Section 1: The Light of the World
The presence of fire around us can be a threatening or a comforting thing, depending on the context. During the fall and wintertime, we invite fire into our lives. When it’s contained within a wood stove, a campfire ring, or hovering as a single flame on the wick of a candlestick, it’s a cozy, intimate form of light and warmth. We draw near to fire. But when fire grows outside our control, it can become a threat.
I grew up in the Northern California foothills, where summers are synonymous with not just watermelon and lake days but also wildfires. Like any natural phenomenon, widespread fires are terrifying and awe-inspiring at the same time. They are powerful and unpredictable. When the sky darkens with ash and the crescent moon glows a light orange, these fires remind us how small we truly are.
Scripture often uses this imagery to speak of God, as we see in today’s reading. In Acts, we watch God’s Spirit descend as tongues of fire (Acts 2:3). Isaiah says His anger burns “heavy with smoke” (Isaiah 30:27). The book of Hebrews tells us, “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful. By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:28–29).
I’ll be honest, at times this image has been confusing. If He wants us to draw near to Him, why would God compare Himself to something so threatening? How can we feel safe in His presence? In studying the passages further, really sitting with them, what comes to mind is power. All these examples in Scripture paint a picture of divine power. We can’t make intact bushes glow with flames. But God can. We can’t infuse ourselves with the Holy Spirit. But God can. We can’t “sift the nations” when they are disobedient (Isaiah 30:28). But God can.
Personally, I can’t trust in a God who isn’t more powerful than I am. I want Him to be bigger and all-consuming, the way wildfires are during California summers. We can’t control Him the way we can a wood burning stove, but this doesn’t mean His presence doesn’t bring comfort. It does. It also brings threat to those who set themselves against Him, but we have to remember that the same God who burns like a consuming fire also told Moses this: “I have observed the misery of my people in Egypt, and have heard them crying out because of their oppressors. I know about their sufferings, and I have come down to rescue them” (Exodus 3:7–8). He is a compassionate, rescuing, and powerful God.
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114 thoughts on "The Consuming Fire"
This is exactly what I needed as I was reading this text!
Thank you lord for being a consuming fire
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Fire can be used for warmth, light and comfort or for destruction. We get to choose how it comes to us
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On the topic of light, fire is such a good analogy for the power, strength, and vastness of God. He is almighty and to be feared, but also our comfort and provider.
Consume me Lord …
“He is a compassionate, rescuing, and powerful God”. So thankful for His power. For His compassion. And for the action that results in rescue.
“Personally, I cannot trust a God who isn’t more powerful than I am.”- Bailey Gillespie. That’s really good.
He is the I AM, awesome and our rescuer. I am so grateful for a God who is in control even when the world seems so out of control. Thank you for your thoughtful devotion this morning!
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I love God’a response “tell them I AM”. That’s so fitting for God, some days he needs to be different things for us, He is lovely, he is merciful, he is powerful, he is patient, he is our father, etc.
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I picture the presence of God like a ring of fire. If I choose to reject Him, there’s no reason that ring of fire shouldn’t consume me. But when I trust in Him and His goodness, that ring of fire is a circle of protection. Stronger, more powerful, and more dangerous than ANYTHING that might try to hurt me. Evil can try to reach me, but God’s ring of flames makes that impossible. While surrounded by His great and terrible, fiery love, we are untouchable.
Amen
I love the way God tells us who He is through Isaiah. These versus certainly inform us of His might, but all of chapter 30 really demonstrates how that power works within us and conveys His steadfast, loving nature. In verse 18, Isaiah tells us the Lord is patient as he waits for us to come to him. In 19, we learn he is merciful and compassionate when we do. In 20-22, he sanctifies our affliction to make us better. The next few versus, culminating in 26, demonstrate how this blesses us, and that his light heals our of our afflictions. And then, the verses selected for us here by SRT define how secure our blessings are by His might. It’s a beautiful process and we can trust Him.
