Refiners Fire

On Sunday at church, a sweet friend asked me how I was doing. I told her that so far, I was good but it was hard to feel confident in anything right now.
She proceeded to tell me that in her Sunday School class, they were talking about how God refines us to make us pure by turning up the temperature. And without struggles we wouldn't be who God wanted us to be. Just like precious metal has to be refined to make it pure, my heart needs refining to make it pure as well.
Although I have known this concept, I don't think I had ever thought of it as it applied to me....

It made me realize that the Lord is helping me! I have faults! Some of them are too deep, too embedded or even too painful to change myself. I know. I have tried. I struggle with and am aware of many of them. I just can't change them no matter how hard I try. But guess who can? And He is! Once I thought about it, I felt a sense of peace. I have changed. My heart might not be exactly where it needs to be, but its getting there. I'm getting better.
And in that, I know that no matter what lies ahead, I know its for my own good and to draw me nearer to Him! To make me who HE wants me to be, not who I desire to be.
So with that, I vow not to worry any more. Life is too short and there is too much to be grateful for.

I have always loved it when our choir sang "Refiners Fire" but now I have a new appreciation for it.

"Purify my heart

Let me be as gold and precious silver

Purify my heart

Let me be as gold, pure gold

Refiner's fire

My heart's one desire

Is to be holy

Set apart for You, Lord

I choose to be holy

Set apart for You, my Master

Ready to do Your will

Purify my heart

Cleanse me from within

And make me holy

Purify my heart

Cleanse me from my sin

Deep within"

Thank you, Lord, that my struggles aren't in vain!