Wet Blankets

Have you ever been super excited about something and wanted to tell someone about it? You just couldn't wait, it consumed all of your thoughts and got your blood totally pumped, only to have someone step in and crush your spirits? I think we all have had experiences like that.

It happens to me a lot. Maybe it's because I get "super excited" about everything, I don't know. Maybe other people just can't understand my enthusiasm about things; maybe I am just naive about what is important to other people. Or maybe my new found happiness just isn't accepted by some people as I would hope for.

Encouraging others is something of importance that we can do to show our belief in them, or their idea and helps them feel empowered to continue on with their cause. We can show them our support by listening to them, or perhaps even offering them help to enable them to continue. Most importantly, when it is something of a matter of faith they are pursuing, we can show our support by being a constant encouragement and positive influence for them.

In the perfect world I guess that would be the case. Unfortunately we live in a society that is being strangled by the enemy. It is the enemy that tells us to think of ourselves, to only look out for number one, to not get involved, to extinguish any small smouldering flames that have been ignited, especially those flames that burn within us that were placed in there by none other than the Lord of Lords, and His Holy Spirit. The fear that replaces excitement is directly from the enemy.

Being a Christian is hard work. If you are discipling like Jesus instructs us to, you will know what I am referring to when I speak of persecution. You'll have had true life experiences where you just wanted to throw in the towel, because it was just too hard. But the difference for us as disciples is that we have God on our side for strength. I am sure you, as I, have been sent to bended knee more than once by feelings of having your flame extinguished. It has to be one of the absolute worst feelings you can experience as a Christian, especially a new Christian. The feeling of finally finding life and the feeling of having a purpose here, only to be squashed by someone's opinion or rude remarks of how they detest your attitude, or your new found language, or get this one...how more righteous you are now than them. Oh how about being a "fanatic", that's always nice to hear. We struggle every day to share the "Good News" with people, and only to be ridiculed and shamed. It is a tough life indeed.

The saddest thing is that they don't understand that they are hurting those that are trying to live according to what is right, in God's eyes. We are no different than them in that we too experience all of the human emotions that they feel, but we have one advantage in that we know the truth, and it is this truth that we wish for all mankind, not only a chosen few. We only pray for everyone to know what we know in Christ, it's as simple as that, nothing more.

And every single moment of it is worth it. I love the way I love the Lord. I love learning His word, and I love talking about it. It's so simple to go to church and be surrounded by other Christians, chit chatting about the bible, and how many wonderful things God has done in their life, and hear really encouraging stories. But take that to the streets. Take that out into the world and be super excited about it, and see how far you make it out the church doors until someone throws their wet blanket on your rejuvenated flame of the Holy Spirit. I don't think you would get too far. I suppose that is where we can turn to God for strength and to fellow believers for encouragement. Perseverance is something of importance to strive for, in everything, but more so in standing up for what we believe in. I believe in the truth, and I believe the Lord wants to use me to share that in some way with others. And so I will continue to feed this fire, to fuel this flame, to equipped myself for battle.

Your wet blankets will not extinguish my Spirit.