I love the fact your said that you wouldn’t want a God that wasn’t more power than yourself. I feel like people today try to do just that. They can’t accept that there is a great being than themselves. Whereas I also find comfort knowing he is bigger than all of us. ❤️
All consuming – can’t live without you – perfect love! Let your fire fall – your love is all I fear! –
Melody, your comment made me think of the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abendnego in Daniel chapter 3. My son loves that story. They refused to worship the gold image of the king of Babylon and were thrown into the fiery furnace. But God’s angel was there with them and they did not even smell of smoke when they were taken out. God protects us from the consuming fire.
Beautifully said ❤️
The analogy of God as a consuming fire is thought-provoking and reflects so many different attributes of God. Fire – heats, comforts, nourishes (helps us to cook food), brings light. But it also destroys, refines, puts to the test, consumes (so that new growth may begin). All characteristics of God. It’s a sobering thought that it “brings a threat to those who set themselves against Him.” I am so grateful that God has accepted me as His child, and it is so important for us to share that with other people so they may not be set against Him. I know we can’t control what other people do, but how are they to know if we don’t tell them?
I’m going to have to sit on this one and think about it for a while!
I want to be consumed by His holy fire
Thank you for sharing your thoughts Churchmouse
I’m going through the same thing. Working a 8-5 job, plus working after hours, and being on call every night/weekend. I’m having to cancel doctor appointments/therapy sessions because my work load is so overwhelming I can’t keep up. Praying that we take the time we need this Advent season and grow closer to Christ.
We recently had a wild fire on our beloved Pilot Mountain Ian North Carolina. The pictures were frightening and beautiful at the same time. The smoke could
I am glad you are home again, AMIE V!
remember: there is beauty in every way that God responds! Have a great night!
God is all powerful!! He loves us yes.. but it is up to us to obey Him! When God tells us to Go for Him… we have to be like Moses and GO! No more excuses! We must make things right with God now.. and remember.. our suffering is a great thing. I don’t even think I can suffer anymore.. I’m so grateful for it. Each and every time it brings me closer to our Jesus. May God always punish the ugliness of Sin…
From now on we have to decide to be for Jesus. We have to be the faithful group at the cross
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I loved this devotional today. I live in Southern California, so I am well acquainted with wild fires as well. They can be so powerful and beautiful at the same time. I love that we serve a God who is more powerful than us. This devotional reminds me of a Alan, he isn’t safe, but he is good. Happy Wednesday ladies!
Gold must be refined by fire. Our God seeks to refine us and cleanse us so that we can be in His presence. Going through the flames is a necessary part of being with Him!
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I have always had this fear of being stuck in a raging fire. The heat and flames around me having no way out. As I have grown older and closer to God, that fear has lessened but it is still there. Now, I try to think about God’s protection as that consuming fire around me. Protecting me from the enemy and from myself. This was a great devotiofor me today.
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Exodus 3:7,8a have always been tremendously comforting verses.
God observes my misery, whether it be minor or major, of my own doing or through the fault of others.
God’s hears me crying out. My crying matters to Him.
God knows my suffering. He views my suffering as would a good and loving parent of a beloved and cherished child.
He comes down to rescue me. He does not make light of my misery. He does not ignore my cries. He doesn’t minimize my suffering. He does not abandon me. He comes even closer. He rescues me. He puts His loving arms around me and holds me tight. I am His. He is mine. All is well.
Yes. Comforting verses indeed.
Thanks to anyone who’s been praying for my sister, Claire. She might be coming to church with me this Sunday! I invited her to a lunch a friend and I are hosting after church. I don’t have my car ..still at the shop… :(… So I’m going to see if she’s willing to drive us to church service, too!
Praying God touches her heart this weekend and speaks love to her.
“This is my name forever…” Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8) Yes! The same God that spoke to Moses from the burning (but not consumed) bush, is the same God that loves me and lives within me! What an awesome truth!!
@Sarah Lagace – praying for you today!
So true. Really causes us to have to lean into God and his specific words for us individually.
