Cleansing Fire

Isaiah 55:10-13

"As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the LORD's renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed."

God says He replaces thorns and briers with pine and myrtle for His renown and it will not be destroyed! I was walking yesterday where a fire had burned up dried out cat tails on one side of the trail. The other side was not touched by the fire, therefore it had dried out plants from last year mixed with the new green growth of this spring. The new growth coming up on the side where the fire had been was so much greener and healthier than the side where there had been no cleansing fire--the growth was smothered and covered up by the death/weeds of last year. This reminds me of our hearts--sin, wounds, the bondage of lies all cover or crowd the life that is hidden in Christ. Oh, come cleansing fire--Father send your Holy Spirit to burn down all that hinders Your life in us.