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"For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands." (2 Timothy 1:6 NIV)
During the long dark winter months, I use a headlamp when I am outside doing morning chores. Sometimes however I find that seeing things as clearly as I need to is difficult. The morning seems even darker than usual. When this happens, I have learned to recharge the batteries in my headlamp when I get back into the house making the next days' chores so much easier to do.
Recharging our spiritual batteries is also important if we want to enjoy the brightest and clearest relationship with can with God through Christ. A relationship that produces maturity within us as well as empowering us to use our gifts and talents to their utmost for God's Kingdom and the wellbeing of others.
But how do we do this? Paul admonished Timothy to fan into flame the gift of God. Timothy was the one who had to do something. God had already done it. He had given the gift when Timothy came to Christ and Paul laid his hands upon him.
1 Corinthians 12 reveals that each of us was given a spiritual gift too when we came to Christ and that we need to use our gifts according to what we have been given. But sometimes that can be difficult to do as there are many things which can cause the brightness of our gifts to become diminished. Our once bright light for Christ begins to dim and we discover that our attitude toward working for God has become dull or ho hum. We feel tired, afraid, discouraged, anxious or even worn out. Our spiritual batteries need some help.
And here are some things which I have found are great battery rechargers:
- Get enough rest
- Eat properly
- Exercise
- Take time for yourself to do the things you enjoy and lift you up
- Try reading from a different version of the Bible, it is amazing the way you can see the same old
verses in a brand new way
- Make sure to stay in touch with Christian friends and discuss the things of God with them
not just this that or the other thing
- Pray and worship with others and have them pray for you
- Take every thought captive to Christ that our minds can be renewed according to God's will
- Query God to search your heart to see if there is anything within it that needs changing or
confessing
- Ask God to open new doors for the use of your gifts and talents and then be prepared to go
through them
- Request the Holy Spirit to empower you with Christ's enthusiasm for the work of God.
- Be resolved to keep going, to press on toward the goal Christ has set before you, to fan into
flame the gift of God within you.
Recharged batteries give off the brightest and clearest light in the darkness. Just as recharged spiritual batteries keep our God given gifts fanned into flames that bring the warmth and brightness of Christ's love into a darkened world.
Prayer: Dear Lord, we thank You for the gifts You have blessed us with. May we take care of them and ourselves by doing the necessary things to recharge them on a regular basis. Grant us wisdom, guidance and motivation to keep fanning into flame Your gifts within us. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.
Lynne Phepps
Atlin, B.C.
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