It is no joke when you hear someone say that someone has turned up the heat. Here in the south, temperatures have peaked to over 100 degrees. Yesterday was noted to be the hottest day ever, temperatures reached 117 with the heat index.
There isn't alot you can do in temperatures like that. It is even too hot to go swimming. We are all just doing what we can to survive this heat wave. We are all different when it comes to how much heat we can take. Some of us would faint of heat exhaustion if we had to work outdoors, while others of us just love the heat, the hotter, the better.Spiritually speaking, we are molded the same way. Some of us quiver and faint easily when the heat of the fire hits us, while others of us can take alot of stress and pressure before buckling at the knees. In the heat of the summer, it is nearly impossible to escape the heat, Christians are not exempt from persecution, therefore escaping the blazing heat of the enemy is not always easy.
Most of us need to drink extra doses of water in these hot days. Water will quench our thirst and replenish our bodies. But what happens when all of the water in the world cannot put out the heat we feel? Usually I do not like the heat, not just weather speaking but spiritually as well. I can't think of too many people that actually enjoy to go thru hard times and persecution, but it is in these times that I know God refines us.
Look at Jonah.
God had an assignment for Jonah to go to Nineveh. But Jonah had the wrong perspective of what was being asked of him. He did not want to go to Nineveh.
Eventually Jonah submitted and obeyed God and went to Nineveh to warn the people of their sin. The people repented and God showed mercy upon them. But Jonah had a different perspective of things than God did. Jonah thought that the sins of the people should not go unpunished. Because Jonah was not seeing things clearly, God sent some heat upon his head...
JONAH 4:8 "And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live."
God did this to refine Jonah's perspective, so that he could see the people of Nineveh thru God's eyes instead of his own. In the heat of it, according to the above passage, Noah wanted to give up.
How many times do we do the same when the heat is turned up. We want to quit. Give up. Throw in the towel. Our perspective of things many times leaves us feeling parched. If only we could see things like God sees things. We might be spared of some heated days if we did.
What kind of heat have you been enduring? Has your stamina and endurance gotten you thru or does your perspective need to be altered?
Today is THANKFUL THURSDAY, and today I am giving thanks for the heat, for without it, I may not see things clearly the way God wants me to see things. One of the good things about the summer heat is that cooler days are coming, if we could just be patient. Same is true spiritually, today you may be going thru a heated trial, but be patient and trust God. Cooler days are coming.
What are you thankful for today? Share your grateful heart with us by linking up below with Mr. Linky!
I like your perspective of giving thanks for the heat so that we can learn to see things the way God sees them. Through hard times, God is molding us and refining us. He knows what we need.
ReplyDeleteI am going through some heat now. I will thank God for it. It can only make be stronger if I keep going back to the streams of living water.
ReplyDeletei love your perspective as well!!! i also agree...it is to hot to swim :0) thanks for hosting!!
ReplyDeleteAmen Laurie, Thanks for hosting us this month. Hugs, Lynn
ReplyDeleteGREAT perspective! Thanks for sharing and the reminder to thank God in the midst of the heat.
ReplyDeleteWe finally had relief from our heat today. The "heat" does cause us to look for the living water, though, for which, I too, am thankful.
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting!
Hi Laurie
ReplyDeletePurification in the fires.. boy do I know it! Funny thing.. as He turns up the heat, He also gives the grace to endure. Drinking in His Grace and thankful for it!
Very inspiring post.. thank you!
Isn't this heat something? However, we trust that God will bring relief to us.
ReplyDeleteYou are right, sometimes God has to turn up the heat in our lives in order for us to see Him clearly.
Have a blessed day!
Joan
Great analogy, Laurie! Hope you get relief from the heat soon. We have had a cool summer here in the Pacific Northwest. This week its in the 70s... just perfect!
ReplyDeleteHi Laurie, Great post today-so true. I love reading everyones grateful list-always makes me stop and see more blessings.
ReplyDeleteNoreen
The heat has been just as unbearable her in Georgia, Laurie. I think it colors our moods. I mentioned heat in my TT post but you put it far better.
ReplyDeleteI never thought of the heat this way. Thanks for this post. I learn something from you every time I visit:)
ReplyDeleteWe've just been through several weeks of oppressively hot temperatures here as well, but when we look for the cool breeze of the Holy Spirit to sustain us, it all works!
ReplyDeleteHave a Blessed Day!
Hi! It's been a while since I have been by and I am so glad I popped over today. You always have such good anaologies. I enjoyed this like always. Some good food for thought. I like what you said about the cooler days coming. Isn't that a wonderful hope? thanks for hosting this!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this post.. my life has taken a turn, an unexpected event.. the heat has turned up. I am reminded through your words to try and see God's view, what His will might be.
ReplyDeleteThank you,
Misty