Sarah, I have been right there with you and still find days where I struggle with the right work life balance especially when working from home. Praying God gives you the grace to hand him your burdens and guide you to the right balance of both. He is always with you and will never give you more than you can handle. Be at peace this holiday season and know you are loved and being watched over.
Sarah Lagace – I feel your pain completely. I was in the same situation for a while until I left that job because of the toxic environment my boss created. I have always struggled with separating my worth from my accomplishments and only recently have I begun to even begin to disentangle the two. I am praying that God will speak to you about who you are and help you to set boundaries at work or leave if you can.
I love this!!
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“Reading about the purifying aspect of God’s fire and the sifting analogy made me think of using my flour sifter. I only sift flour when I make biscuits. I am always amazed at the amount of clumps that I see. If I didn’t sift those out, my dough would not come together as well as it should. The shaking and the sifting doesn’t hurt the flour at all; it just takes out the undesirable bits. ”
CEEGEE, I love this! Thank you for this analogy and the reminder to sift my dough more when I bake :). Although God’s sifting may be uncomfortable at times, it is needed so that I can be all that Christ calls me to be.
Ladies I have a prayer request. From my uncles passing, I have to go down and help my family for 5 days with packing up his place. When I went down a few weeks ago it ate up almost all my PTO so I am doing this unpaid. God says He will provide, and to be honest, I slip into worry when I think about it. I need to hold on to God’s promise that He will provide for me. Thank you!
Sarah Lagace – praying God will show you how to set and keep boundries in your current work situation
Hi Sarah! I hear the Lord saying YOU are a powerful person! Your value is defined by the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross to demonstrate His great love for you, which is IMMENSE! Fear of man must bow to Jesus, as you walk free, leaving those chains at the foot of the cross. Bless you as you lock eyes with Jesus today!
Praying for you Sarah. You’re not alone in your feelings.
Praying for you, Sarah! Actually I was just listening to the week 2 podcast of She Reads Truth and they were speaking right to that point. I might be encouraging to you!
Praying for you Sarah! Actually, I was just listening to the week 2 podcast if She Reads Truth and they were speaking right to that point. It might be encouraging for you!
@ Sarah Lagace Praying for you! . It is definitely hard not to become consumed by the demands of others, whether it’s work or school or family. I hope that you will be able to stand firm in the boundaries God will allow you to set and understand that they don’t make you weak, or less worthy but more powerful and respected. I pray that you will be able to advocate on behalf of yourself and that your job will be understanding and accommodating. I pray that you will feel worthy in Christ and that you will find your rest in him Amen.
Praying for you! . It is definitely hard not to become consumed by the demands of others, whether it’s work or school or family. I hope that you will be able to stand firm in the boundaries God will allow you to set and understand that they don’t make you weak, or less worthy but more powerful and respected. I pray that you will be able to advocate on behalf of yourself and that your job will be understanding and accommodating. I pray that you will feel worthy in Christ and that you will find your rest in him Amen.
SARAH LAGACE, praying for you this morning. Its so bard to have boundaries working from home (and have those boundaries respected). Praying you find some rest this season.
So good! Let that fire consume me, Lord, refine me, and make me anew each and every day as I continue to grow closer to YOU. It is good to know, with all the evil in this world, and the sinful nature of people, that YOU’ve got this. You will come with vengeance and fire, but we that have faith and are YOURS will be called up before that. Thank you heavenly Father for this truth. We already know how the story ends, but we must be a part of the plan, and live accordingly, and be a light while we are able.
A really pretty song by Casting Crowns this Christmas, if you are not feeling joy, but pain….
He knows your hurt, He knows your pain. That’s why He came. Hope is here, just lift your head. Somewhere in your silent night…
Actually I will paste so you can listen and a key verse to the song. If you are feeling down, or lost someone, click and listen.
Somewhere in your silent night
Heaven hears the song your broken heart has cried
Hope is here, just lift your head
For love has come to find you
Somewhere in your silent night
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LT2zugPy614&list=PLZX-53nWMHqPMmGK8eU-9HVdasIpAzzmw&index=11
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@sarahmarshall Me too.
