I often liken my own spirituality to a duck swimming in the water.

Ducks glide seamlessly across the water but, take a look under the surface of the water and you will see their little feet paddling fervently.

“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” ‭‭(Romans‬ ‭12:11‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

Whether I am having a difficult conversation, on stage leading worship or just going through the day to day motions of life, I want to remain calm, present in the moment, but under the surface I want to be in constant conversation with God.

What would you have me do here? 

How can I communicate your heart? 

Please help me, I’m listening!

The conversations under the surface of the day to day are the conversations that change us, develop us, help give us eyes to see what is really happening before us.

Check the Lex: Fervent Greek Strongs 2204 zéō ζέω: onomatopoetic for the sound of boiling water, to bubble over because it is hot enough to boil; (figuratively) to show great zeal; be ardently passionate (literally “boiling” with interest or desire); “to be deeply committed to something, with the implication of accompanying desire – ‘to be earnest, to set one’s heart on, to be completely intent upon’ 

To be spiritually fervent is a passionate spirituality. An active desire for more of God.

The more I stir up spiritual fervency more I hunger for it. It’s what keeps us running with endurance. In verse 11 of Romans 12 ‘spiritually fervent’ is sandwiched right between ‘not lacking in zeal’ and ‘serving the Lord’. I think our spiritual temperature is a key to both. When our spirits are ‘hot,’ desiring God there is a natural inclination for zeal for life, for His house, for people… zeal or passion is a byproduct of a close relationship with God.

Life makes more sense when we tune our spirits in to God. One constant conversation with Heaven. 

What does God see? 

What does He hear? 

What would He say right now?

I want to heed the still small voice more closely in more areas of my life, in all areas of my life.

In the last week I have ignored His voice a couple of times. Not intentionally but in hindsight there was that little feeling caution guiding me down a different path that I chose to ignore. No major damage done but, looking back I could have listened, things could have panned out differently. I want to learn from that feeling.

I want less detours, more spiritual fervency and less dependency on my own ideas. 

Just as the ducks feet are constantly swimming I want my spirit constantly open, attentive, in constant conversation with God.

Regardless of what is happening in the natural moments of our lives, we can have our spirits tuned to God.

Could we learn spirituality from a duck? : Calm on top but constantly praying.

What might God be saying to you right now?

I pray that this is food for thought.