Shining comes AFTER Refinement

Good morning dear friends

Earlier in the week. Some friends asked me how I have been doing and I said well the "hardship" years seem to be over. Talking to a co-minister in Christ, this morning I said it good for me to have been afflicted because now I understand God’s ways.

I seriously began to think why is it easier now?

It is no longer so hard to discipline the flesh, because now I have been totally transformed and am lined up to God’s will and his ways.

BTW I began to think, that "hardship" period has lasted 30 years. Imagine this ever since, I chose to follow Christ, surrender all and became filled with the Holy Spirit.

Many times I thought it was the enemy but no it was God using all those circumstances to refine and purify me. NOW there is a good fruit of righteousness.

It is no longer "painful" to discipline the flesh for now I am aligned to God’s perfect will.

It has now become my nature - the natural thing to walk in God's ways.

Let me tell you friends when God calls you he doesn't necessarily tell you the process we are going to go through and we pray these prayers sanctify and purify me Lord. Do we know what that really means? It means going through a Process of refining and REFINING IS ALWAYS THROUGH FIRE. When we really truly surrender and say YES LORD the process involves, testing, refining literally WALKING THROUGH THE FIRE.

God will use every single circumstance to refine us to get us to the place where his glory shines in and through us. Some of us need to stop binding the enemy and blaming others, we need to ask God what do you want me to learn from this? How can you be glorified in this situation?

What is in our heart will be revealed as we walk through those circumstances. The purifying fire will bring out the dross of fear, anger, unforgiveness, pride...whatever it may be

This is what details the refining process to be

Isaiah 48:10

Amplified

“Indeed, I have refined you, but not as [c]silver;

I have tested and chosen you in the furnace of affliction

New Living Translation

I have refined you, but not as silver is refined.

Rather, I have refined you in the furnace of suffering

The circumstances may have originated for many different reasons - natural laws which include storms, consequences for our own foolish choices, the enemy buffeting us or simply God ordering a test.

BUT everything single thing, every single circumstance we walk through....God will use it for his glory and our good - to grow us and refine us.

Amen

So perhaps you are walking through today the stop blaming man or binding the enemy. Let God instead be glorified. I know there is some gain for everything we walk through, once we are in Christ.

I pray grace and strength for you in Jesus name.

Off note - while we are on this earth, the growth process never stops, it means trials will always come, but as we "grow-up" we truly learn to rest in God.

May these words console us too

Psalm 119:71

71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted,That I may learn Your statutes.

72 The law from Your mouth is better to meThan thousands of gold and silver pieces.

Yodh.

73 Your hands have made me and established me;Give me understanding and a teachable heart, that I may learn Your commandments.

74 May those who [reverently] fear You see me and be glad,Because I wait for Your word.

75 I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are fair,And that in faithfulness You have disciplined me.

76 O may Your lovingkindness and graciousness comfort me,According to Your word (promise) to Your servant.

77 Let Your compassion come to me that I may live,For Your law is my delight.

Walk good in Christ

Till we meet again

Pastor J