REFLECTIONS FROM THE REFINER'S FIRE

"Lord, I'm failing. I can't hold on any longer."

"Everything that is not born of Me is destined to fail. You've wanted to see My power, but first you must see your total weakness. Then you will not have to try to hold on for you will discover that I AM holding you."

"But, Lord, I'm so afraid."

"Why do you think I have said so many times in My Word 'Don't be afraid.' I already knew you would be."

"Lord, I can't sense Your presence like I used to. That's why I'm afraid."

"You don't recognize Me because I am doing something new in your life. You will come to know Me in the fire and you will no longer be afraid. I AM your strength, your shield and your deliverer. I AM closer than ever to you now."

"But my enemies afflict me continuously Lord, help me."

"You must be patient in the afflictions of the enemy as you perservere in prayer against them. Never be patient with them only in them. To be patient with them means to make peace with them. Many of my children fail to see this. Never put down your shield. Once My will is known you must hold fast your confidence without wavering. Only in the fire can you learn this."

"So much of my trouble I bring on myself How then will I be delivered?"

"Diligently consider the mercy and loving kindness of the Lord. Take comfort as you learn how broad it really is. Remember Psalm 107. No one in that Psalm could help himself and each one was responsible for his own afflictions. But when they cried to Me, I delivered them all!"

"But what about the pain, Lord, that makes me dread each new day?"

"Let the pain trigger praise instead of fear thus will your mind be renewed. Don't let your thoughts go to dread of what might happen that is the enemy's scheme. Bring those thoughts captive to Me. Then I will teach you to sing in the fire. So shall your head be lifted up above your enemies round about you. So shall they fall in their own snares which they set for you!"

"I don't think I can sing in these sleepless nights of pain."

"You can't, but with Me all things are possible. How do you think Paul and Silas sang in prison with beaten backs? Just as I did for them I will give you songs in the night. They will be like the dew refreshing the parched ground of your soul. But you must sing out loud, not just in your heart. This displays my manifold wisdom to the principalities and powers and glorifies Me before the angels and witnesses in heavenly places."

"Oh, Lord, I do love You and want more than anything to know You. I feel so small. Sometimes I feel like I really don't know You at all."

"Remember always that I know you completely. You did not choose Me. I chose

you even before you were born and I called you by name. I know the way you take and when I have tried you, you shall come forth as gold! Can you trust Me if I do not part the sea but take you through the deep waters?"

"Yes, I will trust You for You alone are God. No matter what state I am in You are the risen King worthy of all praise. Surely my life is in Your hands. Glorify Your name in Your servant and in all the earth.

"Now it is time for you know the Father's fellowship as you have known Mine. I died not just deliver you from sin and give you life but to restore you to My Father. Many of My chosen ones fail to realize their welcome by My Father. This is a great deception of the adversary. For this is eternal life that you know Him and the One Whom He sent. It is My soul's delight when those the Father has given Me return to Him at last. See Him running to meet you! He waits to hold you in His arms of love."

"Abba Father "

Thanks for letting me share these personal thoughts with you. I pray that these reflections which come from my recent experience will encourage you. May you recognize God's presence in new ways during times of testing which are appointed to us all. May we learn to glorify the Lord in the Refiner's fire and draw ever closer to the Heart of our Father Who chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world. We love you dearly.