🔥 Fan the Flame

 

Living with Bold Faith

“Fan into flame the gift of God… For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”

— 2 Timothy 1:6–7 (NIV)

Paul’s words to Timothy are tender yet urgent: don’t let the spark go out. Every believer has been entrusted with a God-given gift — a flame lit by grace, meant to burn bright and bless others. But flames can flicker if ignored. Fear, fatigue, or discouragement can douse what God ignited. That’s why Paul reminds us that the Holy Spirit doesn’t bring fear, but courage, love, sound mind and the strength to keep going. God doesn’t call us to hide our gifts, but to stoke them into a holy blaze. As the hymn declares, “It only takes a spark to get a fire going, and soon all those around can warm up in its glowing.”

In moments when we’d rather retreat, faith calls us forward. Real discipleship is rarely comfortable — it’s courageous. God’s flame isn’t for performance but for perseverance. Whether we’re teaching, caregiving, working behind the scenes, or simply showing up for a friend, we’re called to be faithful with the spark we’ve been given. The hymn continues, “That’s how it is with God’s love, once you’ve experienced it — you want to pass it on.” Courageous disciples fan the flame not for applause but for impact, lighting the path for those still walking in shadows.

E. Stanley Jones once warned, “If you do not seek the will of God first, you will seek to bend it later.” Fanning the flame means surrendering daily — letting God use our lives, even when we feel small or unsure. In a culture that encourages retreat or self-promotion, we are called to steady witness. So don’t hide the fire. Tend it. Feed it. And let it shine with holy warmth. Pass it on.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for the gift You’ve placed within us. Stir the flame of faith, love, and disciplined courage. Help us not to shrink back in fear or grow weary, but to share Your fire with a world in need. May Your light burn bright in us — and through us. Amen.