I am convicted by all of the opposites in these passages – God came down to bring them up, I rushing wind and a gentle fire on a head, chaos that brings peace. I can feel all of those while walking in God’s plan – confusion and clarity, move forward and wait.
LISA Z, you shared something interesting there and the part about Abram made me think of that situation as God saying He had even more to share with Abram. Do I trust God enough to ‘step outside’ with Him?
ANNA COFFEY and SARAH D – thanks for giving me my first chuckle of the day! I was feeling the same, Sara: this is like a great cliffhanger! :) Good posts!
Reading about the purifying aspect of God’s fire and the sifting analogy made me think of using my flour sifter. I only sift flour when I make biscuits. I am always amazed at the amount of clumps that I see. If I didn’t sift those out, my dough would not come together as well as it should. The shaking and the sifting doesn’t hurt the flour at all; it just takes out the undesirable bits.
Great comments from all this morning – so thankful for you!
The description of God as a consuming fire has been one that has really resonated with me lately. I think there are seasons when I need to meditate on the peace-filled, comforting attributes of God. But then there are seasons when I need to know that my God is a powerful, consuming fire that burns with a righteous anger against what stands against Him and His people. I love how Bailey said that she needs to believe in a God that is more powerful than her. Right now, I need to know that my God is more powerful than anything or anyone in this world, and that “He will come with vengeance; with divine retribution He will come to save [me].” (Is. 35:4)
Great read this morning!!! I love the way we can see God as threatening and overpowering but also as fine comfort in him as an all powerful and wise God.
Great read this morning!!! I love the way we can see God as threatening and overpowering but also as comfot
Request for prayer, I’m heavily burdened by my job—I work from home and feel like work never turns off and I’m left to squeeze day-to-day life into the margins. I had so much hope for a restful and festive December but I’m staggering under shifting boundaries and the fear that if I don’t deliver, I’ll lose my value. I feel trapped and hopeless and exhausted.
Philippians 1:6
from yesterday….
SEARCHING – Thank you.
PAMC and TERESA DONLEY, praying for you.
KAT GETZ – I see only the brief post of you asking if people can read what you write.
To ALL experience loss and sadness of our own and then being further being weighed down by “the news”… ❤️ I pray Christ’s comfort, the care of loved ones and, where needed, a skilled professional / counselor. We are not called to do it alone. ❤️
Welcome home, Amie. “He who begins a good work in you will carry it out to completion”
Loving this study! Struck tiday, as I was the other day, with the casual intimacy. When God calls to Moses and he replies “Here i am” it just seems so casual. Like good friends chatting. Although Moses gets fearful, fear was not his first response to God’s calling. He just responded. I felt the same casual intimacy the other day with Abram. The line that stood out there was something like “Then God took him outside.” Just brought to me an image of the two of them hanging in the living room and God saying “Hey, lets go outside, i have to show you something.” A break in their time of “hanging out together.” Like bffs. How cool is it that our God wants to be our friend, as well as our Lord and Savior!! I am so drawn to the casual intimacy He desires with us, as He desires with all. Rather mind blowing, right? What a magnificent and delightful Father we have!
Thanks to all you sisters sharing this journey with me. I am so grateful to having a loving, powerful Father, and bff! I am grateful to have this srt platform to share and grow with sisters!
God is the “consuming fire.” I’m reminded that fire, when it comes from the Lord, is for refinement, not devastation.
This devotional as so helpful as I wrote out words around fire – all consuming, destructive, deadly, uncontrollable. And yet, our God is compassion and love and wants to draw me to Him. Its just a reminder that He is all powerful and can take even fire and make it unique to who He is. Another reminder today in the readings of this beautiful story God has woven through Scripture with consistency of how He appears like a puzzle coming together, what a gift!
