Charles Stanley Daily Devotional (July 29, 2025) The Believer’s Passion.
Does your relationship with God seem satisfying, or do you need to be refueled?
2 Timothy 1:1-11 - Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus, 2 To Timothy, my beloved son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 3 I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience the way my forefathers did, as I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day, 4 longing to see you, even as I recall your tears, so that I may be filled with joy. 5 For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well. 6 For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. 8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, 10 but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher.
A fire will not continue to burn strongly unless it’s stoked. Similarly, a believer’s fervor, if left untended, can diminish.
Believers can experience “cooling” for several reasons. When tragedy strikes, a person may feel that his prayers went unanswered and that God doesn’t care. If he then prays less, it’s easy to drift away from the Lord. At other times, Christians can be sidetracked by the world’s priorities. For instance, Timothy’s enthusiasm wavered because of false teaching and fear.
Drifting can be subtle and hard to detect. Six questions can help you assess whether your enthusiasm for God remains strong: Do you ...
- Desire to serve God, share the gospel, and help others?
- Spend time in the Word daily?
- Pray, knowing that God is listening and working?
- Faithfully attend church and tithe?
- Experience joy, peace, and hope in Jesus?
- Stand firm in your godly convictions?
If some of your answers recently changed from “yes” to “no,” your fire may be diminishing. Acknowledge this to the Lord, and ask for His help to refuel your passion.
Bible in One Year: Isaiah 28-30
