Famous Last Words: Stir It Up.

Sunday Link
Famous Last Words: Stir It Up
by Richard Dormandy
2 Timothy 1: 1-14

Where I come from in South London, many people's response to the phrase "stir it up" is to sing the Bob Marley song of the same name. It's a song about sexual arousal. But when the Paul says "stir it up" he's talking about spiritual arousal.

"Stir up the gift of God that is within you." Most of the time, most of us are not in a state of spiritual arousal - until something happens, a word said, a person is seen, a memory is evoked.

Then our senses are heightened, our heart is emboldened, we're avid for more, we give our attention, we see things we were asleep to. The scripture calls us to stir ourselves, to become alert to the spiritual realm, to extend our spiritual antennae so we seek out and tune into God's thoughts. We need to live in the midst of prayer so we hear God's prompts, and see God's activity. This doesn'y just happen. We need actively to get ourselves in the mood, through Bible reading, conversation, worship, prayer.

Stir it up! Or as another Bob Dylan sang: "When you gonna wake up?"

Lord, help me to make time, space and energy to be spiritually aroused. Help me to be alert to your Spirit at work. Help me hear your voice and feel your heart. Help me stir up the gift you have put within me. Amen.