Another aspect that I perceive from the forging process is this, anything that can’t withstand the fire doesn’t need to be a part of you. I keep hearing the word “sleg”. I looked up the meaning and it’s bad, foul, decayed…..you get the idea. I was thinking that anything that comes off you during the forge is sleg.
I believe sometimes we are forged to be strengthened, but also to remove negative things. To be purified.
How open are you to God when He needs to point out flaws within your heart? Are you willing to invite His gaze upon you so that you can allow Him to remove anything from within you that doesn’t need to be there? We all have stuff. But what I’ve observed in many people is they often dismiss their flaws by saying, “That’s just how I am.” That statement never sits well with me. I feel as followers of Christ, we should be in a constant growth process and I don’t want to accept anything less than being totally refined. I realize the process will literally take a lifetime, but I never want to get comfortable with my flaws.
I’m not talking about driving yourself crazy trying to be perfect. I’m just saying I don’t want to “own” my flaws as something that cannot be changed. No, I’d rather see my flaws and daily give God access to mold and change that part of me so I can be more like Him.
I want to be like Jesus, don’t you?
Take a moment and ask God to pour His refining fire over you heart. I see a blacksmith with the hot liquid pouring out. Does it seem to burn anywhere? Let any impurities be burned away and let them leave your spirit as the Father of lights brings wholeness to the place it used to live. We were not meant to walk out fear, jealousy, loneliness, anger, selfishness, etc. Let God’s loving gaze pour over that place and ask Him to come and fill the emptiness you are trying to cover up by using negative emotions and habits. We often use negative things to keep people from knowing us. You can choose to be known today.
God, I give You full access to me. I choose today, to let my guard down wherever I’m using a negative emotion or behavior to strong arm You and others away from me. I know I can trust You. I know my mess doesn’t scare or intimidate You. Thank You for loving me in ways that only You can. You are worthy. You are worthy of my whole being and my whole life. I love You, in Jesus name, Amen.
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith- of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire- may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1 Peter 1:6-7
Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time. Daniel 11:35
365 Days in the Presence 