“And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times.”
– Psalms 12:6
 As we discussed yesterday, fires are hard to experience, but life always comes back. Our challenge is to remember that there’s something good that comes out of the tough times or fires in life. The fire is not always God’s plan or our plan, but your talents, personal growth, and achievements are forged by fire. The process of making diamonds takes place under pressure. During the extraction of gold, a large clay pot called a crucible is used. The gold is extracted from a lump of metal, under the melting fire of the crucible. Gold is inside you, but it’s sometimes lumped together with other things. When we walk through the crucible with the Lord, gold will emerge.
The crucible is even used to bring out your desire for something. One of the most gifted singers and successful pop artists of all time, Ed Sheeran, said, “When people say artists are born with talent, they are not. They have to really learn, and really practice.” He shared one of his earliest recordings, and it sounded terrible. Do you know what happened? During his journey, he faced a crucible. It was in his heart to sing, but he needed to perfect his lungs and vocal cords. In order to become the Ed Sheeran we know today, he had to put in hours and hours of work. Friend, this is how you master a skill, a gift, or a talent. Whether you are a parent, a friend, or a leader, take time to develop or master your skills. Commit yourself to the necessary hours and develop into a strong Christian. As someone who has worked on things in my life, I can tell you that it’s always the hardest in the beginning. However, with God’s help — once it gets going — it feels great! |
Prayer
Father, out of my tough times, let gold emerge.
Reflection
How do you devote time to becoming a stronger Christian?
If you’re unable to attend your local church or need some additional weekly inspiration, be sure to tune into Hour of Power every Sunday morning at 11:00 a.m. PT on TBN or watch online at hourofpower.org/episode.
