The way to catch the fire of the Spirit is to follow Jesus. He would begin a very busy day’s work by going off by himself to spend time with God (See Mk 1:35). He would address God as “Father”; he was familiar with figures from the Old Testament and he talked of pressing issues (See Lk 9:30-31). His prayer was caught up in loving God “with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” (Mt 22:37)
So spend time each day with the indwelling Spirit on God’s terms (See Rm 8:8-9). Think of God as revealed in the Scriptures. When you have a “movement of the heart” towards God stay with it for as long as it lasts. Then move to the next thought. A sense of awe, thanksgiving, sorrow and determination are examples of movements of the heart, as is a simple “gaze” towards God.
Sometimes you will experience only “aridity”, which is a spiritual dryness. Check to see if there is unconfessed sin. If there is none, stay in prayer for your regular amount of time presenting your aridity to God. It is likely that God is strengthening your faith for an even closer walk with you. Watch out also for attachment to even “the things of God” instead of to “the God of things”. The Spirit will be leading you to a more simple faith in God, like the faith of Abraham (See Heb 11:17-19) so that you depend on nothing else but him.
When you leave such a daily time of prayer, you will find it easier to think like Jesus, feel like Jesus and act like Jesus. And when you follow Jesus that closely, you will catch the fire of the Spirit. Then nothing that the New World Order throws at you will overcome you for you will be "clothed with the power from on high" (Lk 24:49).
