Have you ever warred with something in your circumstances, in your mind, believing it was the enemy, only to discover you were warring against God who was trying to move you in a new direction?  I have, more than once.  After some fiery months of testing circumstances, I cried out to God for answers.  Immediately He gave me a vision:

I see Jesus standing in front of a big furnace and He’s throwing logs into the fire.

“Father, what is this?” I asked.

“I am an all consuming fire.  For those I love who need to be cleansed for greater purpose, I am putting in the fire.  Trials bring life.  They burn off the dross and reveal the things of greatest value.” He said matter-of-factly.

“Welcome the fire.  It is My burning and I am the fire tender.

Your job is to know that I am with you in the fire and I am the Fire.  This is not an enemy attack, it is the work of My Spirit to purge and to purify.

 Paul and Silas sang in their chains and were set free.  The Hebrew children trusted me through the fire, their chains fell away and I brought them out of the fire without even the smell of smoke.

I consumed the rock, the water and the sacrifice of Elijah before the prophets of Baal.  Fire is My hallmark.

I sent tongues of fire at Pentecost and they ignited the world for My glory and My Kingdom. 

Let the fire burn and praise Me in the fire.”

~~~

Hebrews 12:28-29. “…since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire.”

Zechariah 13:9 “I will bring the one-third through the fire, Will refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them. I will say, ‘This is My people’; And each one will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’ ”

 Malachi 3:2-3 “But who can endure the day of His coming?
And who can stand when He appears?
For He is like a refiner’s fire
And like launderers’ soap.
³ He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver;
He will purify the sons of Levi,
And purge them as gold and silver,
That they may offer to the Lord
An offering in righteousness.

1 Peter 1:6-7 “…now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, ⁷ that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ…”