Banking a Fire

Banking a fire: To cover the hot coals or embers with ashes or build a wall around the fire with rocks or stones. This is done to keep the fire from going out during the night. If the coals from the fire are protected well enough, there usually will be enough heat in them to easily start a fresh fire in the morning.

Talking to Debbe N. and Maryann earlier today, I began telling them about my morning prayer. I was thinking about the fire that was mentioned in recent preaching and I told God that I didn’t want ‘strange fire.’ I needed His help to get it going. Then I started waving my hand in the air….fanning an imaginary fire. Next, I cupped my hand around this imaginary fire and started to gently blow on it….waiting for the fire to ignite.
As I spoke, all of a sudden a word picture popped into my mind. I began telling them everything I knew about “banking a fire.” I had read the phrase in a novel about pioneers. The term caught my attention. I further explained that I thought it meant to build up the sides around the fire to keep it during the night, because “back in the day” when they didn’t have matches, it was easier to keep the fire going than to have to go through the huge task of starting the fire from scratch. Then I said, I think that is why God tells us to seek Him day and night. When we pray at night, we are banking the fire….so that the next day, when we seek Him, it’s not so hard to start it up again.
I think this excellent word picture came from God. He just used my mouth. Thank you Jesus for these words that have given me understanding and have encouraged me to seek you as you commanded.