I have often knelt in prayer to God to restore my flame. If you have ever lost your flame, you would understand my petition, as I expel my depravity towards God.
I have been through desperate supplication, to the point of tiredness, trying to reach the hands of God. Yet He has promised;
Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: Isaiah 59:1
Yes it’s true, that His hands are not short to save us. I have poured my pain in annoyance to His ears, yet I know He is never annoyed by my prayers. I have also gone into the belly of the whale, and I have had to pray my way out. Imagine my prayer, from a place of great unrest, how I had to pray!
Each time I read the story of Jonah, I am amazed of his prayer in the belly of the big fish. When I pray my prayer unto God to restore my flame, I remember Jonah as he pounded the trumpets of his prayers. As Jonah prayed his way out, I can hear his lamentation on the ears of God.
Will God ever reject our most sincere lamentations?
Let me answer for you, “God will never reject our most sincere lamentations.”
5. The waters engulfed me to take my life; the watery depths closed around me; the seaweed wrapped around my head. 6. To the roots of the mountains I descended; the earth beneath me barred me in forever! But You raised my life from the pit, O LORD my God!
There was a time when I was in a state of discouragement day and night. A very confused and perplexed time, when I couldn’t find God no matter where I turned. As Jonah was spewed from the belly of the great fish, I often spew my prayers unto God. I spew with great reverence, yet If I don’t go beyond merely asking, to confidently spewing, I might never reach the ears of God.
You might ask me why I didn’t search the Bible, to see if He is there. My response would be that I searched all the obvious places. I searched the Bible right through, I prayed my belly out, I searched the corners I knew, trying to find Him. Yet He was nowhere to be found.
God can help us. God is a Father. We need God's good things to help us to "do justly , to love mercy and to walk humbly before God."
Some time back, I remember writing this prayer unto God to restore my flame. I was at a very weak point where I couldn’t find the drive to continue. I remember the redeeming grace of God lifting me out of that particular despair. I remember so clearly and vividly like it was just yesterday.
My Prayer to God to Restore My Flame
Oh God, Ignite that flame that once burned in me, that flame that ignited my soul; and sparked my emotions with peace; that jubilant flame that adds value to my pain; Oh Lord; Revive that fire that once brought redemption to my soul; the embers that made me whole, send back the flame, that brought a combustion as thunders roll, Oh that flame, that flame of old!
My Lord, You have dominion over all, hear my as I bawl, as I bawl for the ignition, that once gave me vision, that Word I use to live on; As I roar the thunder of my breath, and as I sweat, Oh Lord, Hear my deep and desperate prayer.
I beckon you, A Man of Might, Almighty God on High; see the pellets in my eyes, My heart is stained with the tears I have cried, As I wrestle in prayer, shall I be denied?
Oh Great Jehovah High, I get weary when I cry, hear the rounds that pass You by; My God, my God, oh hear me cry! See the efforts that I have tried.
See my stride, as I pressed to the mark; Please don’t hide, You’re my bride from the start; Impart You Power Oh Most High, restore my flame, Hear me Great Jehovah High, as I pronounce your name. Oh that fire that once burned in my soul, Oh bring back the spark that once made me whole!
Prayer written by : Orlando Rowe.
More Resources on Prayer
Your Flame Is Right Within You
One thing I have learnt, and that God has taught me through the years, and it’s that the flame I search for, is searching for me. The thing I am longing for, and praying for, is right within me, and it’s waiting for me.
My flame is the Word of God. His word is like a fire, that is shut up in my bones, and this Word is the kindle to my flame. The Psalmist said;
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Psalm 119:105
There was a time when I kept losing things, and each time, the thing I lost, was lost right in front of me. During this period, I remember asking “What’s the lesson that God wants to teach me?”
One day she ran in excitement, and said to me, “I know what God is trying to teach us now.” “God is saying He is right in front of us and that we just have to see Him, He is right there, keep searching…” As she said these words, I realized that the One I was looking for, was looking for me.
As I wrote this post, and reflected, I found the flame I write about, is always within me.
As We Conclude
Prayer is the most important activity for the person of faith. As we pray, let us not become weary, but let us pray from our hearts, and believe that God is faithful enough to complete that which He once started in us. God bless you!
