Hebrews 12:29 “For our God is a consuming fire.”
Just like many of us transitioning this conference year, I relocated to a new place in the last week of June, moving from Kinston to Apex. Throughout my life, I have experienced numerous relocations, from one town to another and even from one country to another. I believed I had mastered the art of moving, but how mistaken I was! The entire process of moving humbled me.
Despite my belief that I had purchased an adequate number of moving boxes to pack my belongings, I found myself making two additional trips to the store to buy more. I had assumed that a couple of days would be sufficient to pack everything I owned, but alas, it took me forever. The amount of packed boxes far exceeded my initial expectations.
While these surprises caught me off guard, what astonished me the most was the sheer quantity of things that I needed to let go of. I had prided myself on spending money wisely, only acquiring what I truly needed. However, as I surveyed the accumulated possessions that I now had to let go of, I was humbled.
It was a time to let go of things that I did not need but carried with me for years.
This experience led me to not only evaluate my belongings but also reflect on my life. I encourage all of us to ask ourselves, “What aspects of my life should I let go of, yet continue to carry with me?”
Through various circumstances, the Holy Spirit often calls upon us to let go of our selfish interests and disordered desires, even our own ways, acknowledging that His way is far greater than ours.
Letting go always involves changes that we may not always welcome. These changes may be initially painful but ultimately life-giving. In fact, such changes are the work of our loving God, an all-consuming fire that sanctifies us.
It is my prayer that we all let go of what hinders us from loving God and our neighbor, drawing closer to God, the living flame of love, described by John of the Cross:
1. O living flame of love
that tenderly wounds my soul
in its deepest center! Since
now you are not oppressive,
now consummate! if it be your will:
tear through the veil of this sweet encounter!
2. O sweet cautery,
O delightful wounds!
O gentle hand! O delicate touch
that tastes of eternal life
and pays every debt!
In killing you changed death to life.
3. O lamps of fire!
in whose splendors
the deep caverns of feeling,
once obscure and blind,
now give forth, so rarely, so exquisitely,
both warmth and light to their Beloved.
4. How gently and lovingly
you wake in my heart,
where in secret you dwell alone;
and in your sweet breathing,
filled with good and glory,
how tenderly you swell my heart with love.
Blessings,
Sunny