This week in our Simple Truths Bible study Pastor Jana shared a great lesson titled, “A Heart Ablaze”. One of the questions that she asked is, how do we live in this world and keep our passion for Jesus and His Word? There are so many things that we face everyday that can try and quench our passion for God and His Word and especially the desire for reaching the lost around us. If we hold worldly attitudes it will quench the fire of God or passion for Him in our hearts.

A good practice for us to maintain our passion for the Lord and a heart that is on fire for Him is to repent. We have a great opportunity through Jesus to make ourselves right before God by repenting of our sin. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” This is something that we need to do on a daily basis and that will keep us in a healthy relationship with God.

Another way to maintain godly passion is to mind your mind. Colossians 3:1-2 “Therefore if you have been raised with Christ to a new life, sharing in His resurrection from the dead, keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind and keep focused habitually on the things above [the heavenly things], not on things that are on the earth [which have only temporal value].” (Amplified Bible) We are to make an effort and keep our mind and thoughts set and focused so that we are not thrown off course. If we spend time reading and thinking about the Word of God we will be able to recognize when God speaks to us, and we will also be able to recognize the voice of the enemy. A love for the Word of God is evidence of love for God.

When we are in relationship with Jesus, which is regular communication spending time talking to and listening to Him, He will empower us to go through the issues we face and help us make an impact on the world around us. Psalm 63:1 “A Psalm of David when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. 2 So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory. 3 Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You. 4 Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. 5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.”

This might be a helpful way to help keep your “heart ablaze” for Jesus.
P – prioritize prayer
R – read the Word and think about it
A – apply what you read
Y – yield to the Holy Spirit and how He leads you

Psalm 107:9 “For He satisfies the longing soul, And fills the hungry soul with goodness.”

I pray that God will set our hearts ablaze with love for Him, His Word and that He will give us a passion to share the good news of Jesus with those around us who don’t know Him. Lord, forgive us where we have wandered away from You and bring us back to fellowship and spending time in Your presence.