A pastor shared a story from when he was a little boy. His grandmother had a large magnifying glass that she would use to read the Bible. He shared that, for fun, he used to take his grandmother’s magnifying glass outside and use the rays of the sun with the magnifying glass to focus the sunlight on a section of the newspaper until that part of the newspaper caught on fire. Later in his life, he asked his dad, “How do I get that true passion for God?” His dad replied, “Son, it’s just like what you did with the magnifying glass and the sun…whatever you focus on, that is what you are on fire for.”
This powerful illustration can be applied to many aspects of our walk with Christ. However, today we are going to emphasize prayer.
Everyone is going through something that may be causing them some sort of pain, worry, fear, or anxiety. It may be caused by something in your own personal life, or maybe you’re observing this in the life of a close friend or family member. Physical, mental, spiritual, or financial struggles — no matter what may be around us that is troubling us, everyone has something they desire relief from. It can sometimes be difficult to not be consumed by these things. At times we struggle to run to Jesus, the One who can help us, and we resist placing it all in His hands. However, it is the choices we make in the thick of our battles that impacts us and our walk with God.
We can’t expect to receive that true passion and fire for Christ by focusing on God only when all is going well or only under joyful circumstances. He needs to have our focus through every situation, every obstacle, and in every season. It is when we focus on God through everything that we build our trust in Him and find that true fire and passion for Him.
We don’t need to pray to God about our difficulties in order for Him to hear us or help us. He is all-knowing and is fully able to help us before we utter a word. The purpose of prayer is for our benefit — to lift our mind to Him, our Solution, and to redirect our focus from the situation and onto the One who is fully able, in control, and who has our best interest at heart. It is for us to grow our confidence in Him, to strengthen our relationship, and to find security in Him, for He alone is our sufficiency, “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God...” 2 Corinthians 3:5.
It is by keeping our focus on Him that we receive that fire for Him. Where my focus is, my faith will follow. Prayer is to get our mind from being centered on our problems to being centered on the God who can solve them.
If I focus on my problems, then they change me. But if I bring these things to God and focus on Him, then He changes me. “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” 2 Corinthians 3:18.
If we would put our worries in His hands, He will put His peace in our hearts (John 14:27, 2 Thessalonians 3:16).
By beholding, we become changed. By beholding Christ, we become more like Him. When we hide in Christ, He is revealed.
Call to Action
Friend, what are you on fire for? Where is your focus?
I admit my great need to focus more on Christ and His righteousness, His character, His goodness, and faithfulness, and cling to His promises. I need to ask for the Holy Spirit to fill me and ask Him to help me place all things, no matter the circumstances, completely in Jesus’ precious hands and ask Him to help me to learn to truly live, walk, and abide in faith. I desire a greater passion and fire for God.
Will you join me in asking the Lord for these things as we seek to come to Him with everything in prayer?
All scripture taken from the King James Version.
