Burn Bright

Through Holy Barre, we pray God ignites a fire in your heart, soul, mind AND body to BURN BRIGHT for Jesus and in His love. But what does it mean to ‘burn bright’?

Shine

Every since I was young, I’ve always loved the idea of ‘shining’ . . .to be a bright light, a positive person, and a ray of sunshine. Yet the more I pursued this desire to shine, the more I felt tired, discouraged, anxious, and guilty. Over the years, I have realized truly shining for Christ has nothing to do with our striving but everything to do with our sacrificing, sharpening, and ultimately surrendering. It it not in our power or purposeful pursuits but in His power and our purposeful posture that God is truly glorifed!

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Cor 12:9-10

Sacrifice

While a variety of things may come to mind when reading the word ‘sacrifice’, the meaning that truly ignites my soul is our acknowledging that we need less of ourselves and more of Jesus. If we are the living sacrifice, our Lord’s open, strong, loving hands are the altar. We’re going to jump all in, seek Him first, replace lies with His truth, honor our bodies as His temple, and realize His love and grace bring true freedom. The phrase ‘Spirit-led’ might sound churchy, but I’ve learned ‘me-led’ is exhausting and doesn’t have much impact. By pressing ‘pause’ to step back, get out of His way, and ask, ‘Spirit, lead me in this,’ we can move forward with greater peace and passion. When we pursue the eternal rather than the worldly, sacrificing our immediate desires for His righteousness, our heart, soul, strength, and mind are transformed and renewed in a freedom like no other. When we let God refine us and burn us holy, our light cannot be put out!

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:1-2

Sharpen

We need God and we need others. Period. Just as God burns bright in us and through us, we need to others around us to fan the flame! Doing life with other believers sharpens our focus, encourages us to move forward, gives us strength when we’re hurting, and community alongside us as we’re burning brighter and brighter. Burning purifies and restores . . . just as authentic, real, and deep relationships cleanse and heal our hearts and souls. We truly are better together.

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

Proverbs 27:17

Surrender

Finally, let’s just worship! Let’s just lay it ALL at His feet in surrender! Let’s let His love consume us! Let us sacrifice, sharpen, and surrender in worship, praise, and awe. Regardless of your past pain and struggles, current trials and triumphs, and future hopes and longings, we have the honor to serve a God whose ways are better and brighter than anything we can imagine! Let’s just allow Him to ignite this fire in our hearts, souls, mind, and body!

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”

Hebrews 12:28-29

May we be consumed with His loving fire and burn bright!

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
Mark 12:30-31

Lord, light a fire in our hearts, souls, minds, and bodies for YOU alone!