Did you know there’s a verse in the Bible that relates to menopausal hot flashes? You’ll find it in Romans 12.
“Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord (Romans 12:11, ESV).”
The word “fervent” in the original Greek means “boiling hot”.
If you’ve ever experienced a hot flash, you know that it’s all-consuming. You feel like you’re burning from the inside out and you can think of nothing else.
If you’re one of those blessed readers who has no experience with hot flashes, maybe a tea kettle is more familiar. When the water is boiling, that kettle whistles like a runaway train. It’s so obnoxiously disruptive that it’s impossible to ignore. All you want to do is go take that kettle off the stove.
In the same way, our fervency of spirit is to be a bit disruptive to the world around us, impossible to ignore. Our fervency of spirit has the potential to make inaction uncomfortable.
- Is your faith all-consuming?
- Does it permeate your life to such a degree that those in your presence cannot deny its existence?
- Is your desire to serve the Lord strong enough that, when the Holy Spirit convicts you, taking action is your natural response? Is ignoring His prompting more uncomfortable than obedience?
Let’s forego the hot flashes for now and pay more attention to that whistling tea kettle or to the concept of boiling in general.
Boiling is a method of cleansing and purification. A fervent spirit is a one that’s continually killing sin, removing impurities, seeking after righteousness.
If something is boiling, it’s active. A fervent spirit is an active spirit.
Boiling produces steam. Steam can be used as an energy source. A fervent spirit is an empowered spirit, fueled by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.
If our spirit is fervent, if we’re “boiling hot for Jesus”, we will impact those around us. We will “spur each other on” to a deeper walk with Christ (Hebrews 10:24).
Steam, a byproduct of boiling, is also a vapor that spreads tiny droplets far and wide. Similarly, a fervent spirit will spread in various measures—not only to those we’re in direct contact with, but those who see us from a distance and beyond.
Okay, so I may have stretched the analogy a little. But the next time you hear a whistling tea kettle or find yourself melting in the midst of a hot flash, you’ll think about fervency of spirit, right?
Like a hot flash, a fervent spirit:
- is noticeable,
- pursues righteousness,
- is active,
- is empowered,
- has impact,
- and spreads (or is contagious).
Now the question is… How do we develop a fervent spirit?
To boil anything, an energy source is required. A fervent spirit is energized by the Living Water, the Bread of Life, the Consuming Fire… Jesus Christ.
To “turn up the heat”, get close to Him. Spend time with Him. Read His Word. Pray. Get involved in a community of fellow fervent spirits.
Then watch Him work!
