Photo credit: my son, Dave Sebolao
September 7, 2023
"Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, 'O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve IS ABLE to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if He doesn't, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the golden statue you have set up.' Nebuchadnezzar was so furious....he commanded that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual. Then he ordered some of the strongest men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace.....But suddenly, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisors, 'Didn't we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace?' 'Yes, Your Majesty, we certainly did,' they replied. 'Look! Nebuchadnezzar shouted. 'I see four men, unbound, walking around IN THE FIRE UNHARMED! And the fourth looks like a god!'...So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stepped out of the fire...Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn't even smell of smoke!" (Daniel 3:16-27) Do you not know that God certainly could have kept them out of the fire? But He didn't; instead He went in with them. He will not always keep us out of the fire either, but He will go into the fire with us, walk with us in it, and
keep us from harm.
I wrote the above on September 7, 2014, and I re-read it today…and…ahhh...fresh insight….a perfect example of everyday epiphany.
Certainly, Jesus could have spared me the trauma of my childhood, but He placed me there intentionally and though I felt alone and lonely…confused and depressed…scared and unsure…angry at times....He was with me; He has traveled with me on this entire journey.
Not only was He…has He always been…with me….He was….is….in me (Col. 1:27).
Certainly, He could have spared me this diagnosis, but He allowed it. And He is in me. Evil cannot dwell in me with Jesus in me!
One of the most valuable things that I have learned…the hard way…through the tears and over the years….is that my emotions absolutely obey my thoughts, my beliefs, so I’d better make sure that my thoughts are honest, pure, and true/truth.
I believe that my body will also obey.
During this very challenging time, it is more important than ever before that I guard my mind, and so I am very careful what I allow into my mind, as well as my body.
Photo credit: my son, Dave Sebolao
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