Set Ablaze

At the start of my daughter’s, Kailani, new chapter of Pre-K, she was filled with so much happiness and excitement.

She’d jump out of her bed and head to the closet to pick from the outfits I’d have hanging up and ready, then run over to my room so that I can get her dressed – even if I’m in the middle of getting her siblings ready.

On the first day of school, when she came home, her excitement was still at peak as it was the morning she arrived at school.

She kept her book bag on until 8pm that evening!

As I observed her excitement and eagerness to be a student, I thought, “will she be this excited for the rest of the school year, or will her excitement simmer down and her journey in school become a mundane activity like most children?“

As that question rested in my mind, I then thought about how Kailani’s experience is so similar to the faith journey of many Christian believers who were, in the beginning, set ablaze when they first came to Christ.

They’d wake up with such joy and happiness in their hearts..

Clothed themselves with the armor of God by the reading of the Word..

They’d faithfully take time to sit in the presence of God..

And of course, they were excited and ready to fulfill the great mission.

Their faith in Him was radical!

But then…….as time progressed, many people lost their “fire” while leaving a few people in the race for the eternal reward.

People woke up and turned immediately to the phone and social media..

Prayer and Bible study nights became mundane..

Praise and worship nights became entertainment…

And sermons and prophecies became something that satisfied only itching ears and hearts with selfish gain.

The question of the matter isn’t quite “What happened to the fire?” [Although this is a question that requires answers.]

The most important question is, “Have people forgotten or lack knowledge of who God is?”

See, when a person stringently knows the true and holy identity of God, their hearts will permanently be set ablaze.

Because God is their daily bread, they come back for more of Him and His presence every day, and there is no end to the passion and excitement they have being at the feet of Christ.

Father God is a consuming fire and as long as we worship Him with reverence and awe, His very presence within us will keep our hearts burning for Him.

"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”                                                                         - Hebrews 12:28-29 NIV