“….stir up the gift….” 2 Timothy 1:6
It was like fire shut up in my bones, during my formative years, when I recognized the multiplicity of gifts, talents and abilities God placed within me. This fire resulted in a good physical damage. Does that sound crazy to you? Well, it felt crazy to me. This fire created a burning so intense that I could no longer be afraid to shine, flame and light up the world around me. What I came to recognize was that God had created me and gifted me to be a blessing to others and to give glory to Him. Unknowingly, stumbling blocks of fear and external hindrances had crept into my mind, body and spirit. Oh yes, the enemy was trying to put out the spirit of God’s fire that was in me. I attempted to deactivate some my gifts, ignore my spiritual calling, forsake purposeful assignments and abandon some of my natural talents.
Once I confronted the reality of my situation, I made the choice to find the stir to activate and execute what God had placed within me. Why do we abort the purpose of God and let it waste away? Why do we neglect the gift of God’s spirit and let it grow cold? Why are we apprehensive of becoming who we are gifted to be? You must find the stir like I did and begin now to stir up the gift that is within you. God’s spirit is like a fire that is enclosed in your human body. God will not let you quit, deny and forsake what He has instilled in you. Even if others fail to recognize, honor or promote your giftedness, you must know who you are in God – fearfully and wonderfully made in His image and after His likeness. And if God is for you, God is more than the world against you. On my journey, here are some things I’ve done to keep me on fire.
Know that God’s spirit lives within you. You are never on your life journey alone. God’s spirit is the fire that dwells within you. And that fire is the gift that is ready to ignite. With God on your side, you can do great exploits in your life. Remember this passage in 1 John 4:4, “Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.”
Do not quench the Spirit. The fire of God’s giftedness within you does not need to be smothered, stagnated or disregarded. Relax and release the very temptation of gift neglect and abortion. Even Apostle Paul admonished members of a church he started to not quench the Spirit in 1 Thessalonians 5:19. Never resist something that the Spirit wants to do in you, through you and for you. Welcome the opportunities of the spirit within by yielding and accepting what the Spirit has poured into you and offering you.
Rekindle the fire– God has put gifts and talents in every person. We are made by God’s design to shine bright and to be the light for the world. l In 2 Timothy 1:6 Apostle Paul challenges all of us to rekindle the fire by stirring up the gift. Apostle Paul likens God’s spirit to a dying fire. So he encouraged Timothy to stir up the live coals and to fan the flames so that his gifts never go out. That is what you must do. Fan the flames. Revive what has been lost. Reawaken what has been asleep. Renew the gifts that you have cancelled. Each time your fire goes dim, rekindle it. Your gifts, talents, abilities and strengths are present within you. Stir them up. After you cultivate them, then activate them.
Build Your Defense– Build your defense against distractions, discouragement and disillusions by putting on the whole armor of God. Build up your defense to protect your mind and willpower to exercise your giftedness. Guard yourself against the snares of life that wish to rob you of your self-esteem, spirituality and individuality. Pray effectively and work diligently to ensure that your gifts are mobilized and not marginalized. As Apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:13, “Take up the whole armor of God so that you may be able to withstand in the evil day. You must resist self-defeating attitudes and attacks of spiritual warfare. Stand strong and be not afraid to blossom into the fullness of your gifted personhood.
Reflection Question: Do you need help stirring up your gifts?
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