Commitment means staying loyal to what you said you are going to do. Long after the mood you said it in has left you, commitment is staying the course you are on to fulfill the obligations you have made. Have you ever just been so amped up to do something, but from having to wait, your excitement and willpower begin to slowly fade? Our relationship with the Lord can be very similar. When God is present in our lives, moving, and blessing us, we are unstoppable, confident, determined. But oftentimes, when we go through times that we like to call dry seasons or valleys in our lives, we find our attitude turning from seeking diligently after God to one where we could care less about praying or picking up a bible.
Because of what Jesus has done for us, He deserves all of us – one-hundred percent of us – not a half-hearted effort out of feeling obligated to love and serve Him. Let us not surrender to complacency in our spiritual lives and allow the flame of our passion for God to burn out. I know it can be a challenge, but remember what Jesus did for us on the cross. Remember what He willingly suffered so that we would not have to!
Growing up, my dad continually encouraged me with these words. “Remember when you are feeling worn down and tired, and don’t feel like giving Jesus any of your day. Jesus was pretty worn down and tired when he was beaten and nailed to the cross, so that we could be forgiven and have life.” When we begin making up excuses, why we can’t fully honor or serve God and do His will in our lives, that’s when our desire for the fire of God starts fading.
I have allowed my fire to go out in my past. I have allowed my fire to go out completely, and it is not a good place to be as a Christian. There is only one place that we can get the fire of God from. It comes directly from our surrender to God and pressing into Him in worship, prayer, and meditation on His Word. We cannot get “on fire for God” looking for it in other people, activities, materials, pastors or even in church communities. It only comes from personally seeking God with all of our heart and mind.
When your desire to burn hot for God exceeds everything else, this is when you become solid in your faith. This is when your thinking begins to align with God’s thoughts, and your daily Christian walk begins to flourish. We must continuously be in a intimate relationship with the Lord, and actively fueling the fire on the altar of our hearts with His word, in prayer and through continual worship. Leviticus 6:12 encourages us saying, “The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out. Every morning add firewood. The fire must be kept burning, the fire must never go out.” Our hearts are the altar and the fire is the result of our constant pursuit of God. This is how the fire in our hearts towards God is kindled and kept ablaze. I desire to see people so filled with the love of God, it’s like fire shut up in their bones! Do you crave such an abundance?
In 2 Samuel 6:14, we read that David was dancing before the Lord with all his might. When we allow our hearts to be overtaken by the Spirit of God like David, our hearts become so engulfed with the power of God’s love, that we can no longer hold it in. Like David being so overwhelmed with God’s presence, we just have to dance with all our might to let it out. Sometimes I get so full of God’s presence that He begins pouring out of me in praise and singing. It is a wonderful place to be.
I’m always stirring the flames of my heart throughout the day, speaking the word over my life, sharing my testimony, singing praises, or praying. I want my passion burning so strong, people say, her fires uncontainable, and can see my flame from miles away. Let this become your daily challenge in your pursuit of God. Begin building the fire of God on he altar of your heart right now. Begin stirring the flames right now through a renewed commitment and devotion to he Word of God, to consistent prayer, and ongoing worship of God!
Allow God to ignite the fire in the areas of your life where you have allowed the fire of God to grow dim.
Allow God to ignite the fire in the areas of your life where you have allowed the fire of God to grow dim. Trust Him to give your heart a renewed flame that burns so hot, and so brightly and strong for you that darkness can no longer have its way in your life and the world can be led to the Light of God’s love through you.
I am so graced to share a relationship with Jesus like this. And I am so proud to share a relationship with the person who wrote this article.