"Start the Fire and I Will Stir It Up"

 "Start the Fire and I Will Stir It Up"

In the month of June, my local church had a midyear program, and during that season, the Lord laid a word in my heart: "Start the fire, and I will stir it up."

At the middle of the night, I woke up to the sound of burning dry bushes and paper at my right ear. But when I woke up, there was nothing but my sister sleeping across from me. The Lord spoke to me in the midst of a "fire." I felt a burning sound as if there was real fire close to me, but only to wake up and find nothing.

As I look back on those moments, I can understand those words. They were the words I needed in that moment of despair when I was just healed from a mental breakdown.

But as I take a look at the days that followed after that word from God, He had really prepared for each moment. The Lord does that for His people always, because He cannot do anything without an awakened man. He first awakens man to the reality He has ordained him for.

That was the reality He first awakened Gideon to when He called him a "man of valor." It's easy to always look as if we've got a plan and we've got everything covered, but what about the moments when there is no plan? The moment when people expect you to know what to do, but you're still trying to figure it all out.

Gideon could only think of feeding, and so when he was preparing what to eat, God's messenger said to him, "That man of valor." 

Judges 6:11-14 (NIV) said this about Gideon. 

11 The angel of the Lord came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. 

12 When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, "The Lord is with you, mighty warrior."

13 "Pardon me, Lord," Gideon replied, "but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, 'Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?' But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian."

14 The Lord turned to him and said, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?"

At that moment, God saw him as a man of strength. God was just saying to him, "Start the fire, and I will stir it up. Whatever it is you want to do, start the fire; I've got more for you. You've got the strength to start again. Just seek Me, and that plan you desire will pass.

As we prepare for the cross into the new year, I hear these same words: "Start the fire, and I will stir it up." It's been months since He gave me this word, and the Lord has stirred up great things in my life by just saying yes to Him.

God wants to stir up great things in our life, but we've got to say yes. 

Stay Revived!

By Guest writer.

Can God Spread a Table in the Wilderness?

Can God Spread a Table in the Wilderness?

It's so easy to doubt God's goodness, especially in moments of quietness or dry seasons. It's tempting to wake up each day and conclude that God has not helped, especially when the help does not come in the moments we desire or expect. 

During this holiday season, I stumbled upon an old journal from 2020 with a question inscribed on one page: "Can God spread a table in the wilderness?", I had written yes he can but Reflecting on it in 2024, I realized that I had taken four years to understand this psalms. In this four years, they were moments I had become the Isrealites. 

The Israelites, despite their track record of God's faithfulness, asked the same question. Psalm 78:19-21 (MSG) says:

19 They whined like spoiled children, "Why can't God give us a decent meal in this desert?

20 Sure, he struck the rock and the water flowed, creeks cascaded from the rock. But how about some fresh-baked bread? How about a nice cut of meat?"

21 When God heard that, he was furious - his anger flared against Jacob, and he lost his temper with Israel.

It was clear they didn't believe God, and had no intention of trusting in his help. However, God still provided for them.

Psalm 78:23 (MSG) says:

23 But God helped them anyway, commanded the clouds, and gave orders that opened the gates of heaven.

Yes, God can provide, even in the wilderness. Trust is the key that unlocks His provision. We must look reflect on every moment when He came through, be hopeful, and joyful, and rejoice in His faithfulness.

The end of our journey is the promised Canaan land, flowing with milk and honey. God has written out a plan to take us there, but it requires our commitment to trusting Him.

God needs our trust to unlock the wilderness seasons in our lives. Yes, God can spread a table in the wilderness.

Stay Revived!

"Refined by Fire: God's Presence in Our Trials"

Indeed, the words "You never left your own without help" resonated in my mind as I reflected on the consistency of God's love for us. There are times when we face challenges and feel that God has forgotten us. But friends, the Lord is always aware of the crises we will face, and that's why, even before they begin, He has already spoken to us in Isaiah 43:2:

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze."

For every fire you're going through, God is always present, and He is our helper.

In the Bible, King Nebuchadnezzar ordered that everyone bow down to worship an idol at the sound of the drum. During this time, there were three Hebrew men—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—who loved and worshiped the Lord. They prayed and served God faithfully, not realizing the enemy was watching, looking for a legal reason to destroy them.

When the king's decree was given, and these men refused to bow down, I can imagine the enemy thought, "Let's see who will help them now," believing they were untouchable. But Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego remained unshaken. They were not afraid for their lives. They didn’t hesitate to continue worshiping God.

They must have thought, "Why should we worship an idol when it is the Lord who brought us here? He made us healthier and stronger without eating the king's food, and He is the one who protects us and favors us above all others." So, they decided to continue serving Him, knowing He would take care of them.

Friends, the challenges of life may seem overwhelming, as though they're about to knock us down. But we have assurance in the Lord. He is the fourth man in the fire, and He is willing to save and deliver us. God can change the situation that seems impossible. He is saying that yes, the fire will come, but it will not burn you; it will be a refining fire, a rebranding fire.

In Daniel 3:13-18, King Nebuchadnezzar, furious with rage, summoned Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He demanded, “Is it true that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image I have set up?”

In Daniel 3:19-25, the king's anger intensified. He ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than usual and commanded his strongest soldiers to tie up the three men and throw them into the blazing furnace.

Then, in Daniel 3:26-30, after throwing them into the fire, Nebuchadnezzar approached the furnace and called out, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!" The three men walked out of the fire, and the satraps, prefects, governors, and royal advisors gathered around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies; not a hair on their heads was singed, their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.

The fire was a demonstration of God's power. It was meant to reveal His glory in their lives. God is willing to show Himself through the trials we face when we remain faithful to His instructions.

So, do not grow weary—your help is here, and it is the Lord, mighty in power.

Stay Revived!

Letters To Abba: "Faithfully Yours"

 Letters To Abba: "Faithfully Yours"

I began journaling after hearing women I admired speak about how they identified God's voice through writing. As someone who loves writing, I wanted to hear God's words to me. So, I started writing letters to God, sharing my thoughts, feelings, questions, anxieties, and fears. I'd end each letter with "I love you, Abba."

One afternoon, after a month of journaling, I heard God's voice say, "I love you too." I was ecstatic! It felt so real, and life became more meaningful. This marked the beginning of my conversations with the Lord.

Sometimes, the Holy Spirit would be comical, giving instructions that I'd try to ignore. Other times, I'd see the repercussions of ignoring His voice. I'd often say, "I wouldn't be happy living a normal life," but hearing God's voice daily refreshed my life.

David's words, "Take not your presence from me" (Psalm 51:11), resonated with me. He had reached a point where God's voice was his "refreshing wine." When life gets exhausting, God's presence, person, and voice make us whole.

When Adam and Eve left Eden, God's presence was replaced with incompleteness and anxiety. God's voice is the anchor that steadies us during life's storms. The Bible is God's letter to us.

Have you ever flipped through the scriptures and wondered why these stories are being told? I've learned to substitute my name into biblical encounters, making the stories come alive. It reminds me that God speaks to me and had me in mind when He wrote the words.

Have you received a personal word from God for this season?

God loves to talk. He is the word. In the very first beginning he was introduced as "God spoke".He wants to speak to you and with you today. 

Stay Revived!