Perfected In The Fire

When God wants to bring about a change in us, He does things in mysterious ways. I often find myself praying to God prayers asking Him to help me genuinely love people, to give me grace to forgive quickly, to make me patient, etc., but God revealed to me that those prayers cannot be granted overnight. I cannot just pray such prayers and automatically start loving everyone and forgiving everything with no hesitation. In order for God to make me a patient person and to make me someone whose heart is moved with compassion, God has to place me in circumstances that will develop those characteristics in me.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law."-Galatians 5:22-23

It is very interesting that the Scripture chose to use the word "fruit" to describe the characteristics of a godly Christian. Fruit is a result of a tree that has been planted. When one desires an apple tree, they plant the seed in the season. That seed is then watered and nurtured for months to allow the seed to grow roots and sprout. Eventually over years, the small seed becomes a huge tree and begins to bear apples. The entire process from seed to a tree that bears fruits takes about two to five years depending on the apple type and throughout those years, that tree must continuously be watered and cared for to prevent anything from hindering its growth. The same thing applies to the Christian. The fruits of the Spirit come as a result of the process God takes us through. The Bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 9:10 that God is He who supplies seed to the sower. This is to mean that whatever it is that we desire from God, He is ready to supply those needs, but it is important to note that He gives you the seeds, not the finish product. Effective change comes with work and enduring the tests that come with the process of bearing fruits.



David cried out to God," Test me, LORD, and prove me; try my heart and my mind"-Psalm 26:2. If we truly desire to reflect Christ, then we must be ready to cry out and ask God to test us! We say we want to be more like Christ, but we have no desire to go through the process that will bring us to that level in our Christian walk. The Word of God says, "Behold I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. "(Isaiah 48:10) In order to be refined, to be perfected, God needs to take us through the fire.  So what is this fire of God that I am referring to? The fire of God refers to the tribulations we endure as Christians. You want to love like Christ so God allows the "unlovables" of the world to cross your path at your job or school so that His fire may burn away the stony heart within you and give you a heart of flesh. You do not learn to love by being surrounded by people you already love. You cannot learn to be patient by being surrounded by people who never step on your toes. Essentially, God will have to throw you in the midst of such people to bring about those changes. You want to spend time with God so God strips away everyone you held dear. You wake up only to realize that your phone doesn't ring as often anymore, friendships have suddenly ended not because of a misunderstanding, but just because. We may not understand it, but that's simply God taking you down a path no one else can go with you so that you realize He is all you ever needed.


The fire of God is not meant to be comfortable, but it is necessary to allow God to complete the work He has started in you. In order for the apple tree to bring about fruits, the seed had to be buried. There is no light under the ground, yet, the seed spends months there before it eventually sprouts out of the ground. Uprooting the seed before it sprouts and matures will never result in a tree that bears fruits just as running away from uncomfortable situations will never result in a Christian that bears the image of Christ. By the time the testing ends and God brings us out of the other side of the furnace, we will be stronger man and woman of God.  The Bible tells us to "glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope."-Romans5: 3-4. God desires to bring us to a level in our Christian walk where our faith is so sure, so true, that He can start trusting us with greater things. The fruits the seed bears is enjoyed by many, just as the the fruits of the Spirit you allow God to bring out of you feeds many people.  The results to your endurance of the furnace benefits the Kingdom of God, the household of faith, and society including those who may not know the Lord Jesus Christ. When one passes an exam or a class, they are allowed to progress on to a higher level. Endure the furnace and let its fire refine you so that God may exalt you in due season.

Yorkamazing <3

Find and Follow My Blog on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/FeeFeBlogs

Find Me on Instagram: Instagram.com/Yorkamazing

T.M.V (Today's Memory Verse) -Psalm 66:10

"For You, O God, have proved us: you have tried us, as silver is tried"