Embracing the Refiner’s Fire

“Refiner’s fire, my heart’s one desire, is to be holy, set apart for you, Lord.”

Brian Doerksen, Refiner’s Fire.

As we steady ourselves in the midst of God’s holy Presence, pure gold is our vision, beyond the trembling.

The solemnity of worship sees us throw up our choruses to our Father, to the Saviour who bought us, to the Spirit that rides with us, daily.

The Refiner’s fire is a holy place and circumstance, something not to be resentful of, an intricate piece of the Master’s jigsaw puzzle for us.

When we come to this place, willingly — even in an enthusiastic humility — we find the grace of Jesus basted all over us... the sensation of God’s inimitable Presence soaking through us.

As we sit there or stand, eyes closed, kept to God and not a single soul other, we speak deeply, a sensual conversation with our Lord beyond words; pure love is all it can be.

Pure Gold – Precious Silver

It’s our destination. God’s got designs for our development and we have vision of God’s plan as we worship, singing this very holy song.

So keenly interested in each of our lives is God, the Spirit will not prevent our pain or blinding discomfort. It is how we will grow.

Deep within is the engine room of our development; our heart, the nerve centre. The pain and discomfort work there way there and refining commences.

As we take this life as our learning ground we agree with God that the will of the Lord is best for us — beyond explanation. We agree that being refined is not only God’s will it meets with our own as we accept it. Suddenly we’re now unconquerable. Out of the blue we’re overcoming; living the essence of John 16:33; Romans 8:37; Philippians 4:13.

In this we’re steadily becoming more precious (like purified gold and silver) by becoming less precious (in our responses to life). Our purity is becoming more defined and the opposite correlation is we’re less interested in how we look; our vision’s on the vision God has for us, that one more firmly in our sights now.

And Life Truly Begins... (Again)

Something unexpected occurs in this process of purification.

“But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

~Matthew 6:33 (NRSV).

When we begin or continue to look after the basic things — trusting and obeying our Lord — things are added under us. Once our focus shifts off us and our problems, and onto where we’re headed in the realm of God, we’re being blessed then in an instant. And though further blessing tarries it is surely also coming (Habakkuk 2:3).

© 2011 S. J. Wickham.