Dear Lord,
Please refine me like clay and silver. Help me stand the heat of the fire...always keeping focused on You and my destination. Since being a small child, I've openly exclaimed that I want to be extraordinary in anything and everything that I do; however when I was young I 
didn't think about the hardship and endurance needed to be excellent. I imagined the amazing clothes, the happy friends and family, the proud moments and the praise. I didn't think about the nights and (sometimes) days of crying. I didn't take into account the feelings of being devalued, trapped, limited, less-than, and simply having incredible self-doubt. The mistakes, the failings, and the rejection didn't cross my mind. Now, Lord, I get it. I know what it feels like to ask myself, "how did I get here? who is this woman?" and Lord, I thank you for those feelings. I thank you for holding my hands, for keeping your eyes on me, for putting the right people in my life at the right times, I thank you for continually refining me... molding me into the woman that we both want and know that I can be. So, Lord, today I ask that you not remove me from the heat but equip me to stand strong in the hottest part of the fire. I pray that after the heat, I walk away with my head up, knowing that regardless of the outcome - I played by your rules and with my unique touch. I thank you for continually bringing me out of each hardship, trying time, tribulation, challenging situation - a whole lot stronger, more confident and more on track!
This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.
One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study.
That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining Silver.
As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.
The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: 'He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.' She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined.
The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed..
The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, 'How do you know when the silver is fully refined?'
He smiled at her and answered, 'Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it.'
If today you are feeling the heat of the fire , remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.
didn't think about the hardship and endurance needed to be excellent. I imagined the amazing clothes, the happy friends and family, the proud moments and the praise. I didn't think about the nights and (sometimes) days of crying. I didn't take into account the feelings of being devalued, trapped, limited, less-than, and simply having incredible self-doubt. The mistakes, the failings, and the rejection didn't cross my mind. Now, Lord, I get it. I know what it feels like to ask myself, "how did I get here? who is this woman?" and Lord, I thank you for those feelings. I thank you for holding my hands, for keeping your eyes on me, for putting the right people in my life at the right times, I thank you for continually refining me... molding me into the woman that we both want and know that I can be. So, Lord, today I ask that you not remove me from the heat but equip me to stand strong in the hottest part of the fire. I pray that after the heat, I walk away with my head up, knowing that regardless of the outcome - I played by your rules and with my unique touch. I thank you for continually bringing me out of each hardship, trying time, tribulation, challenging situation - a whole lot stronger, more confident and more on track!Forever Yours,
Shelby S.
For my prayer inspiration, please read this amazing story. A friend of mine sent to me and a few of my girlfriends after biblestudy :)
Malachi 3:3 says: 'He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.'
This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.
One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study.
That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining Silver.
As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.
The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: 'He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.' She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined.
The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed..
The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, 'How do you know when the silver is fully refined?'
He smiled at her and answered, 'Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it.'
If today you are feeling the heat of the fire , remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.