@Heidi – yes!! Praying with you now for our brothers and sisters in hiding, in chains, in unimaginable pain and suffering for the Gospel as they hold the gift of Christmas in their hearts while they suffer. God, thank you for being with them. Thank you for giving them strength. Rescue them. Hold them safe in Your arms. And may we remember them every day in our prayers to the One who is always with them. May many lives be eternally saved because of their “yes”.
“He is a compassionate, rescuing, and powerful God.” I needed to read that today
I love this Hope! The relational aspect! While he has all the power in the world — he thinks of his people and their struggles.
Through the Advent book questions today along with this devotional, I love the clarity it’s brought me about God as an all consuming fire.
At the same time God has wrath and is all powerful that humans can’t even approach him in fullness (burning bush), God is aware of his people’s struggles and is still inclined to save them!
Thankful for Jesus coming into the world and God sending himself so that we can more easily approach Him. The same God who is all powerful but also completely intimate with you and I ❤️.
I don’t know if anyone Else is following this Josh Duggar trial. But I have been and it’s been weighing so heavily on me. God hears the suffering of all these abused children around this evil world. And one day he will come burning with anger and judgment against those who do these things. I know that isn’t a very lovely thought, but it’s a comforting one for me in the midst of thinking about all the evil in this world. One day all will be made new and right.
Reading Exodus 3:1-15, I was particularly struck by verse 15. “The Lord, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is my name forever; this is how I am to be remembered in every generation.” The way we are to remember Him is relationally. I don’t know how to fully articulate this thought. He is inexplicably and inconceivably powerful and yet, He is naming Himself in relation to finite humans. Like the sun becoming a candle.. I’m going to have to meditate on this for a while. It just stuck out to me.
LOVE the first part of Exodus 3:10 where it says “Therefore, Go.” The obedience and faith that this small but simple sentence declares speaks VOLUMES to my spirit!! Wow! SO good!!!
Hebrews 12:26-29 also spoke very DEEPLY to my spirit!!! “so that what is not shaken might remain.” Brings what God is constantly doing (shedding us of what is not of Him) to the light!! Wow! Wow!! WOW!!! Such a good and much needed reminder!!! Shake it up Lord, so that nothing but YOU remains!!! Amen!!
Grateful for all of the ways that the Lord is a fire – light, warmth, protector, authority and warrior. Beyond thankful for the Holy Spirit. I’m dependent on His power, instruction and comfort.
I am in awe of the power of You, my Almighty God! Consume all of those things in me that aren’t a part of who I am as your redeemed child, and I will serve you with reverence and love.
Grateful for all of the ways that the Lord is a fire – light, warmth, protector, authority and warrior. Beyond thankful for the Holy Spirit. I’m dependent on His power, instruction and comfort. In awe of the power of my Almighty God!
My entire post didn’t log here, but the essence is: God saying his name is I AM hit home from my alternative religious understanding, and I have found fresh appreciation for the biblical representation of God. I feel like I have come home to a deeper understanding of Christian faith and for that I am grateful.
I was born Catholic, abandoned the church, and just this year committed to understanding and diving into the Bible to understand what I ran away from long ago. In the years of my absence from Christianity, I studied other forms of religion and for a period of time lived in an ashram dedicated to eastern thoughts. Today, I had to double take when God proclaimed to Moses “Tell them I AM sent me.” Had to grab my grandma’s Bible to double check the accuracy. It seems so silly, because I am so fresh in actually learning the faith of my family, but it seems like I had to learn and know and understand God from a different perspective before landing home in the Bible. The patterns and the teachings are all the same with the same underlying current, but with eastern thought as my background I come with fresh appreciation for the biblical representation of God. And I am very grateful to have returned home.
It’s so easy to water God down into a teddy bear-type version or genie-in-a-bottle, who is only there for wishes and feeling good. But these passages remind us that He is a mighty, all-powerful God, who is to be feared and worshipped with reverence and awe. He burns with anger toward sin and wickedness and will be just in punishing it. He is also a fire that purifies, sometimes bringing pain or discomfort to make us more like Christ. It’s a comfort to know that our God is this way and when we are following Him and on His side, we can trust that all He does is for our good. But when we’re walking in darkness and sin, we should be afraid, knowing that he can bring punishment. May I stand in awe of Him and His power as an all-consuming fire!
