DAY THREE | DON’T LET THE FIRE GO OUT!
“This is why I remind you to keep using the gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. Now let it grow, as a small flame grows into a fire.”
2 Timothy 1:6
When the Olympics came to America several years ago, part of the experience was to see the Olympic flame. For every Olympic Game, a flame is lit from the eternal Olympic flame in Greece and then carried to wherever the Olympic Games are being held. The flame made its way to Atlanta for the opening ceremonies by traveling all over America first.
Volunteers and heroes carried torches holding the flame from place to place. While the flame was passing through Tacoma, Washington, Harley Sheffield had the honor of carrying it on his bicycle. As he was crossing the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, the expansion grates on the bridge blew out a tire on his bike. The torch popped out of its holder, fell onto the bridge, and broke into pieces. The Olympic flame was extinguished.
Sheffield was horrified. They would have to go all the way back to Greece and start over again! He would go down in history as the man who allowed the flame to go out! His panic was unnecessary because a “mother flame” was present in a trailing van as well as a replacement torch. Thus he could resume his duty, and the Olympic flame traveled onward.
This story provides a great illustration of our walk with God. Too many times we stumble and allow our flame to go out. If your flame has been doused, there is a “Father flame” who stands ready to light your torch today, and He will keep it lit.
Prayer Focus:
Pray that God will light our spiritual torches with the oil of the Holy Spirit. Pray that Dunwoody Baptist Church will always be on fire for the Lord. Ask God to make your spiritual flame burn brighter (increase your faith). Ask Him how He can enable you to restore, rekindle, or resume something for Him that will give Him glory.
A Prayer from Linda Flagler:
Thank you, Lord, for Your blessings to us every day. Help us to see that You provide for us in ways we don’t even think about. Thank You for our church and its ministries. Help us to find ways to be used in its ministries to glorify You. Show us where you are leading us by being still and giving You time
to speak and time for us to listen. Thank You for Your gift of Jesus. May our lives reflect His presence within us to those around us, who need to know Him. In His name, Amen.