fanning the flame
"Stir into flame the gift of God bestowed when my hands were laid on you." —2 Timothy 1:6
We who have been baptized and confirmed have received the Holy Spirit. However, we have sinned, given in to fear, and let ourselves be manipulated by pleasures and pressures. In these ways we have stifled (1 Thes 5:19) and saddened the Spirit (Eph 4:30). By repenting, praying, and obeying, we can fan into flame the Holy Spirit. Then we will be everything Jesus died and rose for us to be. The grace of our Confirmation will be activated to the full. The Acts of the Apostles will be the acts of our lives. We will have a new Pentecost and renew the face of the earth (Ps 104:30).
Go to Confession as soon as possible. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you confess your sins (see Jn 16:8). After Confession, ask two or more Spirit-filled Christians to lay hands on you and pray for a stirring up of the Holy Spirit in your life. Especially ask your spouse to pray over you.
During or after this prayer you will experience a stirring up of the Spirit. The Spirit will make you supernaturally strong, loving, and wise (2 Tm 1:7). You will not be ashamed of the gospel (2 Tm 1:8; Rm 1:16), but empowered to boldly share your faith. You will have the faith to do for Jesus what you've never done before, and even to be persecuted for His gospel.
Prayer: Father, may I thirst for the Spirit more than for anything else (Jn 7:37). On this Respect Life Sunday, I pray that, by the power of the Spirit, I may save the lives of babies in the wombs of their mothers.
Promise: "Increase our faith." —Lk 17:5
Praise: Praise the risen Jesus, Whose Spirit guides us to all truth. "Praise and exalt Him above all forever" (Dn 3:60). Alleluia!
Reference: (For a related teaching, order our tape Power in the Spirit on audio AV 64-1 or video V-64.)
Rescript: †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, April 6, 2010
The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.