Get with the Plan

I wanna give a shout out to Charles Stanley for his sermon titled, "When Your Fire Goes Out." I have been challenged to do what I know I ought to do.

Where I'm at: I'm not tithing. I'm not going to Sunday night services. I'm not reading the Word of God on a regular basis, or spending concentrated time in prayer. Heck...I'm 0 for 3. My spiritual fire is burning low... if it isn't in ashes. As I write to you, the Holy Spirit convicts me of my sin and calls me to repentance. I'm glad God isn't finished with me, even when I allow myself to become bitter and cynical.

The Challenge: "If you want to call yourself a "Christian," how are you demonstrating your devotion to Christ? (paraphrase of what the Spirit said to me)

The Story: As Charles Stanley's voice flowed out of my radio at work, I was captivated by his message likening our spiritual fervor and devotion to Christ to the light of a fire in a fireplace; the presumption being that as people are drawn to the light and warmth of a fire, they will be drawn to or away from you, depending on the status of your fire.

The message according to Chuck:

'Be aware of where you are (spiritually). Ask yourself: What is the status of my fire? What's going on in my life?

'Recall where you were. What was your life like when you were on fire for God? When you loved to sing hymns, read his word.

'Repent. Confess what is wrong, haven't prayed, haven't tithed, wrong attitudes, lost devotion to Jesus, confess priorities aren't right, love and devotion has gone cold... repent of the things that aren't the way they ought to be in your life. What has changed since you became a Christian?

'Refocus your attention. Something changed your focus from God to yourself. Decide how you are going to refocus your life. Start thinking about what your life can be when you get your life right with God.

'Get in the word of God. Find a short book of the Bible, begin to read so that you can say you have accomplished something. Pick up the word of God ask him to speak to your heart, be open to what he has to say to you, to convict you, to speak to you. He's after godliness, righteous living...God will bring things to your mind as you read his word continually.

Feel challenged?