Fanning Into Flame

Scripture – 2 Timothy 1:5-7: ⁵I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. ⁶For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. ⁷For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

Observation – (Write down what you see in the scripture.) How do I “fan into flame” a gift of God which is in me? I guess it begins with me recognizing and accepting that there is a gift in me. As I identify what that gift (or gifts) might be, then I look for ways to fan it into flame – to nurture it and let it grow bigger and even, perhaps, out of control. That gets a little scary sometimes. I find the spirit of timidity trying to take over. So I’ll keep a gift smoldering without allowing or encouraging it to burst into flame.

Application – (Write how you will be different today because of what you have just read.) I will let the spirit of power take over today – the spirit of love and self-discipline. I’ll see what happens if my gift bursts into flame.

Prayer – (Write out a brief prayer.) Lord, you have done amazing things in my life – often in spite of me. Help me today to trust you enough to let the wind of your Spirit do its fanning work in my heart.