Listen

Who can endure the day of his coming? Who can withstand his appearance? He is like the refiner’s fire or the cleaner’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver. He will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. They will belong to the Lord, presenting a righteous offering.

Malachi 3:2-3

Think

The process of purification is difficult. Refining anything takes time and a lot of energy. Cleaning what is dirty is not always easy. With each one of these examples, there is a process which means you need to start at the beginning to get a successful outcome.

While the Bible has all sorts of imagery that doesn’t always make sense, it seems like this verse helps to remind us that we are all in process and changing. In the process of refining, we separate what we need from what is no longer needed.

You may have picked up a habit or a frame of mind or even a friend that is not helping you move forward. This may be holding you back from being who you know God wants you to be. Now what? Where do you need to start separating what is no longer needed? How can you start the refining process today?

Amy Kim Kyremes-Parks

Pray

Refiner of us all, thank you for sticking with me through my process of becoming. May this Advent push me forward as I prepare for your light, made flesh in this world. Amen.

Go

Breath of heaven,
Hold me together,
Be forever near me
Breath of heaven.
Breath of heaven,
Lighten my darkness,
Pour over me your holiness,
For you are holy.

from “Breath of Heaven” by Amy Grant & Chris Eaton (1992)