I was born Catholic, abandoned the church, and just this year committed to understanding and diving into the Bible to understand what I ran away from long ago. In the years of my absence from Christianity, I studied all other forms of religion and for a period of time lived in an ashram dedicated to eastern thoughts.
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I have a note in my Bible from previous readings that say, “Moses notices God, and then God speaks to him!” I made the same observation once. I like that Moses wasn’t out looking for God, yet he found Him and God speaks. That’s comforting to me. AND How much more often we would find Him and hear from Him if we were out looking for Him!
Powerful and comforting. My God is my refuge, my safe place, my all consuming fire, my light in the darkness, my beacon of guidance and hope.
“He is a compassionate, rescuing and powerful God.” I needed this reminder today.
Beautiful, Heidi. I appreciate your honesty and call to pray for those who are situations unlike our own. My goal today is to hold space for them. Thank you!
I love the both/and nature of God’s character in these passages! As others have prayed, may He burn away anything in me that is not of Him and continue to draw me into His warmth of love, compassion, grace, and mercy <3
One of the beautiful names of Jesus for all time and in my Advent calendar “I AM”
“If He wants us to draw near to him, why would God compare Himself to something so threatening?” I was wondering this too! My husband is a fire fighter and the imagery of a blazing wildfire scares me to my core. But the juxtaposition of a powerful, massive, ravaging, uncontrollable force with a small, warming, comforting, relaxing force really hit home for me! Thank you God for not only being a fireplace fire, but also a wildfire.
@ANNA COFFEY – thanks for hanging in there! I love this thought! I have been allowing so many things to overwhelm me. God is in control. He is the I AM. He can handle my crazy and take so much of my worry and hurry and give me peace and release.
Father I want You as an all consuming fire in my life and as a testimony to others. Let me press in and not be shaken. In Jesus name, Amen
Fire.
Thinking of growing up with a wood burning stove like Angie described takes me back. The dance of warm enough to enjoy and hot enough to send heat throughout the house. Two sides of the power of fire: warming and sustaining and then the possibility of harm.
My husband works as a firefighter. He constantly reminds me to not leave candle burning or not to leave the straightener plugged in. He has seen the way fire consumes. He respects its power. He also enjoys a campfire. Sitting in its glow can soothe him for hours as he sits staring at it. He enjoys its beauty.
God – the consuming fire – who’s wrath had to be satisfied. God – fire of His Spirit – shining into our hearts and out into the world. These passages felt like an ah-ha moment for me. God’s fire throughout the Bible has not changed, but He Himself has paid the price that His wrath required. He has made a way for me to be in the presence of His warmth.
I’m awe-struck at this image.
May God who is a consuming fire burn up in me everything that does not belong in His redeemed child! May I serve you Lord with reverence and awe!
Unlike wildfires, God is in control. You are powerful, but not out of control. One day death and destruction will be no more. Thank you Lord that you bring justice to the world and comfort to those you believe in you. Your light lasts forever.
I can’t control this app like most things in my life. I am the who am I. He is the I Am with him I know his power his I Am, he is in control, not me. Why should I worry about things a mighty powerful God controls.
Whenbour lives are not in control much like me typing this morning.. we question who am I? Is comforting to know he is the I am and we don’t have to control it, he does and we just need to trust control and
@ANNA COFFEY – see if you make sure that your info isn’t auto-filled, will it allow you to complete your thought? I’m on the edge of my seat.
Praying this morning for the persecuted church and for those whom Christmas is an internal light of the knowledge of the Truth they are fighting for with their lives. For those whom Christmas isn’t a tree and lights and lovely advent readings in the comfort of their warm home next to a seasonal candle, but in a jail cell, in hiding, or even worse.
I’m hit this morning with the enormous privilege and ease of most of our lives- “ease” as in comparison to those daily fighting for the cause of Christ, furthering His flame that He may reach deeper, consume more, burn brighter….
