"Stir up your gift and pursue your passion now!"

Passion is that fire within you that drives you and compels you to go forward. It is the thing that gives you satisfaction when you do it. What is it in your life that drives you and compels you to go forward? Is there something that you are passionate about?

In the classic film "Chariots of Fire", Eric Liddell, an Olympic runner said this, "I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast! And when I run, I feel His pleasure.” It is so true that when we are doing what God has made us for and gifted us to do, we feel His smile, His pleasure upon us. You are never happier than when you are using, developing, and serving within your giftedness. God gives to us our spiritual gifts to be used for Him and to be developed. God wants you to use your gifts and to bloom where He plants you. God wants us to use our gifts with passion, fervently serving the Lord.

God sets a fire in our souls to use our gifts for Him, but we must fan the flames, use our gifts, and fulfill our passion for ministry. In 2nd Timothy 1:6-7, the words "stir up" carry with them the word picture to rekindle. Think of a campfire that has been burning and the embers now have gotten cold. To rekindle the fire, you stir up the embers, and the flames begin to burn again. God wants us to stir up the gift that He has given to us too.

The interesting thing about a campfire is that the intensity of the fire is kept by stirring it up. God gave you a gift that came with a passion, but you must stir up the passion and use the gift. God wants you to use your gifts for Him passionately.

Is there something that you know God wants you to do? Has He been dealing with you about it? Don't put it off any longer. Seize the moment! Maybe God has put into your heart to do something, and you are making excuses. You have talked yourself out of it so many times. You were afraid for one reason or another to pursue the passion that God has put into you heart. You have settled for mediocrity, and have quit pursing what God had put a flame in your heart for. You may have put off taking that first step so many times over the weeks and months and even years. Maybe what you feel in your heart that God wants you to do looks so huge and insurmountable. Remember what Lao Tzu said, "The Journey of a thousand miles begins with one step".

Don't let fear stop you! God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power. There is nothing too hard for God! This word for power is a picture of the ability and abundance of God Himself. God has given to us the spirit of power and love.

The Bible exhorts us to not put off the important things in this life. Why not start now. Right now is not too late! You must do your part and get moving. You still have the potential in you to be everything that God has created you to be. You have not missed it. You are not too old or too young. Go ahead - Stir up your gift and pursue your passion now!