Passion for God: An Invitation to Fan the Flame
A thin band of sunlight slips through the window and illuminates a dried bouquet of thistle across the room. Lately, my passion for God seems to be wilting like the dried bouquet.
I remember the day we gathered the thistle.
It was warm for November, and the threat of the impending months of darkness and snow weighed on me.
We went to the fields and gathered thistle, horsetails, and milkweed. We hoped that bringing life inside might somehow lengthen the months when the weather would stop us from wandering through fields of wildflowers.
Months later, I gaze at the bouquet as worship music plays.
I pray God will give me words to write today.
There are articles to finish.
I pray he will fill me with his love so I can pour it out to others. I’m utterly desperate for words.
When Passion for God Dwindles
I ponder the words I need to write, and the sun warms the garland across the room.
As I slowly inhale, a verse comes to mind.
This verse comes to my mind often: “. . . you are worried and bothered about so many things. . .” (Luke 10:41).
I think of the sisters, Martha and Mary.
Too often, I’m Martha. I’m running frantically in an effort to perform well. And then, the tender reminder comes, all while Mary sits at the feet of Jesus: “Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:42).
“But I am sitting here at your feet, Lord,” I whisper.
A quiet reminder comes softly to my soul.
I don’t hear the words, but it’s a strong impression on my heart, and I know it’s true. My mind forms the thought into words: “Seek Me for Me, not for others.”
A Secret for Reigniting Passion for God
I tend to seek God’s guidance as I aim to minister to others. However, at times, I fail to seek God for the sheer joy of cultivating my relationship with him.
We should seek God for wisdom, love, and guidance for others. Meanwhile, we can’t forget to seek God for God.
God longs for a relationship with each one of us. When we seek him only for the anointing to minister to others, we miss the sweetest part of communing with him.
We forfeit the opportunity to seek God for who he is when we seek him primarily for what we want him to do through us. #seekingGod #Godspresence #encounteringGod Click To TweetGod blesses those who serve others, but he wants more. He wants us to come to him and enjoy him for who he is.
Get Away and Soak in His Love
I look away from the thistle and stare at the sun rising over spruce trees. I am captivated by God’s tender love. He wants me to carry his love into the world. First, he wants me to draw near to him for myself and let him love on me.
Closing my eyes, I soak until footprints stir upstairs.
When they descend to join me in the sunlight, I don’t care that I haven’t started writing or tackled the day’s to-do list. The most important part of the day has taken place, and I’m ready to be a vessel.
I have stirred my passion for God. I’m ready to let God’s love flow through me, and I’m ready because I didn’t make the outpouring more important than the communion.
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