"Refiner's Fire"

Piper writes such beautiful poetry. Among other favorites, here's one I read today that is short but so sweet:

His goodness shines with brightest rays
When we delight in all His ways.
His glory overflows its rim
When we are satisfied in Him.
His radiance will fill the earth
When people revel in His worth.
The beaty of God's holy fire
Burns brightest in the heart's desire.

(from A Hunger for God: Desiring God through Prayer and Fasting)

I'll quote once more from something that convicted me today of how easily I blame sinful behavior on something else:

"[During fasting], if pride controls us, it will be revealed almost immediately. Anger, bitterness, jealousy, strife, fear – if they are within us, they will surface during fasting. At first, we will rationalize that our anger is due to our hunger. And then, we know that we are angry because the spirit of anger is within us" (p. 19).

How insincerely we often sing the song "Refiner's Fire" without meditating upon what we are really asking! When the pleasure and comfort that food brings is taken away from us, our sinful tendencies soon surface, like the impurities brought to the surface during the refining process of purifying gold and silver. We then see what we are really made of. How often do we say, "I just can't wait for lunch" when we're in the middle of some strenuous situation, but when we voluntarily give up that comfort for a period of time, we are forced to look elsewhere to replace the comfort lost, or, respond naturally, which is usually irratation, anger, strife, pride, fruits of the flesh. It is during that time where we must focus upon the good promises of God.

Food for thought, and yes, I meant to say that. :o)