Two years ago I attended a prayer conference. On the final day after devotions was shared, while we all sat in reflection, the leader encouraged attendees to an open session to share or highlight anything that we may have received throughout the weekend event.

While the atmosphere in the room was calm and quiet, As I opened my bible, I was on Exodus 3. Immediately in that moment, verse 2 stood out to me and I repeatedly read it over and over again, (Exodus 3:2) says, “ And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed.

The thought of the bush burning because of excessive heat only that even though it was burning the leaves neither the stem of the tree gave in to the burning sensation. The bible goes on to say, the “bush was burning but it was not consumed.”

In life, you are not exempt from the experience or challenge of fire, this fire may come in different forms, the stronger the flames the better you will be able to determine whether you can survive it or not. I imagined that this fire burning can be the loss of a child? Job loss, bankruptcy or even being laid off from work abruptly, whatever fire this may be for you.

The stronger the embers the stronger the exposure. Fire tends to grow its strength when more wood is added to it, can this be maintained? This will depend on how strong you are to withstand the pressure of the fire as it mounts in flames. If you give it more wood it will burn, if not it won’t- (I thought that).

I read this scripture as it was and did not realise how my life would change having returned from that event. I experienced a culmination of events and challenges that shook my life and my heart, I never thought I would experience what I did having being in church, let me share this here, church hurt is real, it can break or bless you. However it should not determine your faith. It has been a journey of faith even in the obscene circumstances and through the furnace experience – it was only God who provided me with this revelation to prepare me; only that at the time I did not fully understand.

As you read Daniel 3:19-27, we are told Shadrach, Mesach and Abednego chose not to bow to the golden image put in place by King Nebuchadnezzar. The three young Hebrew men were put into the furnace and the soldiers were instructed to turn the heat up seven times than its actually heating point.

I was drawn to this example, many times in our Christian journey when pressure mounts around us and the experience of fire comes to mind, our immediate response is to not let fire burn us. Yet the bible teaches the opposite, fire will have to run its course to prove its effectiveness.

As you read 1 Peter 1: 7. (My Paraphrase) “Gold is refined under pressure or heat and therefore the impurities has to be exposed when it has surfaced. As the impurities surface this does not mean your process is done, it means that for you to prove your genuine intention, the fire will test you to either elevate or expose you?! The process of fire exposure tests your genuine faith, you will either succeed or succumb to the pressure of the purification process.

Be encouraged, God is the gift that you hold on too, despite the residue that fire exposure will leave from the embers, you can be sure that nothing can remove you from Gods safety. Moses stood in awe of the power that fire had, but more so that God himself is the “Consuming Fire”. ( Deuteronomy 4:24)

The three Hebrew man chose not to renounce their faith in God, for them the fire was just a transition to transfer Gods power in the midst of the raging fire in the furnace. God was with them and He did not let the fire created by man, put out the fire that burnt brightly within the hearts of this men whose Faith proved that no amount of physical fire can out burn the flames of the Holy Spirit.

For me today, whenever a scripture is received, I pray with the intention’s to identify what it is that the Holy Spirit has brought to my attention, and how can I better prepare myself. I believe today we are entering a season of testing, refining and also preparation. Keep your flames burning and be ready and willing to give an account of your faith. Serve God with reverential fear and allow his Holy Spirit to guide you.

I took a photo on that day, not knowing what would transpire after reading Exodus 3:2, today I share this testimony because God was indeed with me in the fiery furnace experience, I could not withstand the fire with my own strength, but I know the power of God held me together and protected me while going through my fiery furnace experience.

I pray that you will be strengthened and blessed. May the fire of Gods Holy Spirit continue to burn brightly in your heart today and always.

Ascribing Glory to Jesus.

Carolyne x