Daily Archive

When you are battered and beaten by the world it’s hard to burn brightly. We can be smothered by so many things from our past it’s hard to see the good we can do.

We can be smothered by that sin that seems unstoppable. We can be smothered by that act in the past that still has it’s consequences in our lives, that still haunts us. You know the one. The one you hope no one ever finds out about. We can be smothered by the unrealistic expectations of other people, or by the constant reminders others give you that you don’t measure up. I call them bullies and the worst bullies are the ones who bully you in Jesus name. The Bible is referred to as a sword but it was never intended to be used in friendly fire!

Not only does Jesus come to bind up the bruised reed, he comes to fan into flame the smoldering wick, the almost dead potential that was almost smothered by our past or by others. To fan a smoldering wick one needs gentleness and care lest you kill the dying ember.

In Jesus day, the wick was part of an oil lamp. Oil was the fuel that fed the flame. You know what the Holy Spirit is referred to in some parts of scripture? Oil. You know what else oil was used for? Healing.

Jesus fans the smoldering potential of our lives through the healing oil of the Holy Spirit. Allow him to fan your potential into a warm, room brightening flame.