Letting Go of the Fuel for Fire

I’m just coming out of a ‘fiery furnace episode’ in my life. With prayer and the help of some awesome friends, I’m well on my way to being over it completely. The story in the book of Daniel, chapter 3, where Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were thrown into the fiery furnace because they refused to worship the statue of King Nebuchadnezzar was the saving catalyst that pulled me out of what could have been a deep depression about the whole situation. I have been meditating on the verse where Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego didn’t even have the smell of smoke on them after they were retrieved from the furnace:

Daniel 3:26-27 “ 26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came as close as he could to the door of the flaming furnace and shouted: “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!”  So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stepped out of the fire. 27 Then the high officers, officials, governors, and advisers crowded around them and saw that the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of smoke!” New Living Translation

Have you ever been close to someone who’s been near a camp fire? There is a lingering odor of smoke, isn’t there?  How do we, after surviving a ‘fiery furnace’ episode, come out of it and not smell like smoke, spiritually speaking? I believe we must forgive the person or event that put us in the furnace episode to begin with. Even if it was (ahem….) ourselves.

A verse that I found sums it up: Ephesians 4:32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

It’s imperative, if we want a victorious spiritual journey, to forgive and let go of all bitterness and anger about the episode. We do not want to allow the smoke of a victim mindset to settle on our clothes over this. Having the smell of smoke on us would be lingering anger or bitterness, or adopting a victim mindset.  Our light won’t be as bright to point the way to Him, as we want it to be if we hold on to these emotions. So it’s important we keep that light clear of obstacles at all times.

How do we do it? We must focus on the fact that all persons involved are loved children of God, just as we are. In doing this, we realize their preciousness to Him as well as our own value to God. In order to honor my Father in Heaven, I honor His children.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to remember that everyone is precious to You, even the ones I may have problems with. Help me to forgive them as you have forgiven me, thus, getting rid of any smoke that may want to linger around me from this experience. Amen.