If you remember from the last couple of posts, there are three things fire needs to burn. Fuel, oxygen and a heat source. Do you know what a bellows is? It is a tool that is used to blow on a fire. It allows fresh air to be pumped to the flames, allowing them to burn brighter and hotter for either heating metal or to allow fuel you just added to catch quickly. Some people will bend down and use their mouth to blow on a fire to get it going, but folks with a beard (like me) might singe a few hairs and opt for using the bellows.
So what does this have to do with furthering Gods' Kingdom? Just like a physical fire needs new air to allow it to burn brighter and hotter, our spiritual lives need the same. This new air or new life can come from inside sources and we have touched on that a little last time. But what are some outside influences that strengthen your love for God?
I personally feel recharged looking at His creations in nature. Seeing all that He has made and shows to us. Mountains, rivers, forests and wildlife are all here for our enjoyment. All of them declare that He is God. He made all of it for us to look at and to reflect on Him. I love to ponder His ways while sitting still hunting or on a mountain trail with the family.
Looking up at the stars on a clear night and seeing all that He has done in the heavens shows a portion of what God is capable of doing. Yes, doing that can make you feel lonely, but try this next time. While you are looking up think about how no one else on earth has the same vision of what you are seeing. Even if you have someone right beside you, they are not seeing the same thing at the same time as you. Only you and God have the same perspective and that is really cool worship experience.
Worship service is a good one. Letting the music and vocals flow over you and reaching into your soul to bolster you up and breathe life back into you. Hands raised or not, being around others doing the same thing, worshiping God with an open heart strengthens us and encourages us to go on.
Even while having coffee with a friend a word of encouragement can also have a wonderful effect on your personal outlook. See what it says in 1 Samuel 23:16, "And Saul's son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God". A wonderful example of iron sharpening iron. In Acts 23, Barnabas encourages the church at Antioch. 23:16, "And when he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all of their hearts." Never underestimate a kind word.
These breaths of fresh air can allow us to burn brighter and hotter for God. Helping us to become a lamp for others. As such we cannot hide our light. We need to let it shine, so we can help people. Matthew 5:15 says, "Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house." Do you see how that works? We take encouragement from other people and outside influences and we give encouragement to the ones around us.
Getting and giving encouragement not only feels good, but it gives blessings to the ones that we receive it from and whom we give it to. Fanning the flame in us so we can go out and fan the flame in others. Be the bellows, the encouragement that allow others need to go out and live a life for God.
Burn bright so we can help others burn bright.
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