Keep the Fire Burning

Fire grabs our attention, doesn’t it? Especially here in Wyoming. When you hear about a 100,000+ acre wildfire, you know it’s serious. The smoke, the damage, the danger; it’s no small thing. But not all fire is bad. Controlled fire is life-giving. It powers our cars, lights our homes, warms our nights.

The Bible uses fire to describe something even more powerful: the Holy Spirit. When Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 5:19, “Do not quench the Spirit,” I can’t help but think back to one snowy night that changed everything for us.

At the time, Vic and I were living in Kentucky. We loved our home in Lexington and had absolutely no plans to leave. Wyoming wasn’t even a blip on the radar. But that Christmas, visiting Vic’s family ranch, I felt something shift.

It’s beautiful country, wide open spaces, snow that glitters like diamonds, quiet that sinks deep. One evening, while we were outside playing in the snow, a thought came out of nowhere: What if we were supposed to live here? It was so unexpected, I almost didn’t say it out loud. But I did, and to my surprise, Vic didn’t laugh. He looked at me with a mix of skepticism and a little bit of wonder.

That night we prayed, and peace started to settle in. Over the next few days, little things kept lining up; conversations, job opportunities, even completely random moments that felt like confirmation. By the time we flew back to Lexington, we knew this wasn’t something we could ignore.

The decision wasn’t easy. We loved Kentucky, our friends, our church, our house. Leaving meant hard conversations; with bosses, with my family in Cincinnati and even with ourselves. But when the Spirit speaks, I have learned to listen. And step by step, God opened doors and gave grace. Looking back, I see His fingerprints all over that move.

The Spirit’s Fire and How to Follow It
Before we can talk about not quenching the Spirit, we need to know who He is. God- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, is three in one, perfectly united. The Spirit often shows up in Scripture as water, wind, and fire because He refines, empowers, and illuminates.
Think about what fire does:

• Fire Purifies. Like metal in a furnace, fire burns away what’s impure, leaving what’s clean and strong. The Spirit does that in us, convicting and shaping our hearts. Sometimes He highlights a habit, a thought, or an attitude that needs to change and while it may be uncomfortable, it’s always for our good.
  
  
• Fire Empowers. Fire drives engines, creates energy, and brings heat and light. The Spirit gives strength to do what’s far beyond our own ability. He’s the reason a shy voice can share the gospel, or a weary heart can keep serving when it would rather quit.
  
  
• Fire Brings Light. Before electricity, people relied on fire to light the night. The Spirit brings clarity and truth when things feel dark or confusing. It’s like a lantern on a trail; you may not see miles ahead, but you see the next step.
  
  

That snowy night in Wyoming was a spark of light. It wasn’t loud or dramatic, but it was clear. And here’s the thing: the Spirit often works like that. A quiet nudge. A verse that lands differently. A sense of peace you can’t explain.

Paul follows “Do not quench the Spirit” with this: “Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.”

This is where some of us get uneasy. Prophecy can sound strange or overly mystical. But Paul’s point is simple: be open to the Spirit’s leading, but stay grounded. God can speak in ways you don’t expect; a sermon, a scripture, a conversation, even a passing thought while you’re working on a project. I remember once, weeks after that Christmas trip, we were back home in Kentucky and a friend casually said, “I could see you guys thriving out West.” It was like God was echoing what He had already whispered.

Being open doesn’t mean being gullible. That’s why Paul adds, “test them all.” Three good tests are:

• Does it line up with God’s Word? The Spirit never contradicts Scripture.
  
  
• Does it bring peace? Colossians says, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.” Peace is like an umpire calling the play.
  
  
• Does wise counsel confirm it? Trusted believers can help you discern if you’re hearing clearly.
  
  

When we first sensed the Wyoming move, we prayed and we opened our Bibles, we talked to a few close friends. Each step confirmed what we were hearing. It didn’t remove every doubt, but it gave courage.

Holding On to the Good and Letting Go of the Rest
Not every voice deserves a place in your heart. Some words build faith; some tear it down. Paul says, “Hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.” That’s part of our job, to sift through the noise.

When we were preparing to leave Kentucky, we heard plenty of opinions. Some were encouraging, some were fearful, some were downright critical. It would have been easy to get stuck in the swirl of voices. But God gave us anchors: His Word, His peace, and the confirmations we’d already received.

Here’s what I’ve learned: staying open to the Spirit starts long before the big decisions. It happens in the daily habits: reading Scripture, praying, paying attention. It’s those quiet mornings, the verses that stop you mid-sentence, the conversations that spark something new. Those moments keep your heart soft and ready.

And when a big moment comes, like a nudge to move across the country, you’re not starting from scratch. You already know the sound of His voice. It’s familiar, steady, and trustworthy because you’ve been listening all along.

Keep the Fire Burning
So here’s the challenge: don’t pour water on the Spirit’s work in your life. Don’t dismiss the nudge, the scripture, the conversation that makes you pause. Stay in the Word. Stay prayerful. Test everything, but stay open.

Pray something simple: “Holy Spirit, teach me today. Show me Your truth. Help me hold on to what’s good and let go of what’s not.”

When you pray that, be ready. The Spirit may surprise you. He may stretch you. But He will always lead you closer to Jesus.

So keep listening, keep testing, and above all, keep your heart open. Don’t just protect the flame; feed it. Because when the Spirit’s fire burns bright, it changes everything.