Going Through the Fire
Do you feel like you're "going through the fire" today? When everything comes against you, oftentimes it's because God has something great in store.
The Bible talks about the three Hebrew teenagers Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They refused to bow down to the king's golden idol and so they were sentenced to be burned to death. In fact, the king was so furious that he had the heat turned up seven times hotter than normal.
That's what happens when you're close to a great victory—the fire gets turned up, people start talking about you, and unfair situations come. You get past one obstacle and something else pops up. Why is that? The enemy knows you're close to your victory. That is right about the time when many people give up. They get sour, quit coming to church, or go around complaining. But the Scripture says, "When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of God will be there to raise up a barrier." Part of our privileges as children of the Most High God is that when problems arise, when life feels overwhelming, God has promised He will always be right there to bring us safely through.
I love the fact that these three teenaged boys didn't panic. They weren't full of anxiety. They were at peace. They understood that God was still on the throne. They knew He was still in control, and nothing was going to happen to them that was not a part of His plan.
The king's officials tied the three boys up and threw them into that hot furnace. In a few minutes, the king came to check on them, but he got confused. He said, "Didn't we throw three men in here bound? I see four men loosed and one looks like the Son of the Living God." The Scripture says, "God brought them through the fire without even having the smell of smoke."
You may feel like you're in the fire today. The heat is being turned up. Everything is coming against you. Let me encourage you, it's because there's something great in store. When the heat gets turned up, it means you're close to your breakthrough. Remember, God is with you when you're going through the fire. If you will stay in faith, He will do for you what He did for them. He'll bring you through the fire—without even smelling like smoke—into the place of victory He has prepared for you!
Haiti Update:
Dr. Paul arrived safely in Haiti with the surgical team from Samaritan's Purse. On the team with Dr. Paul are Former Senate Majority Leader Dr. Bill Frist and Dr. Dick Berman. They were in surgery soon after landing giving much needed relief to the doctors who had been operating since the quake first hit. Please keep this team and all the relief workers in your prayers as they continue to bring hope, healing, and restoration to the people of Haiti.
The team is fine after the 6.1 earthquake that hit early this morning.
The Bible talks about the three Hebrew teenagers Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They refused to bow down to the king's golden idol and so they were sentenced to be burned to death. In fact, the king was so furious that he had the heat turned up seven times hotter than normal.
That's what happens when you're close to a great victory—the fire gets turned up, people start talking about you, and unfair situations come. You get past one obstacle and something else pops up. Why is that? The enemy knows you're close to your victory. That is right about the time when many people give up. They get sour, quit coming to church, or go around complaining. But the Scripture says, "When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of God will be there to raise up a barrier." Part of our privileges as children of the Most High God is that when problems arise, when life feels overwhelming, God has promised He will always be right there to bring us safely through.
I love the fact that these three teenaged boys didn't panic. They weren't full of anxiety. They were at peace. They understood that God was still on the throne. They knew He was still in control, and nothing was going to happen to them that was not a part of His plan.
The king's officials tied the three boys up and threw them into that hot furnace. In a few minutes, the king came to check on them, but he got confused. He said, "Didn't we throw three men in here bound? I see four men loosed and one looks like the Son of the Living God." The Scripture says, "God brought them through the fire without even having the smell of smoke."
You may feel like you're in the fire today. The heat is being turned up. Everything is coming against you. Let me encourage you, it's because there's something great in store. When the heat gets turned up, it means you're close to your breakthrough. Remember, God is with you when you're going through the fire. If you will stay in faith, He will do for you what He did for them. He'll bring you through the fire—without even smelling like smoke—into the place of victory He has prepared for you!
Haiti Update:
Dr. Paul arrived safely in Haiti with the surgical team from Samaritan's Purse. On the team with Dr. Paul are Former Senate Majority Leader Dr. Bill Frist and Dr. Dick Berman. They were in surgery soon after landing giving much needed relief to the doctors who had been operating since the quake first hit. Please keep this team and all the relief workers in your prayers as they continue to bring hope, healing, and restoration to the people of Haiti.
The team is fine after the 6.1 earthquake that hit early this morning.