New Growth after the Fire

The soil is fresh and ready for new growth, rains have watered the thirsty land . . . and there is the start of new life; small, yet promising to be a mighty tree one day. A pillar of strength, a tower of shade, a refuge for the birds of the air, full of seedlings to pass on to start more new life . . .
If only you could have seen the devastation before . . . the soil was tender, torn up, but the burnt ground has prepared the way for NEW LIFE!

Does the soil of your heart feel torn up in a certain area where God is teaching you through trials and testing? Do you remember that God made and fashioned you - that He is good and does good? What you are walking through is being used to teach you. Look how Psalm 119 shows us how we are to learn, to give thanks, and delight in law. It says "remember Your word to Your servant, for you have given me hope - my comfort in affliction is that your word has quickened me . . . You are my portion, O Lord I promised to obey . . . I entreat Your favor with my whole heart . . . at midnight rise to give thanks to thee . . . dealt well with servant according to thy word . . . teach me good knowledge and judgment for I have believed . . . YOU ARE GOOD AND YOU DO GOOD . . . teach me thy statues . . . I will keep precepts with my whole heart (regardless of what others do or say) . . . I delight in thy law . . . it is good for me that I have been afflicted . . . that I might learn thy statues . . . law of thy mouth better to me than thousand of gold and silver . . . Your hands have made me and fashioned me - give me understanding . . . those who fear you will be glad when they see me because I have hoped in your word - I know Lord your judgments are right and in faithfulness you have afflicted me."

We are exhorted to buy gold refined from the fire in Revelation. It's our choice to buy. God has a way of making us aware our need for the refining. The picture painted in Revelation of our deep need is this: "For you say, I am rich; I have prospered and grown wealthy, and I am in need of nothing; and you do not realize and understand that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. Therefore I counsel you to purchase from Me gold refined and tested by fire, that you may be [truly] wealthy, and white clothes to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nudity from being seen, and salve to put on your eyes, that you may see. Those whom I [dearly and tenderly] love, I tell their faults and convict and convince and reprove and chasten [I discipline and instruct them]. So be enthusiastic and in earnest and burning with zeal and repent [changing your mind and attitude]." Our faith is much more precious than pure gold and the treasure of heaven is hidden in us. There will come a time that His words come true, they will come to pass after the word of the Lord tried and tested us (Ps. 105:19) He has got to quicken our heart to allow our minds and attitudes to be changed and transformed. This is preparing the soil of our heart for the growth of new life.