New Fire

We often attend church with an expectation that our lives will somehow become perfected. We enter the church with the weight of the world on our shoulders: financial problems, relationship troubles, failing health, etc. All too often, we walk out the church door and all of our problems are still there. The bills are still overdue, the marriage is still struggling, the kids still don't listen, and your health is still not great. The truth is, we live in a fast-food culture. If your order is not done correctly in a couple of minutes, we are not happy. We treat church the same way. When our expectations are not met in the way or time we determined, we struggle to return the following week. The author wants you to know that you are not alone in this very real struggle. There have been many Sundays that he has questioned, "What's the point?" In this devotional, he will introduce you to two disciples that faced their "walking away" moment. Their expectation was not met, and they had "sadness written across their faces" (Luke 24:17b NLT). Like many of us, the fire that had burned so bright was merely a fading ember in a dying campfire. Like the cartoon character who walks around with its own personal rain cloud, we walk through life discouraged and hopeless. These disciples had their expectations shattered and felt the weight of their world grow heavier. They lost a great teacher and a good friend but did not realize they had gained a powerful savior. These men needed a new spark, and it came at just the right time. Christ showed up and these disciples found that their expectation was not God's reality. Their timing was not God's timing. But His will was victorious and their passion for him was reignited. When this happens, they found a New Fire and burned for Christ! As you read through this devotional, do so as they did - with open hearts and open minds. Relearning your faith is not always easy. In fact, it is probably the most difficult thing you will do because it will destroy your expectations of our Savior. With that in mind, you must be willing to allow God to spark something new in you. Allow God to show up at just the right time to show you his grace, love, and power. Be willing to step out of your expectations and learn what his will is for your life. As you do this, that dying fire inside of you will come alive again. You will see beyond the here and now and God will have the room to show you his plan and your expectations will no longer seem to be of any importance. Let Him change you!