Fire Keepers

Fire Keepers

“Fan into flame the gift of God.” — 2 Timothy 1:6 (NIV)

I love building a campfire, especially on a chilly morning, while I do my daily devotions. Nothing like being outdoors.  A fire rarely goes out all at once — it fades slowly. 

Marriage, like faith and spiritual gifts, works the same way. We often pray for a fresh spark, but God usually calls us to faithful tending. 

Marriage requires that we faithfully tend the flames of romance. If romance fire can fade through neglect, it can be restored and rekindled through intentional acts of kindness.

What a Fire Needs

Fire ring: this is the marriage covenant — the decision that we belong to each other exclusively and make a lifelong commitment.

Fuel: this is daily affection and kindness — small acts done on purpose. Things like: compliments, date nights, praying together, a note, a back rub, laughter, playfulness, a check-in during the day, getting their coffee, doing a chore you normally don't do, deeper conversations, the list is endless. 

Oxygen: this is grace and forgiveness — room to be human without fear, retribution, or scorekeeping.

Maintenance: this is consistency — showing up again tomorrow despite how you might feel. (It doesn’t sound like a Hallmark movie, but true nonetheless.)

The fire of romance rarely goes out all at once. It fades slowly — one day of neglect at a time. God doesn’t ask us to manufacture fire. He asks us to guard what He already lit. You don’t need a new flame today. You need to feed the one you have.

Prayer

Lord, teach me to be faithful in small things. Help me notice what keeps the fire of marriage glowing and protect what You’ve entrusted to me. Make me a steady presence — a keeper of the fire, not just a seeker of sparks. In Jesus Name. Amen. 

Note: I realize that the scripture listed is referring to spiritual gifts, however, I linked it to marriage, which is also a gift from God.