Rekindle My Fire
Asking God to part the clouds and send down fire by Kevin Olson
n 1986, when I was traveling in Europe, I stayed in a Swiss village named Grindelwald, in a beautiful valley in the Alps. Grindelwald is not far from the base of the Eiger and the Jungfrau—two iconic summits of more than 13,000 feet each.
I was there for four days, but the entire time it was overcast, with the cloud cover not far above the valley floor. I went hiking on trails, but because the mountains were obscured, I got kind of bored and ended up in a coffee shop watching TV.
Here I was, in one of the most beautiful valleys on planet Earth, yet because my vision was obscured, I became distracted. That is, until the morning the clouds parted. The view was breathtaking. It was the same place, but my vision was renewed.
Being awakened (or re-awakened) to the global cause of Christ does the same for us. We need to be reminded that there is an absolutely glorious plan of redemption underway. One that encompasses the whole world. The Lord Jesus Christ is at work drawing people to Himself, and we are called to stand in awe.
Yet, it is easy to get distracted, because we lose sight of it. We get busy. Getting reconnected to God's global purposes can "part the clouds" for us.
Some suggestions to place ourselves in the path of reawakening:
Here I was, in one of the most beautiful valleys on planet Earth, yet because my vision was obscured, I became distracted.
Explore again in Scripture why God's heart is so tuned to missions. Take the "Perspectives on the World Christian Movement" course (www.perspectives.org). It's challenging and life-transforming. Read missionary biographies.
Buy a copy of Operation World and make that part of your private devotions. Pray for missionaries and for local evangelism efforts in your church and community.
Find ways of supporting missionaries and local evangelism efforts. Consciously give up one good thing so that you can support one better thing.
Take advantage of short-term mission opportunities in your community, elsewhere in the United States, and around the world.
God is bringing the nations to our doors. Find ways to connect with them in your local community. God is at work. He completes what He starts, including the Great Commission (Revelation 7:9,10).
But perhaps you are just plain tired. You agree that you would like to feel more connected, but what I offered is just another list of things to do.
Start with Jesus. "Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30)."
Lord Jesus, what we need is You. We need more of Your grace and fullness in our lives. Please root out the things that distract us and refocus our hearts on Your global purposes. Our greatest joy will be to see Your name glorified among all the nations. Amen.
Rekindle My Fire
EFCA The magazine of the Evangelical Free Church of America® ViewEdit
Rekindle My Fire Asking God to part the clouds and send down fire by Kevin Olson
IN 1986, WHEN I WAS TRAVELING IN EUROPE, I stayed in a Swiss village named Grindelwald, in a beautiful valley in the Alps. Grindelwald is not far from the base of the Eiger and the Jungfrau—two iconic summits of more than 13,000 feet each.
I was there for four days, but the entire time it was overcast, with the cloud cover not far above the valley floor. I went hiking on trails, but because the mountains were obscured, I got kind of bored and ended up in a coffee shop watching TV.
Here I was, in one of the most beautiful valleys on planet Earth, yet because my vision was obscured, I became distracted. That is, until the morning the clouds parted. The view was breathtaking. It was the same place, but my vision was renewed.
Being awakened (or re-awakened) to the global cause of Christ does the same for us. We need to be reminded that there is an absolutely glorious plan of redemption underway. One that encompasses the whole world. The Lord Jesus Christ is at work drawing people to Himself, and we are called to stand in awe.
Yet, it is easy to get distracted, because we lose sight of it. We get busy. Getting reconnected to God’s global purposes can “part the clouds” for us.
Some suggestions to place ourselves in the path of reawakening:
- Here I was, in one of the most beautiful valleys on planet Earth, yet because my vision was obscured, I became distracted.
- LearnExplore again in Scripture why God’s heart is so tuned to missions. Take the “Perspectives on the World Christian Movement” course (www.perspectives.org). It’s challenging and life-transforming. Read missionary biographies.
- Pray Buy a copy of Operation World and make that part of your private devotions. Pray for missionaries and for local evangelism efforts in your church and community.
- Send Find ways of supporting missionaries and local evangelism efforts. Consciously give up one good thing so that you can support one better thing.
- Go Take advantage of short-term mission opportunities in your community, elsewhere in the United States, and around the world.
- WelcomeGod is bringing the nations to our doors. Find ways to connect with them in your local community. God is at work. He completes what He starts, including the Great Commission (Revelation 7:9,10).
- But perhaps you are just plain tired. You agree that you would like to feel more connected, but what I offered is just another list of things to do.
Start with Jesus. “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30).”
Lord Jesus, what we need is You. We need more of Your grace and fullness in our lives. Please root out the things that distract us and refocus our hearts on Your global purposes. Our greatest joy will be to see Your name glorified among all the nations. Amen.
Kevin and his wife, Robin, work with OMF International in Cambodia and are part of a greater consortium that includes four churches (three are EFCA congregations) and two other mission organizations—all committed to church planting among the Brou people of northeast Cambodia.