Set a Fire.

"Set a fire, down in my soul, that I can't contain, that I can't control. I want more of You, God..."

This lyric starts one of my favorite songs and a lyric that has become a recent prayer. Deuteronomy 4:24 says, "For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God." In context, the verse is in the midst of a passage talking about how idolatry among the Israelites, and us as believers, is forbidden. God is a jealous God. "He asks us to treat only Him - and no one else in all the universe - as God." (NIV footnote) The footnote goes on to talk about the negative connotation with the word "jealous". However, with God, "jealous" has a great connotation. He wants us to be devoted to Him, serving and loving only Him, because it is in this kind of devotion where "those who lose their life for Me will find it" (Matthew 16:25). I want this kind of life. A life completely abandoned to the One who calls me by name and pursues me daily.

This is where the song comes in. "Set a fire, down in my soul, that I can't contain, that I can't control. I want more of You, God..." A fire is consuming, burning, and uncontrolled. God, who is the epitome of love and all things good, wants to take up residence in our heart and become an uncontrolled fire down in our souls. Why? He wants His people to become head over heels, madly in love, with Him. This kind of love wells up from Your soul and can't help but become poured out onto others. Who doesn't want this kind of Love? Each of our souls thirst for this kind of Love. 

So Father, let this continue to be a prayer of my heart. Would you set a fire, down in my soul, that I can't contain or control? Father, I want to see more of who You are, more of Your character. Help me to  daily lay down my life for Your sake. Thank you that You are full of grace, mercy, and uncontrollable love. 

Amen.