At the usual time for offering the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet walked up to the altar and prayed,

“O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, prove today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant. Prove that I have done all this at your command. O Lord, answer me! Answer me so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God and that you have brought them back to yourself.” Immediately the fire of the Lord flashed down from heaven and burned up the young bull, the wood, the stones, and the dust. It even licked up all the water in the trench! And when all the people saw it, they fell face down on the ground and cried out, “The Lord—he is God! Yes, the Lord is God!” 

1 Kings 18:36-38

Isn’t that the way we all want God to show up? When we doubt, when we question His presence, we would love a little fire from heaven every now and then to help our faith, to prove that He is actually listening. And how great would it be in our ministry if He would rain down a few flames and wake up those who deny Him? If only we could pray, “Lord…they want evidence! They need proof.” And He would respond with a light show better than any Fourth of July celebration in the history of our country. Yeah, we want THAT! 

But you don’t actually need fire from heaven to be effective in ministry. You want people to see God’s fire? Let them see it in YOU! Let them see flames of courage in you as you step out in faith and share His heart with others. Let your constant trust in Jesus spark their interest and fuel their desire to know Him. Let them hear you speak His truth that burns away the enemy’s lies of fear and inadequacy. Let His peace within you glow so brightly that there is no darkness at all. Let your heart fan embers of hope in their own. And pray with passion that the Holy Spirit will ignite their faith and call them His own. When they see God’s fire in you, they may just fall on their faces before the Lord and acknowledge that “He is God! Yes, the Lord is God!” Burn brightly! You are loved!