Hey Friends –
Welcome! If this is your first visit — a special warm hello, friend! You can start from the beginning of our 31 Days here.
Be sure to scroll all the way to the end for my first of many Fire Up Your Faith giveaways!
Let’s dig in to Day 5 —
So the question on the table is how do we allow God to ignite us with fresh hope and fire up our faith?
Today is the last day we’ll review Key #1. Hopefully y’all remember it —
Key # 1 – Presence
Sweet friend, it’s in His presence that our faith becomes red-hot!
Because ultimately here’s the bottom line:
We just must spend time in His Presence if we want to live with fired up faith.
I shared this mountain visual on Day 3. (An artist I am not, but hopefully you get the gist.)
Cindy’s version of Exodus 32-34
The Bible says after Aaron (the first high priest) built the idol, Aaron — and the people — got up early the next day and basically had a worship service at the bottom of the mountain.
Can you even believe it?
One of my personal takeaways from this passage: Sometimes we too can “play church” at the base of the mountain, can’t we?
We can gather together with our church friends, bring our gifts, sing amazing songs, say “Amen” and all the other right “Christian-ese” — but it isn’t the same as going up the mountain and spending time in His Presence.
The lukewarm church of Laodicea made the same mistake. They were great at “pretending” and “playing church,” but they didn’t spent time in God’s Presence.
How do we know?
Revelation 3:20 tells us Jesus was outside knocking saying “Open the door and let me in.”
Here’s the tragic part: We can actually think we are up the mountain, and we are not ~ we’re just at the foot playing church!
How in the world do we spend time “up the mountain” in His presence — in our fast paced, media driven, overscheduled world?
Here’s 5 Ideas of How to Spend Time In His Presence
1. Schedule it in.
Find a time that works best for you: morning, lunch break, in your car before you go into work, while the kids watch Nick Jr, I love Bill Hybels’s recommendation of finding 15 minutes a day to spend in a chair with Jesus.
Watch this quick video recap from Bill below. It is SUPER GOOD, friends! You’ll be glad you did!
As Bill asks, “Where is your chair?”
Sometimes we just need to be creative with the chair, right? Even a tub or toilet can do!
2. Find a favorite spot.
Maybe it’s a couch, table, somewhere outside. Make it somewhere you look forward to going.
3. Set up your spot
Make sure to have your Bible, notebook, pens, Prayer book, devotional, note pad for distractions.
I don’t know about you, but I tend to get distracted during my time with God. Having a notepad to jot down my grocery list, or friend I need to call, or email I forgot to send is helpful.
What else do you have in your “spot”?
4. Come hungry!
Bring God your emptiness and let Him fill you! Tell Him what makes you mad, sad, glad, anxious. He’s waiting to hear from you. Come expectant — ready to be satisfied, but remember, He is not a drive-through God! Spend time listening to Him through His Word. He has much He longs to share with you, friend!
5. Just do it!
Commit to spending time in His presence each day. Add it to your calendar, and keep it as a scheduled appointment.
Like Nike says, “Just do it!”
In His Presence is where we will get reignited, reenergized, and refueled to live a life that burns bright for Him!
Today’s Challenge : Day 5 of our 31 Days.
1. Hopefully by now you’ve grabbed your Fire Up My Faith notebook. Journal your thoughts from Bill’s message. Ask God to reveal where your “chair” should be, remove any distractions getting in the way of your time with Him, and transform your life (just like Bill’s friend in the video)
2. Print off this free downloadable/printable Fire Up Your Faith Bookmark, and then “go up the mountain” and spend time in His Presence.
Starting with the “A” verse, look up a verse or two and record what you learn about Who God is and what He is able to do.
If you use the NIV translation, I think you should be able to get from A to Z!
3. In the comments section, please tell us about your “chair.”
Where do you meet with God? Your dining room table? Back deck? Couch with a steaming hot cup of coffee?
Share with us please!
Now for the Fire Up Your Faith giveaway:
One person who comments will receive the following:
Photo by Benj B.
~ A “All I Need is Faith” coffee mug (my new favorite mug I use every morning! We’ll be “twinnies!” — insert eye roll from my kids )
~ Some Michigan made Coffee (yum!)
~ A red-hot candle and holder
~ Some yummy red-hots and a reminder to live with red-hot faith (I may or may not be eating some while I type this. So good!).
~ One of my favorite devotional books — My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers
In order to be entered to win, simply leave us a comment on your favorite part of 31 Days to Fire Up Your Faith so far.
