Hot as Fire

I was dreading the humidity this morning. It doesn't matter how early you rise, there's just no avoiding it on these hot summer days. I'd have to get up and run in the dark to avoid it, and even then, I'm not sure that's possible. So, before my run, I read this devotion for a little encouragement and inspiration this morning. It said, "As you listen to birds calling to one another, hear also My Love-call to you. I speak to You continually, through sights, sounds, thoughts, impressions, Scripture. There is no limit to the variety of ways I can communicate with you. Your part is to be attentive to My messages, in whatever form they come. When you set out to find Me in a day, you discover that the world is vibrantly alive with My Presence....Search for me and My messages, as you go through this day." (Jesus Calling by Sarah Young).

So, I set off to see, hear and think of all God would speak to me. Unfortunately, not far into my run, I could only think of how horribly hot and sweaty I had quickly become.

Lord, what's this You're saying to me? Heat? Sweat? Burn? ....Really?.....

Then, just as quickly as I said these words, this image came into my mind. Refining. God's been showing me some things in my life He wants to remove, and others He desires to shine. I've not always been so cooperative on this. This subject has come up several times in my Sunday morning class as well. He's SO patient....yet persistent. So, as I continued my run, I thought about Him as a Refiner.

And just how does a metal get refined?

The Silversmith takes the unrefined silver and puts it right in the middle of the fire where it is the hottest. I have to admit that I don't like the idea of that. The HOTTEST part of the fire?! Why?

He can't leave it while it's in the fire. Did you know that silver left a second too long in the fire will be completely destroyed? He has to be right there, holding it, watching it, knowing the signs of when the silver has been in the fire long enough, and ready to snatch it back.

The impurities brought out from the heat of the fire gently get removed. While the silver is still hot and melted, He gently scrapes away the impurities, taking care not to lose any of the precious silver in the process. Precious. That's exactly what we are to Him.

Back into the fire. Say wha? ....I thought the impurities already got taken care of, God? Can I handle this? Not on my own, but remember He is holding me. Okay, Lord....as long as I'm in Your hands...of love.

The process repeats until the silver is refined. How does the Silversmith know that the process is done? When He can see His unblemished reflection in the silver, as though it were a mirror.

I paused at this point on the bridge to think about this. (Okay, and to catch my breath for a minute.) I looked out over the water. It was as still as glass. I looked down, and I saw this.

God gave me lots of lessons already this morning. His voice was loud and clear. The great Creator has a plan better than I could ever imagine.

Too much of me is still there.

So, He will keep refining me until I am a perfect reflection of Him.

It's a painful process being the silver, but that is okay.

As long as I end up a mirror image of Him.

I will trust the Refiner.


"God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you'll have it all—life healed and whole. I know how great this makes you feel, even though you have to put up with every kind of aggravation in the meantime. Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it's your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of His victory. " 1 Peter 1:5-7 (MSG)