The other day, I had a craving for chocolate milk. I hadn't had it in a long time, but used to drink it a lot when I was a kid. I went to the kitchen and poured a glass of milk, added the chocolate syrup and stirred it up. I took a sip, and it was every bit as rich and chocolaty as I remembered. Just as I set my glass down, I heard my phone ringing in the other room. Well, you know how it is when you get on the phone—one thing leads to another. After my call, I got busy doing some work, and as I walked through the house, I noticed my chocolate milk sitting there. When I picked up my glass, something had happened. All of the chocolate had separated and was in the bottom of the glass, and I had to get a spoon and stir it up again.
Now, life is like that sometimes. All the good things seem to settle to the bottom. But if we'll keep God in our lives, if we'll keep things stirred up, then all of His blessings and promises get dispersed through every part of us and help us do better. He'll help you with the difficulties. He'll give you ideas. He'll help you overcome challenges.
This is exactly what Paul wrote in Second Timothy. Paul loved Timothy like a son. He said, "Timothy, stir up the good things in your life!" The word he used was a metaphor for kindling. When you build a fire, you have to start with some kindling. But to keep the fire burning, you have to continue to add kindling. You have to poke the fire and stir it up. In the same way, you have to kindle your faith. You have to give God praise even when you don't feel like it. You have to trust Him even when you don't see it. You have to stir up your faith, prod it and keep moving forward! Don't let the stress and pressures of life slow you down or cause your fire to go out.
Just like that chocolate milk, if the good things in your life seem far off or separated from you, it's time to stir it up and let His grace abound in every area of your life!
"Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands." (2 Timothy 1:6, NKJV)