord spoke to you out of the midst of the fire.” Deuteronomy 4:11-12a

 

And not only do you abide with me and speak to me, but You also act on my behalf. Your holy fire consumes my enemies, tests the work I’ve done, washes away my filth and covers me as a pillar by night.

 

When Your embers burn, You act and as such, when I feel the burn, I will act. I am on fire for you as John was. I am a voice crying out in the wilderness declaring, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord.” Like John, I am a burning shining lamp (John 5:35). As a minister, I am a flame of fire (Psalm 104:4). Friends, let us not go cold but burn radiantly as a bright light in this dark cruel world.

 

[bctt tweet=”God’s passionate desire burns brightly for you. Will you dare to feel the burn?”]

 

I pray you join me again next Monday as I wrap up this unintended series on FIRE. When I sat to write Fire Fall last week, I did not know the Word would churn and bubble in my Spirit as it has.  It’s like fire shut up in my bones and it won’t leave me alone.

 

Next week we’ll examine how to keep the fire burning.  And if you missed PART 1 Fire Fall, CLICK HERE to read that now.

 

As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!

 

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Fire Fall

Who in their right mind would pray for God’s fire to fall on them? But it wouldn’t let me go, I couldn’t shake it. It seemed like every song I was led to listen to, every preaching I heard and every spiritual image I saw was that of fire. For weeks, time and time again my daily thoughts bought be back to praying for His fire to fall on me.

 

Because I couldn’t shake it, I knew it was the Holy Spirit. So instead of resisting it, I lifted my arms to receive. My prayer was, “Yes Lord, let your fire fall afresh on me”. To thrive in my current season, I need a fresh touch from Him. I asked Him for fresh oil, fresh anointing, and for power to do all that He’s called me to do. Then as God always does when you commune with Him, He will speak truth to your spirit. He gently whispered, “Indeed, I come to dwell with you as you abide in my presence. But I also come to refine, to purge, and to burn away”.

 

Ooh. That sounds a bit painful. Who wants parts of them burning away? Who wants to feel the searing pain of their flesh boiling, bubbling up and falling off? Who wants to feel the sting and smell the stench of singed hair and burning flesh?

 

And I’ve got plenty of experience being burned. When I was two years old, I got a third degree burn on my elbow after leaning up against my great-grandmother’s potbelly stove. I still bear the mark on my elbow. In my early youth, I got 2 bad iron burns on my legs that are still prominent today. When I was about 10, I ran up to tell my mother something as she was smoking a cigarette and I can still see the burn on my shoulder today. I’ve been burned by people who said they cared only to have betrayed me. Yes, the evidence of the burns is still there but the salve has been applied and I am healed.

 

Today, I raise my hand like a second grader eager to answer the teacher’s question and I say, “Ooh..ooh…ooh pick me!”

 

Yes Lord, let your fire fall on me. With the fire comes your presence. With the burning comes your healing.

 

 

In the bible, His fire is often a manifestation or representation of His presence, His being, His power and His judgment. His fire burns white hot. He is pure, holy and righteous.

 

“But who will be able to endure it when he comes? Who will be able to stand and face him when he appears? For he will be like a blazing fire that refines metal, or like a strong soap that bleaches clothes. He will sit like a refiner of silver, burning away the dross. He will purify the Levites, refining them like gold and silver, so that they may once again offer acceptable sacrifices to the Lord.” Malachi 3:2-4

 

I welcome his purification. I want my offering of praise to be acceptable in His sight. I want Him to burn away those things in my life that are not becoming. I want my offering to be a sweet smelling aroma. Oh but the stench of my:

 

~Anger

~Irritability

~Frustration

~Resentment

~Jealousy

 

Those things will fall to ash when consumed by His fire.

 

If you desire His fire to fall afresh on you, join me in prayer.

 

Oh Most Gracious and merciful God, I come boldly before your throne that is ablaze with fire. I look into your eyes oh Lord that blaze like fire. You are the ever-burning flame. Let that flame remain lit in my life. I thank you for the fire that purifies me. I thank you for your fire that burns away impurity, leaving behind that which is precious in your sight. You oh God, are Esh Oklah, a jealous God and a consuming fire. Consume my heart. I will burn brightly for you. My embers will glow as a light in the earth for you. Thank you for your fire that empowers me, equips me, purges me and goes with me.

 

Join me in worship as we welcome the fall of His fire.

 

 

Stick with me for the next few Mondays as we’ll be talking about the fire of God. May your heart be set ablaze.

 

As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!
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God’s Glory

From the Dictionary of Theology:

In the Old Testament the word for “glory” is the Hebrew word   כָּבֹוד “kabowd” which carries the idea of heaviness and weight.  In the New Testament the Greek word is δόξα “doxa” which carries the idea of opinion, judgment, estimate, splendor, brightness, etc. It is used to speak of great honor, praise, value, wonder, and splendor. Glory is spoken of in reference to people and God.  Glory is given by God and also is a manifestation of God’s greatness and presence that is awesome to behold.

 

But to really define glory virtually impossible. It’s the sum of WHO God is, WHAT He is and WHAT He does. How can that all be summed up in a neat one-sentence definition?

 

Weigh of Glory

 

Personally, I’ve come to know God’s glory to be the external, present, manifestation of His presence in my life and all around me. For me, it is sensing, seeing and feeling his character and attributes manifested spiritually and physically. God’s glory is the FULL sum of who He is and what He does. When basking in His glory I am completely consumed, feeling as if my heart may nearly burst from being FULL of His love and His light. 

 

God’s glory is The Lord of the Universe putting Himself on display for us to see and experience. And everywhere we look and in everything we do, His glory is evident, if we have eyes to see.

 

The heavens declare the glory of God;

And the firmament shows His handiwork.

Psalm 19:1

 

Jesus himself is the express image of God’s glory. He is the sum of God’s character, attributes and actions all wrapped up in human form.

 

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory,

the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:14

 

As Jesus is the express image of God’s glory, our lives should reflect His glory. As true disciples and followers of Christ we ought to be a tangible representation of His truth, love and grace in all the earth. As He takes us from glory to glory, we in turn ought to give Him more glory. Our demonstrations of praise, worship and love for mankind give Him glory.

 

Declare His glory among the nations,

His wonders among all peoples.

1 Chronicles 16:24

 

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Oh God that we would have eyes to see and ears to hear; to immerse ourselves in the weight of your glory. For it to completely envelope us like a cloak of fog in the UK.

Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting,

and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.

Exodus 40:34

 

 

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Oh Lord that we your people would bask in your glory, that we would be so completely saturated by it. That we would absorb its life sustaining nutrients and that we would then reflect its brilliance.

Arise, shine; For your light has come!

And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.

Isaiah 60:1

 

Basking in Glory

 

Join me in basking in His glory.

 

As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!

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Embrace

Jesus makes it very clear that it would do us good to focus our time, energy and efforts on this present moment.

He says in Matthew 6:25-34 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?  Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?“ So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”

We would be wise to follow his instructions in this.

SLOW DOWN

Bask in the beauty, majesty and splendor that abounds at this very second. The wonderous way your body was made. Feel your heart beating within your chest. Inhale. Exhale. Breath in the breathe of life.

What sounds do you hear? What beauty lies before your eyes?

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This moment; NOW, is all we have. The past is gone and the future isn’t here yet. Embrace THIS moment now. Be encouraged, empowered and equipped to be present for His presence by embracing Him in this moment.

Challenge: Examine where you spend most of your thought life?  Are you dwelling on the past?  Are you concerned and anxious about what’s to come?  Be intentional about embracing this moment called now; the now moment.

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