KIBIRITI….

“Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.” — John 15:4 (NIV)

Yesterday, I was on a call, one of those hearty, unfiltered conversations with a close pal. You know those friends—rare and precious—who you can call in the middle of the night just to ask, “Naweza kujia Kibiriti?”

Or if you’re cooking Ugali, and midway the gas betrays you, you can comfortably dash to their house, finish off your meal, and it’s no big deal. No judgment. No awkwardness. Just life shared freely.

But later on, something stirred in my heart…

How close am I with God like that?
Am I that free and open with Him, or have I grown so familiar that I’ve reduced my relationship with Him to casual transactions?

Have I gotten so used to His Word, His presence, His voice… that it no longer moves me?
That when I open the Bible, it’s another tick on my to-do list rather than a sacred moment for Him to minister and reveal His heart?

Someone asked me the other day, “Kim. Do you still hear from God? Are your decisions truly God-led, or have you started chasing your own desires and stamping His name on them?”

Tough question.
It stung.
But it was necessary.

(And for those who followed yesterday’s devotion, you know I won’t get back into the whole labels story… we parked that conversation. 🚦)

But here’s the thing:
It’s possible to do things for God and forget to be with God.

It’s possible to quote Scripture but miss the Author’s voice.
To pray out loud but never pause long enough to listen to the whisper.

So today…
Let’s pause and ask ourselves:

• When was the last time I truly lingered in God’s presence without an agenda?
• When did I last hear His voice without trying to filter it through my own wants?
• Am I close enough to ask Him for Kibiriti, yet distant when it comes to letting Him light my soul on fire again?

Lord… rekindle the fire. Strip away the familiarity.
Help me remain in You—not just visit when it’s convenient.