Do not quench the Spirit. - 1 Thessalonians 5:19
If you’ve ever spent an evening around a crackling campfire, you’re familiar with its inviting warmth and captivating flames. You also know that before you walk away from it for the night, you have to douse it with a good amount of water. This extinguishes the burning embers and keeps them from re-igniting.
As believers in Christ, we can have the same quenching effect on the Holy Spirit living within us by our actions and attitudes. We can restrict God’s work in our lives by ignoring the Spirit’s guidance, resisting His empowerment, and neglecting prayer. And when we’re going through difficult times, we can even forfeit the compassionate comfort the Holy Spirit offers us by choosing worry and fear over trust. How much we miss when we smother the fire within!
So, when Paul writes, do not quench the Spirit, he is encouraging us to be sensitive to the One we were given as our helper in all areas of our lives, living into the abundance the Spirit offers. We should take care not to douse our spiritual flames, but fan the embers of our faith by surrendering all to God, allowing Him to burn brightly in and through us.
A CLOSING PRAYER
God in heaven, thank you for the gift of your Holy Spirit living within me. Guard my heart in every way so that I remain sensitive to you. Keep me from distractions—busyness, selfishness, fear—or anything else that would steal my attention from your work in my life. I welcome your guidance, your intercessory prayers, your comfort and your strength. Help me to lean into all the Spirit offers. In Jesus’ name, Amen.