Has something stood out to you? Have you used the bookmark? Watched any of the videos? I’d love to hear from you. Extra entry for sharing this post on FB or Twitter (leave a comment letting me know).
Winner will be announced Tuesday.
Thanks so much for stopping by 31 Days to Fire Up Your Faith!
It is a joy to journey with you, dear friend! May God fire up our faith in fresh new ways as we spend our “15 minutes in the chair” with Him!
Sweet blessings
P.S. In case you don’t want to miss a day, you can like my FB page, connect with me on Twitter, or subscribe to my blog via the sidebar. There’s 29 more days of ideas, resources, and encouragement to Fire Up Your Faith to come!
In the quiet of the morning… before the world crashes in.
I love connecting with you again! I love, love the rocking chair devotional and regaining my quiet time again!
Dining room chair while eating breakfast. We hope to make bookmarks for our ladies s.s. group! Thank you!
I grab my second cup of tea each morning and head for my comfy old rocking chair for my quiet time. I found the first video to be very thought provoking and it really make me stop and think. Thank you for putting this together for us. I first heard you speak and Camp Michawana last year and have been reading you since then. I’ll share on FB! ( love the drawings too!)
I have a big chair that I love. I really like the printable bookmark you gave us
My favorite chair is my oversized chaise lounge where I read my morning devotional a before work.
I love my oversized comfy chair at the end of my day reading His word.
Thank you for putting this together for us:)
I’m a bit of a nomad. Sometimes it’s on the couch, sometimes it’s on my bed, but wherever I get it, it works and helps. I really loved the video from Jennifer. Thank you for this challenge!
I’ve got two chairs so that I have options in case there are distractions. If my biggest distraction wasn’t myself I’d probably use my chairs more often. So, I’m setting my alarm for 20 minutes earlier than I usually get up so I can make a coffee and sit in my chair. (One is this super comfy rocking chair. There’s a fancy name for it, but I can’t remember what it is. The other chair is this big leather chair that reclines.) I’ve got my pink bible and my Philippians 4:13 notebook. I’ve always found it so awkward to try to talk with God. I think that gets in my way sometimes too. I’m praying that I can roll out of bed a few minutes early so I can try again.
I have especially loved the two videos – both with such powerful yet practical messages for our faith. I have a corner of my couch that gives me a view of some trees & the sky and draws my heart from the things of this world to a focus on the Lord.
Love the videos! Also want to thank you for all your hard work putting this toogether. I have several “chairs” that I use. My office desk, my bed, my bath tub, my comfy chair or my deck.
Making my way up the hill! Somedays the journey is harder than others but “When the road is rough and step – Fix your eyes upon Jesus!
I think it hit home when I read the comment about desiring to be in the presence of people more than the presence of God. Ouch. Hit home for me.
My favorite time is when I can get up, get my coffee, and immediately spend time with God. I love waking up with Him, listening to what He has to say to me.
My desk in my kitchen is where I spend my quiet time with God in the morning. I get up 30 minutes early before everyone gets moving with my lemon water and spend time in His presence. I have my bible, notebook and accessories in a tote bag for when I go to the park, bible study at church, my women’s morning bible study or if I want to sit out on my back deck and study. Everything is all in one place so that I don’t waste time looking for things.
Having my own time after all the kids have left for school to sit with a nice hot coffee in the recliner where I can connect with my Heavenly Father. Love the book and its a great encouragement.. Thank you for your passion that is igniting others …
Oh I so want to win your give away to give to one of my friends at my Red Hot Faith group! I have just learned to make a quiet time on the city bus ride to work!
I have had to go to my quiet time at night after hubby is sleeping. I am full time caregiver to him since his stroke 18 months ago.
I like several things about 31 days to fire up my faith – first I can read your message to me anytime I have time. I like that you have committed to sharing with me for 31 days. I like that you are honest and share with us from your heart, I sometimes think I am the only person who gets distracted when I am spending time with God. I need to find my chair!
Thanks Cindy.
Barb
Right now I am having my quiet time at my desk in the kitchen. It is close to the coffee and I have a view of the sunrises each morning. However, there is my computer here to distract me.
Loveseat in my living room, first thing in the morning with a cup of coffee!
I am arriving late to this 31 days but the message is still ringing loud. Very convicted to find “my chair” and meet with God regularly. Thank you for such honest, practical truths.