Some days the heat seems too intense to bear. The struggles in life are like a white, hot furnace that seeks to scorch us; to burn and scar us. It is hard to see that these struggles are refining us, deepening our faith and trust in God.
Burning off the dross, the impurities in our life, is a painful process, but the result is a more pure life with God. As we are refined in the fire, the sin in our life becomes more evident. We seek to “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles;” seek to “run with perseverance the race marked out for us (Hebrews 12:1, NIV).” In God’s refining fire he is sanctifying us, shaping us into a vessel for the Kingdom of God.
“But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the Lord, as in days gone by, as in former years.” – Malachi 3:2-4 (NIV)
© 2019 CGThelen
140 Character Christian 
Ah. Messiah preparing!
Yes, a time of preparation.
The fire is a hard place to be but it does produce the peaceable fruit of righteousness, as well as, an unquenchable joy and peace, along with a greater understanding of the love of Christ.
Yes, it is a hard place to be — at times hard to understand — but it can open us up to a deeper relationship with God. Thanks for the comment. Blessings.
Loved this! One song I recently often listening to is the song Refiner’s fire ♥ what a timely devotion! ^^
I will have to check out that song.