Whilst I sit in the midst of this burning furnace in Babylon
I am reminded of the three Hebrew boys: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
They were already in a place of exile away from their home of worship and familiarity. Yet the did not forget the God they served or the promises in His Word.
The king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, had mandated worship of himself. Instituting the worship of self and idolatry.
We often face the demons of self and pride that are sent to consume and deter us from being and belonging to the one and only Triune God.
The enemy presents us with glitter and gold and says it’s better and worthy to be praised. He appeals to our flesh and appetite to provoke us into forfeiting what is eternal for what is temporal.
Beloved, our flesh is but dirt. Our appetites can be controlled. Do not be ruled by what can be controlled but be ruled by what is eternal and that is God and God alone.
Stand firm on the truth that is Christ and He will stand firm with you in the furnace.
As I sit in Babylon I am reminded that although the ruler of this world has turned up the furnace and has thrown me in. For I, like the three Hebrew boys, am not alone.
I look up and the shackles that bound my hands and feet are loosed.
The heat is blazing but my clothes have not singed.
My heart is hurting but not a single hair on my head is frayed.
My Savior is with me!
Jesus cares for me day in and day out…
He has carefully collected every one of my tears with the intent to justly make perfect that which concerns me…
The Holy Spirit comforts me night after night with a peace I cannot understand…
My Father wraps His wings around me protecting me from every arrow by day and pestilence by night…
I have unimaginable JOY! And the joy of the Lord is my strength!🙌🏾💚
So, beloved it is my prayer for you…
Jesus be the center of our life. Keep us in the midst of the hottest furnace and let us see that with You no harm can come to us. Jesus, Your love is bigger than anything in this world and we are the apple of Your eye! I declare that every door to the furnaces meant to destroy our spirit will open on the command of our enemy because they will see that even their best shot could not destroy the God in us! You will walk out unscathed, even without the smell of smoke! In Jesus matchless name this is our prayer. Amen!
Daniel 3:19-30 New Living Translation (NLT)
The Blazing Furnace
“ Nebuchadnezzar was so furious with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his face became distorted with rage. He commanded that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual. Then he ordered some of the strongest men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. So they tied them up and threw them into the furnace, fully dressed in their pants, turbans, robes, and other garments. And because the king, in his anger, had demanded such a hot fire in the furnace, the flames killed the soldiers as they threw the three men in. So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, securely tied, fell into the roaring flames.
But suddenly, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisers, “Didn’t we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace?”
“Yes, Your Majesty, we certainly did,” they replied.
“Look!” Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god!”
Then Nebuchadnezzar came as close as he could to the door of the flaming furnace and shouted: “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!”
So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stepped out of the fire. Then the high officers, officials, governors, and advisers crowded around them and saw that the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of smoke!
Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel to rescue his servants who trusted in him. They defied the king’s command and were willing to die rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. Therefore, I make this decree: If any people, whatever their race or nation or language, speak a word against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, they will be torn limb from limb, and their houses will be turned into heaps of rubble. There is no other god who can rescue like this!”
Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to even higher positions in the province of Babylon.”
