Working on my Son-tan Working on my Son-tan
I’ve always heard the phrase “being on fire for God”, but until this month I never grasped the fullness of what it meant. I’ve felt moments in my life where I was on fire for God…but soon enough those flames died out. So how do you catch and stay on fire for God?
By talking to people about Jesus? Or do you get catch fire by going to church every Sunday and Wednesday? What about by leading a bible study? Listening to the latest worship CD? Ooohh wait! How about going on an 11-month mission trip around the world?
Nope. Nada. Negative. None of the above will truly set you on fire for God.
The ONLY way to be set and stay ablaze for God is by spending time in the secret place with Him. Scripture tells us how to get on fire for our Father.
Luke 12:49 says Jesus came to kindle a fire on earth. Jeremiah 23:29 says God’s word is a fire. Ezekiel 1:4, 27 and Daniel 7:9 talks about His presence being totally engulfed in fire. It’s all over scripture. So what do we take from this?
Being on fire for God means spending TIME with Him and being entrenched in His WORD. God’s primary desire in your life is not that you discover His will and walk in it. God’s primary desire is that you draw near to Him and get to know Him. After having that knowing relationship He desires to walk together in his purposes.
My good friend Stephen Moad gave me a book called “Secrets of the Secret Place” to read on my trip. He told me it was a life changer and, somehow, that feels like an understatement. I never realized how quiet time with God is the single most important part your walk.
After signing up for the World Race in March of 2011, I half-heartedly tried to get back on the path of walking with God. I would experience brief moments of feeling on fire for God. Most of the time that came after a great church service, hearing a powerful worship song, or someone laying hands on me and praying for me. I’m not questioning the validity and necessity of those things, but none of them set a fire in my soul that could be sustained.
After my first week of frustrations in the Dominican, God started to pull me into the secret place with Him. So for the last 3 weeks I have dedicated myself to shutting the door and spending time with God. There is absolutely nothing in the world that can fill you up spiritually like being alone with God. No wonder I had so much trouble staying on fire for God…I never spent time hanging out with Him. I was so fixated on trying to do His work that I forgot the most important part…listening to His guidance on what to do.
So after a month on the world race I am joining and challenging you to work on your Son-tan. Not like the one I got today when our team got to visit the most beautiful secluded beach I’ve ever been to (truly—just wait for pictures). I’m talking about dedicating yourself to getting so close to God in a one-on-one setting that you can’t help but catch fire. How good does a Son-tan that doesn’t fade and isn’t seasonal sound?
Thank you all for your continued support and prayers! Dios les bendiga (God Bless You)!
I’ve always heard the phrase “being on fire for God”, but until this month I never grasped the fullness of what it meant. I’ve felt moments in my life where I was on fire for God…but soon enough those flames died out. So how do you catch and stay on fire for God?
By talking to people about Jesus? Or do you get catch fire by going to church every Sunday and Wednesday? What about by leading a bible study? Listening to the latest worship CD? Ooohh wait! How about going on an 11-month mission trip around the world?
Nope. Nada. Negative. None of the above will truly set you on fire for God.
The ONLY way to be set and stay ablaze for God is by spending time in the secret place with Him. Scripture tells us how to get on fire for our Father.
Luke 12:49 says Jesus came to kindle a fire on earth. Jeremiah 23:29 says God’s word is a fire. Ezekiel 1:4, 27 and Daniel 7:9 talks about His presence being totally engulfed in fire. It’s all over scripture. So what do we take from this?
Being on fire for God means spending TIME with Him and being entrenched in His WORD. God’s primary desire in your life is not that you discover His will and walk in it. God’s primary desire is that you draw near to Him and get to know Him. After having that knowing relationship He desires to walk together in his purposes.
My good friend Stephen Moad gave me a book called “Secrets of the Secret Place” to read while I was on the trip. He told me it was a life changer and, somehow, that feels like an understatement. I never realized how quiet time with God is the single most important part your walk.
After signing up for the World Race in March of 2011, I half-heartedly tried to get back on the path of walking with God. I would experience brief moments of feeling on fire for God. Most of the time that came after a great church service, hearing a powerful worship song, or someone laying hands on me and praying for me. I’m not questioning the validity and necessity of those things, but none of them set a fire in my soul that could be sustained.
After my first week of frustrations in the Dominican, God started to pull me into the secret place with Him. So for the last 3 weeks I have dedicated myself to shutting the door and spending time with God. There is absolutely nothing in the world that can fill you up spiritually like being alone with God. No wonder I had so much trouble staying on fire for God…I never spent time hanging out with Him. I was so fixated on trying to do His work that I forgot the most important part…listening to His guidance on what to do.
So after a month on the world race I am joining and challenging you to work on your Son-tan. Not like the one I got today when our team got to visit the most beautiful secluded beach I’ve ever been to (truly). I’m talking about dedicating yourself to getting so close to God in a one-on-one setting that you can’t help but catch fire. How good does a Son-tan that doesn’t fade and isn’t seasonal sound? Give it a try!
