Embracing the Flames
He’s removing impurities.
He’s cutting away the facades of false-self I hide behind.
He’s leading me towards the narrow path of the righteous.
He’s reminding me of His love and the cost of following Him.
He’s stretching me passed my comforts.
He’s calling deeper into the heart of the fire.
“But He knows the way I take; when He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.”
– Job 23:10 –
When the Word makes reference to refinement it often compares the refining of a person to the refining process of gold or silver. (Psalm 66:10-12, Malachi 3:2-3, Zechariah 13:7-9) When gold is cast into the fire the fire only separates all the foreign and impure material from the gold. The gold loses nothing of its nature, weight, color, or any other property. Gold can be kept in a state of fusion for months without the smallest change. This month, the Lord has been showing me He wants to fine-tune areas of my life in the same way precious metals are purified and perfected; through fire.
Sitting in the fire and embracing the flames is painful, uncomfortable, and it burns. But as we sit in the fire and allow Jesus to melt away the impurities, we are free to begin the process of rediscovering our true self as we abandon the ways we once defined ourselves. In the same way the foreign materials melt away from the gold, the Lord wants the lies of anxiety, fear, insecurity, and shame to melt away from us, so that our true identity and beauty in Him can be seen. Abba doesn’t want us seeing through the lense of the enemy’s deception. He doesn’t want us hiding behind false identity not found in Him.
His ultimate goal is for us to mirror His heart and His character. Tests work patience and patience works perfection. God just wants us to draw further into Him and to grow into what He’s called us to be; a likeness after Him and His perfection. If there is rebuke, correction, and cutting away of the old self in the fire, then that means it’s working. Our Father charges us to a higher state of holiness through the flames. There is amazing potential He has placed in each of us, but if we choose against refinement, then we choose against nurturing and fostering that potential.
His love for us is unchanging, unceasing, and never stagnant. He remains constant and present through our pain. He walks with us through the light, heat, and smoke. He sits with us in the furnace. He reminds us that heat and pressure are catalysts that turns something like coal into a beautiful diamond. He sees our secrets, shame, the dark parts of our hearts, and the lies we’re holding onto. He also sees the shining diamonds, the pure gold, and the unmatchless worth within each of us and calls us higher as kings and queens. God tells us He loves everything we are despite everything we are not and that makes the fire worth it.
Rest in the embrace of the Father, sit in the fire, and allow it to melt away anything not of God, so your true self can shine through and reflect the truth of Jesus.
Thank you to those of you who read my blogs and follow my journey!
Your love and kind words are always an encouragement!
Your friend and sister in Christ,
Alyx
