That’s the Spirit

Come as the fire and purge our hearts
Like sacrificial flame;
Let our whole soul an off'ring be
To our Redeemer's name.

From yesterday’s light we move to the phrase “Come as the fire and purge our hearts”

1 John 1:7 says “if we are living in the light of God’s presence, just as Christ does, then we have wonderful fellowship and joy with each other, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from every sin.” (Living Bible)

I read a story of  a nursing home where a resident group was discussing their ailments. “My arms are so weak I can hardly lift this cup of coffee,” said one.  “Yes I know, my cataracts are so bad I can’t even see my coffee,” replied another. “I can’t turn my head because of the arthritis in my neck,” said a third. At which several others nodded weakly. “My blood pressure pills make me dizzy,” another one went on. “I guess that’s the price we pay for getting old,” winced an old man. “It sure beats the alternative.” “Well, it’s not that bad,” said one woman cheerfully. “Thank goodness we can all still drive!” Are our priorities out of place today? Are we just so thankful that we can drive that you don’t see the problems around you?”

It was Thomas Merton who said, “By reading the scriptures I am so renewed that all nature seems renewed around me and with me. The sky seems to be a pure, a cooler blue, the trees a deeper green. The whole world is charged with the glory of God and I feel fire and music under my feet.”

Where as Charles Stanley advices that, “Renewing the mind is a little like refinishing furniture. It is a two-stage process. It involves taking off the old and replacing it with the new. The old is the lies you have learned to tell or were taught by those around you; it is the attitudes and ideas that have become a part of your thinking but do not reflect reality. The new is the truth. To renew your mind is to involve yourself in the process of allowing God to bring to the surface the lies you have mistakenly accepted and replace them with truth. To the degree that you do this, your behaviour will be transformed.”

The need for spiritual purging, renewing recreating is all too apparent in our lives, that we may well earnestly pray - Come as the fire and purge our hearts.

A Prayer 

Oh Lord, create in me a clean heart, and renew a steadfast spirit within me! Hear the cries of my heart right now, for the uncleanliness that surrounds me is what the enemy has sought to use against me to kill and destroy me. I declare, that by Your sovereign power and the faith that I have in You, I will be made clean for I am Yours and You came so that I may have life in You more abundantly. Amen.
Psalm 51:10