“The Refiner’s Fire” is a song I first heart over 30 years ago sung by Steve Green. He is a tenor who sang great gospel songs so I’d often learn and sing them myself. This particular song is one our choir director recently had us begin to practice. She asked last night that we take the song home and read through the words each day this week and see what God would want to say to us about them. I know this song well. I remember when it first came out and I got the music. I thought I’d have to steel myself to sing it. The message rings too close to home. Thus, I never did sing it, I just listened to it a lot.

The first verse goes, “There burns a fire of sacred heat, white hot with holy flame; and all who dare pass through its blaze will not emerge the same. Some as bronze and some as silver, some as gold, there with great skill, all are hammered by their sufferings on the anvil of His will.” Then the chorus reads, : “The Refiner’s fire has now become my sole desire. purged and cleansed and purified, that the Lord be glorified. He is consuming my soul, refining me, making me whole. No matter what I may lose, I choose the Refiner’s fire.”

I awoke several times during the night with these words going through my mind. I know God has much He is wanting me to learn as I go through this task this week. Thus far, it is bringing back the memories of all the therapy and the challenge to test what was being revealed from it. The words, “all are hammered by their sufferings on the anvil of His will” and then in the chorus, “purged and cleansed and purified, that the Lord be glorified”. At the time of the therapy I had little idea how God would be glorified, yet He uses every hurt to help someone else address their own making all of it worthwhile. Then I realize I am more whole than I had ever been. The amazing work of our Father is incredible!