🔥IGNITE August 2025
Every one of us carries a flame that was first kindled by someone else’s fire. So, this month, we’re celebrating the fire-starters of faith who ignited our walk with Jesus! In 2 Timothy 1:5-6, Paul gently reminded Timothy of the following:
“I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. For this reason, I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.”
This past week, I had the holy privilege and joy of reconnecting with one of those fire-starters in my own life — a precious, spiritually adopted mother, Elaine, pictured above with our spiritually adopted son and daughter, Dean and Christina. Elaine is a deep yet quiet intercessor, now 96½ years old and resting in hospice care. Dean and Christina texted me last week with this news.
Elaine ignited the flame for us in “Waiting on God.”
In 2005, when I first met Dean, a strong and vibrant friendship began to grow immediately with him and his entire family, including his mum, dad, sister, and grandmother, Elaine. Whenever I visited their home, I would often spend time in prayer with Elaine. It was six years ago when we first began using Andrew Murray‘s Waiting on God as an instrument, encouraging people to spend time silently with God.
I landed up in a two-hour meeting with Elaine, where she overwhelmed me with a complete teaching that she had developed on “truly abiding in Christ.” She had printed out this nine-page document, and we went through it, word by word, praying and then listening to God. It was in that moment that God ignited my vision into a bonfire of Waiting on God movements across the US and across multiple nations and languages!
Upon reconnecting with Dean, he connected us on a conference call with Elaine at her bedside.
Although frail in body, she was perfectly alert and mentally and spiritually alive in Christ over the call! I prayed and praised God for her life, as well as for Dean and Christina, thanking the Lord for their faith and witness. Then I asked if she might pray for us.
Her reply pierced my heart:
“Yes, but I’ll just be silent — because when I am silent, God talks to me. He knows my heart in my silence, and it is the most beautiful communion with our King.”
At that moment, I could only whisper, “Oh Lord, that’s so awesome. Let us be silent.” And so we were silent — fully experiencing three or four minutes of holy quiet, where His presence filled that hospice room and our hearts on the call. It was one of the most beautiful encounters of waiting on God I’d ever experienced!
Beloved, I invite you this month to remember those who lit the flame of faith in your life. Who prayed for you? Who walked with you toward Jesus? Who held up your arms when you were weary? Take a moment to reach out, thank them, and let them know their fire still burns within you!
Closing Challenge & Prayer Declaration
Finding the Flame Challenge:
Think back to the voices, the hands, and the prayers that carried you closer to Christ. Pick up the phone, write a note, or send a message — however you can — and thank them. In doing so, you fan the flame, the very gift of God, in your own life. Furthermore, you honor those who first lit the torch of faith in you.
Prayer Declaration:
Father, thank You for the faithful ones who prayed us forward and pointed us to Jesus. We declare that their flame will not go out but will blaze through our lives into the lives of others. Lord, help us to “remember our leaders, those who spoke to us the word of God,” and to “consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith,” Hebrews 13:7. May we, too, become fire-starters, carrying the torch of Christ with boldness, gratitude, and joy until the whole earth is ablaze with Your glory. 🔥🙏
Experience the Joy of Giving
WE THANK GOD for your faithfulness in praying and giving to IPA. Will you BE STILL for a minute, and then ask God if He would have you make a special gift right now?
Thank you for giving. May God bless you and your growing prayer life, in Jesus’ name… Amen! Chkk-Chirrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
With hearts full of gratitude for those who influenced us to Christ,
Colin & Nancy Millar