Please join me in praying for their rescue, their peace, their joy, and their mission. That this Christ who came down to us may be spread “like wildfire” in places unknown and unreached.
Sorry this is not acting right. What I was trying to say us when life us out of control
When life is not in our control
I love the thought that we have things in life we can not control and we question who am I?
When we feel like everything I out of control and
He sees our sufferings AND is compassionate. ❤️ how is a God so powerful still so compassionate? His awesomeness amazes me everyday. So thankful for this study!
“I need a God that is more powerful than I am.” ❤️❤️❤️
“He’s knows my sufferings and is a compassionate God”- thank you Lord
MARTHA HIX – yes! That statement by God brings tears every time, in awe of Him. And just a side note – when I typed your name, my first attempt read MARTHA HIS – and you ARE His ❤️
AIMEE D-R – praying for His Light in the darkness
GRAMSIESUE- praying for continued healing
CEEGEE – my first thought was “Nope, not me!” when I read yesterday’s comment about whether you were brave enough to read that story.
TERESA DONLEY – praying for you, and yes, bring His Light into the darkness. I think of thousands of birthday candles/lights when I see the trees and homes lit up in celebration of Jesus’ birth! We have several neighborhoods in our area where they go all out with the lights, many synchronized with music. We try to go a few times (during the week as it is crazy busy on the weekends). Being surrounded by the lights and music makes me think of a heavenly choir – Oh Holy Night!
CHANGED LIFE – Same! Seems like I can’t get enough light and the brighter the better.
Thank God He is, He was, and will always be, I AM. He has chosen to love us, show himself to us, and draw us near to Him.
We have a wood burner in our home. The heat reaches deep inside, penetrating, spreading, and relaxing. There are times when we keep it tamped down so that the essence of the warmth just sort of encircles and draws you in. There are other times we burn it hot, both for the needed warmth when the cold is intense, and for the burning away of anything that may have gathered along the chimney edges.
So too, is the Holy Spirit’s fire burning in my life. He reaches into the deepest parts of my heart, mind, and soul. He penetrates, spreading through me and pouring out of me. As I draw closer to Him, He comforts, relaxes, and gently yokes Himself to me (this child He has created and loves) – to lead, guide, and carry the load. A constant gentle warmth that is also fanned into flame, consuming sin, consuming the evil that tries to weigh us down. Passionately igniting our soul in His love.
He Reads Truth today says, “Now, when we think of God as a consuming fire, we do not despair. Instead, Jesus makes it possible for us to see in the darkness and to luxuriate in the warmth of His embrace. ” Ah yes, I love that – Light in the darkness – luxuriating in the warmth of His embrace.
Our God is a consuming fire – burning away all that will destroy us while sustaining and even illuminating that which He will use for our good. He is all-powerful and yet opens His arms welcoming us into His embrace.
Thank you, Jesus.
Our God sees our sufferings, and has compassion on us. He rescues us from sin and shame. ❤️
Grateful for holy ground and consuming fire.
Our God’s love is astounding. His mercy to us is overwhelming. We who should receive His righteous wrath find that Jesus took it instead. “Now, when we think of God as a consuming fire, we do not despair. Instead, Jesus makes it possible for us to see in the darkness and to luxuriate in the warmth of His embrace” (HRT devotional).
I know this world, and at times our lives, can seem so out of control. We can be like Peter when he was distracted by the storm and began to sink into the sea. Both JESUS and the storm had been there when he stepped out of the boat. Remember to fix your eyes on the One who is in control. He will be with you and bring you through the storm. You will get wet, but you will not sink.
Praying for the many of you going through grief right now. May the Lord bring peace to your hearts as you move through the dark valley-He is with you.
This!!!!!!❤️
He is the God who shook Mt. Sinai, who told the people they must stay back and not even touch the mountain. And He is also the God of Mt. Zion who calls His children to come near.
Savior,Redeemer, Healer, Lord
“I AM WHO I AM” Thank you Lord! ❤️