Maintain the Glow!

**The Glow of Prayer: How to Maintain Spiritual Fire**

One of the greatest gifts of the Christian life is the overwhelming atmosphere of prayer. When prayer becomes a lifestyle, it does not just happen for a moment; it rests on you, shaping your thoughts, desires, and actions. Sometimes, this spirit of prayer stays for months—at times even for a year or more—carrying you in divine influence.

But does this happen only when God chooses, or can we position ourselves for it? The answer is emphatic: yes, we can. Prayer is not merely a divine accident; it is invited through desire. The spirit of prayer is drawn to those who hunger for it.

**The Burden That Drives Prayer**

Some say, *“I am too lazy to pray.”* But true prayer has little to do with laziness or strength. It is often birthed from a burden. When something weighs on your heart deeply enough, you will pray. Desire fuels prayer. Burden sustains it.

This is what Scripture calls **prevailing prayer**—the kind of prayer that maintains inspiration and keeps the believer spiritually alert. Without it, the glow fades, and with it, the spiritual favor that accompanies prayer.

Romans 12:11 gives us the key: *“Not slothful in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.”* Another translation says, *“Maintain the glow.”* Prayer keeps the glow of the Spirit alive within us. It is not just discipline but a fire that must be fed continually.

**Meditation: Fuel for the Fire**

Prayer and meditation work together. Prayer releases spiritual energy, while meditation anchors that energy in your spirit. To meditate on God’s Word is to repeat it, mutter it, and let it sink deep into your heart until it becomes part of you.

When you study Scripture, do not stop at reading. Speak it. Whisper it. Let it echo in your thoughts. As you meditate, the Word becomes light within you, and the glow of the Spirit shines outward. That glow becomes visible in your attitude, decisions, and even your countenance.

**Prayer Produces Focus**

Psalm 86:11 says, *“Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.”* Prayer brings this focus—an undivided heart fixed on God. In a distracted world, prayer gathers the fragments of our thoughts and aligns them with divine purpose.

This is why keeping a **prayer diary** can be powerful. Write down the things you are praying about. Record the burdens of your heart, the scriptures you are standing on, and the answers God gives you. Over time, this record becomes a testimony of God’s faithfulness and a reminder of the focus prayer brings.

**Praying for Others: A Responsibility of Love**

Prayer is not only personal; it is also a responsibility toward others. Paul gives us an example in Colossians 1:9–11. He says, *“We have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.”*

Praying for the spiritual growth of others—whether family, friends, or church members—is a leadership responsibility every believer should embrace. When we pray this way, we are asking God to fill them with His will, strengthen them with His power, and cause them to live lives worthy of Christ.

Paul continues, urging that believers be *“strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, with patience and longsuffering, joyfully giving thanks.”* This kind of prayer secures not only blessings for others but also enlarges our own capacity to love and serve.

**Maintaining the Glow**

The glow of the Spirit is not meant to be seasonal—it is meant to be sustained. We maintain it through a life of prayer, meditation, focus, and intercession. Prayer aligns our hearts, fuels our spirits, and keeps us fervent in serving the Lord.

When prayer becomes your atmosphere, laziness is no longer a factor. Instead, you breathe prayer, live prayer, and carry its influence wherever you go. And with that glow, you will shine as a burning light in a world that desperately needs the fire of God.