the pyre has become my sanctuary a place for all my plans and troubles I see them go up in flames lit by a fire I know so well I see my fears go up in smoke even the pages of great dreams are there some things are painful to let go others a great weight I could not bear I have nothing left to lay down except the heart that beats within I reach out to touch the flame of the pyre and it dances across my skin like the burning bush it envelopes me it consumes yet I am intact it's warm embrace is the purest joy it's love unparalleled why be so afraid God is the fire igniting the pyre He does not destroy all till ash He gives new life to what is dead for what he gives is greater than our very lives the flame of my heavenly Father is with me it's an amazing experience indeed for even when away from the pyre His fire dances in me
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Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. Romans 12:1-2 CSB
It’s so hard to give God everything. The bad stuff is easy. Those things were too hard to lift anyway. We can release the difficult and hurtful things of this life (trauma, pain, heartbreak, overwork) into God’s hands with a great sigh of relief. What’s really difficult to surrender is our beautiful hopes and dreams for our future. It’s hard to relinquish what we hope for. We also can’t exclude the fragments of broken dreams. In surrendering our all to God, we allow God to take control and really heal our hearts and renew us.
So my friend please take the time to gaze at the burning pyre and drop all that weight in your arms and on your back and just give it a big ol’ heave into the fire, sparks flying. Good riddance. Take the tearstained pages of broken hopes and dreams and place them there on the fire. Maybe you have books and books filled with hopes and dreams. Put them all on there. Just as Abraham did with his son, his greatest desire, place them on the pyre too (Genesis 22). Then we place our very being on the pyre to let God consume us completely. He is a fire that burns away all that is not good and not meant for us and gently, lovingly holds what is of great value. As God’s chosen people, whom he loves, we have great value. We love because he first loved us (1 John 4:19). God wants all of us and doesn’t want us to hold anything back. Brokenness and all he embraces you.
God doesn’t consume us to destroy us, but to actually bring out in us his original good creation and renew it. A renewal of us. A death occurs yes, it isn’t called a funeral pyre for nothing, but a brand new life is found here. Where some see only the destruction of self, others can see a whole new beginning to a beautiful new life made possible in Christ, the true sacrifice on our behalf. So we continue on as a living sacrifice in this way.
Even when you are a away from the pyre may His fire continue to dance in you. So you may always remember the fire from which you arose.
For our God is a devouring fire. Hebrews 12:29 NLT
