Praise For the Fire

   When I was ten years old, the World's Fair was held in Washington State. I went with my family to see it. One memory stands out above the rest.

   It was my first time to watch a talented glass blower at work. I was mesmerized. He would melt a piece of brittle glass with a red-hot torch of fire, until a piece of it hung down in a strand, loose and pliable, but still without form. Then, with his instruments, he carefully and with intricate care, twisted it up and around until it became a butterfly wing, a rainbow, a tiny unicorn, or some other tiny and exquisite form. Then it hardened, and that shape remained firm. Only then did he place it in colored lights, where it glowed, renewed, changed forever, and beautiful. It had gone from worthless to worthy, and people would purchase it, and display it in their homes with joy.

   It was like magic. That red-hot fire melting a substance which, as far as I had known before could only break or shatter. It could never change shape. It took that very hot torch, to change the shape. It had to melt first, and become able to yield.

   I have been through much emotional fire, in my life. Far too many times I have felt sorry for myself, for it seemed the fire was more pain than I could bear. I fully believed that God had a reason, but I could not imagine what that reason could be. I did not ask why, but yet, I was not yielding my pain to Christ. I was holding onto it with great sympathy for myself.

   I'm not speaking here of the anguish of being bereaved, for instance. Many other trials caused me to feel dark with loneliness and frustration. Sometimes even anger. I know that was not pleasing to God.

   I understand now, that all the fire God has sent me through in my life, was necessary. Without it, I could not have changed. I could not have developed into what He wanted me to be. Without the glowing heat melting my intractable and selfish spirit; and God's merciful twisting and shaping, I would have stayed a shapeless rod, or a jagged lump, unlovely and useless.

   How can I become what God wants me to be, without the fire? So aren't my trials the fire, to form a little more of me, into what my Heavenly Father desires? Yet, if I was not willing, and resisted the fire, I would learn nothing. The strands would just harden, hanging, not formed, and not finished.

    * Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. Isa 60:1

   Tonight, I am praising God for the trials of my life, that hurt so much, because through those trials, like red-hot fire, my own resistant will is softened, reworked, and transformed until God's will shines forth through my life, rather than my own.

   Thank You God, for the fire that melts the plain glass which is representative of my unsubmissive selfishness, and stubbornness. I want my pride and all of my weaknesses to be changed.

    * Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed. Ecc 8:1

   I want to shine for You, Father. I want to be a heart through which Your light can shine. A heart through which Your colors can be seen. A heart which encourages others to give You the glory.

    * Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes. Psa 119:135

   For You are my Master Glass Blower. Only You can do this. I praise You for Your continuing work on my life. I praise You for never giving up; but working so long and so hard on this one piece - this one simple piece which is me, Your humble daughter.