Scripture
He will sit like a refiner of silver, burning away the dross. He will purify the Levites, refining them like gold and silver, so that they may once again offer acceptable sacrifices to the Lord. -Malachi 3:3
The refiner knows that the refining process is complete when he looks into the pot or the furnace and sees his reflection in the metal. In the process of refining, the dross, which is foreign matter or mineral waste, is burned away from the precious metals. Depending on the refining process, refining the dross takes place in temperatures from 3,000-4,400 degrees Fahrenheit. This process is an example of what Jesus does in us. He saved us from our sins; therefore, the dross, which is the old man, has to be purged. If we accept Him as Lord, then we also accept Him as the purifier. The scripture above says that He sits as the refiner. As Jesus is sitting on the throne of our hearts, He is purifying us. He is carefully burning and scraping off the foreign matter and mineral waste out of hearts, and out of our lives. This means that He's burning away faulty mindset, negative behaviors, unhealthy habits, traditions, and iniquity. Many of the things that we've become accustomed to doing don't glorify God. This is why His consuming fire has to burn away those things.
How does this happen? You are refined through your trials, circumstances, and encounters. Each of these has the potential to expose in us a reflection that is not of Jesus Christ. In life, the heat can get turned up more than we think we could bear, but be encouraged in knowing that God has already equipped you to endure the fire. The fire is only to purify you. There are things we face that God doesn't necessarily orchestrate, but He will use them to refine us. David constantly asked God to search his heart and test his thoughts (Psalm 139: 23). When we do this, we permit Him to take us through the process of sanctification. It is through situations that the Holy Spirit reveals the true intent of our hearts and motives. It is this place that He exposes what is truly there, lying dormant.
Beloved, be willing to be burned beautiful. Be willing to be purified by Jesus. This process is vital to your victory in Him, to your place of authority in the spirit realm, and more importantly, to our Father. When God looks upon us, He needs to see only one image: Jesus.
Prayer
Father, burn me beautiful, burn me holy, burn me righteous, burn me lovely. We submit to your refining process and ask for your divine empowerment to endure so that we can look like your Son. In Jesus' name. Amen.
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