Guard the Flame...
Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at 7:08AM 
Greetings, Dear Friends!
And to those visiting, I say welcome! I post every Wednesday and my sole purpose is to nourish your soul along the way. Each month I give away a $10.00 Starbucks gift card to someone who posts on my blog. So share a story or an insight, bless lots of people, and just maybe you'll win a jolt of java for you and friend!
Now on to my topic...
The other day I was out to lunch with a few girlfriends and our conversation went from discussing the urgency of times, to the-sometimes-powerlessness within the church, and then we ended up talking mostly about the presence of the Living God. My friend Sandy referenced one of Tozer's books and said, "It's all about the flame. We're nothing - we've got nothing if we don't have the presence of God in our midst."
Then just this morning during my weekly prayer watch for our church, I called my mentor to hand the baton to her, and she and I ended up talking about the flame - the presence of the Living God - and then we spent time together in prayer, asking God to move in our midst. While we were praying I had this picture in my mind of a few of us leaders hovering around this little flame. We protected the flame from the winds of distraction; we fanned the flame with the breath of faith; we invited more people into our circle and slowly backed up as the flame burned brighter.
I shared my word-picture with my mentor and we discussed the importance of guarding the flame within us. We need to steward God's presence in our lives. When He moves, we need to move with Him. When He speaks, we need to listen. When our choices cause Him to step back, we need to notice it right away, and get right with Him in a moment's notice.
Please know that I'm not speaking of His omnipresence; He IS ever present - all around us. But Scripture clearly says that He draws near to the humble; He draws near to those who press in and draw near to Him. He steps back from the proud, and He won't have any part of our self-serving, self ambitious ways. Do you notice it when your way upstages His way? What do you do when the spirit of worry quenches the awareness of God's presence in your life?
What in your life quenches that flame within you?
I know for me, un-appointed busyness throws a wet blanket on my flame. Fear, doubt, worry, and anxiety are like tornadoes in my life. Wandering thoughts weaken me, and before I know it, I'm missing that strong sense of God's presence in my life. But I'm much quicker to catch it these days.
If you know me, you know that my life verse is Psalm 116:9 ~ And so I walk in His presence as I live here on earth.
My life's aim, especially in light of the times, is to nurture and protect the flame within me, that I might burn brightly for a world in need.
Read the following excerpt from Franicis Frangipane's excellent book, "And I will be Found by You":
"The church needs more people who have, like Moses, climbed closer to the Almighty, people who have stood in the sacred fire of God's presence. Instead, we exhaust ourselves arguing over peripheral doctrines or styles of music in our song services. Perhaps there are benefits to constantly debating the nuances of our doctrines, but are we not more truly thirsting for the reality of God? What happens when we seek God? The Bible says at the very moment we are drawing near to Him, the living presence of God Himself draws near to us (James 4:8).
Guard the flame. It's in His presence that the fullness of joy is found (see Ps. 16:11).
Until next week~
Reader Comments (12)
How many times the Lord has breathed on the fire He placed within me, and a hotter flame was kindled. It may have come in answer to my crying out to Him in the come-union of intercession and petition, bathed in deep and reverent dependence on Him.
That flame-fanning Breath comes as others in the Body see me with His eyes, hear me with His ears and reach out to me with His love and truth.
Or, the encouragement of the Lord might be flowing through me to others. In the end, we all burn more brightly.
Like logs in a fire, we burn most brightly and endure longest in community. Together in Christ, united in Christ, we can be ablaze in a dark work and let His consuming fire incinerate the dross in bound lives, the cords of injustice, the terrors of darkness in those grasping for hope.
Lord, kindle us afresh with passionate love for You and people, for Your glory and their redemption.
Guess I got a little carried away proclaiming truth...I think God breathed on me here! :-)
Keep on "fanning"!
The Spirit of God has been dealing with me to get rid of a certain coffee drink. I did (finally.)
It is great to say, "God I love you, and I want you to know that I love you more than this silly thing I have allowed to fill a place in my life that You should be filling."
This simple act has really shot me into a higher awareness and desire for His Presence in all aspects of my life. I hope it encourages someone else.
Thanks for your honest post. You represent SO many of us! That wretched tendency to compare will quench our flame every time. Either we'll be prideful for coming out on top, or we'll despair for falling short. Both snuff out that beautiful flame within us. Bless you!
Lord, kindle us afresh with passionate love for You and people, for Your glory and their redemption." Beautiful. Thank you.
Thanks for your post. It really ministered to me today. We all need that reminder from time to time. We are precious to Him, and more rests on His shoulders than on ours. I'm so thankful for that truth. Bless you.
There's NO doubt that God was breathing on you as you wrote your post. I loved, loved, loved it. We are in such a day when we need those passionate prayers. As we draw near - He will draw near; He'll renew us with His power and refresh us with His presence! Bless you, my sister!
It's amazing how powerful fasting can be. When we break out of the ordinary, we begin to see and experience the Extra-ordinary! Bless you as you relentlessly pursue Him!
Thanks for your post (and for letting your light shine)! Blessings to you~