Hello my name is Lauren. I'm 19 and about to enter my 20's. My goal in life is to keep developing and deepening my relationship with God. God has given me many blessings and gifts. I'm currently going to school to become a nurse so that I can one day bring healing and joy to the sick. I named my blog "Love to Inspire" because I want to inspire people to live differently than the rest of the world. Be the change you want to see!
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
“Set a fire down in my soul, that I can’t contain, that I can’t control. I want more of you God, I want more of you God.”
A fire usually starts small. A tiny flame can engulf a house in a matter of minutes. Once the flame gets going, it moves from room to room until every part of it is burnt to the ground. When you start a bonfire, the flame starts off small, lighting up one piece of wood but very quickly engulfing every piece. A fire doesn’t stay in one same room. It doesn’t stop in the living room and decide to skip the bedrooms and the bathroom. A wildfire doesn’t stop after half of the forest burns, it wants the whole thing. A fire isn’t safe, it isn’t weak, it isn’t small.
The bible often uses fire as a representation of God’s presence. God’s presence isn’t small, it isn’t safe, it isn’t weak. It’s a wildfire. Here’s the thing about Jesus, he will be a gentleman. He will knock patiently. He will wait for you to open that door. But when you open that door, his presence will engulf you like a wildfire. When you engage the Holy Spirit, you better be ready for some crazy, good things to start happening and some crazy hard things. His flame is unquenchable.
He will burn away all the unnecessary things from your life. He will burn up the chafe. He will burn away the bad habits, the bad relationships, he will remove what is unholy. This isn’t easy. If you want to live an amazing life full of his presence, it won’t be easy. You may have to let go of that friendship, or not answer that call, or stop going to that website, or stop gossiping, or spend less time on net flex, or a million other things he may call you to do. Jesus will baptize you with fire, and if you're serious about it, then your life is going to be changed.
Something that I heard really changed my perspective on things. One thing we are called to do it to pursue holiness and purity. Sometimes I get into this mindset that I need to serve, and pray, and read my bible, and not sin because God is up there looking down upon me and isn’t proud of, so I do those things to make him proud. But God doesn’t want us to pursue holiness so he can be proud of us, he wants us to pursue holiness so that he can be close to us. He wants his presence to be a part of you, burning in the depths of your soul. This is beautiful to me. God isn’t interested in giving us a high five, he wants to hold us. He wants us to climb upon his lap and cling to him. It’s so easy to get into this worker bee mindset, when in reality we are meant to be set free, to be creative, and to live.
"I have come to set the world on fire, and I wish it were already burning!” Luke 12:49 Jesus is inviting you to be a part of the fire. To burn bright. He wants you to burn so bright for him it draws others to him. Don’t be afraid for the fire to burn away the unnecessary in your life, because it will bring you closer to him. He will burn through your burdens, your bitterness, your hurt, your pride, your bad habits. You will love greater, you will breathe deeper, you will serve more, you will be changed. Don’t be afraid to lift your hands up in praise or to sing with all of your lungs (and possibly terrible voice like mine), don’t be afraid to sacrifice some things, don’t be afraid to find a community and make new friends, and don’t be afraid to love. Love will change you. Love will make you do things you never knew you could do. Love will cause you to take risks. But love will leave you with a soul that is full of an unfathomable peace.
"I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Matthew 3:11
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