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Listen while you read: "Unto The Hills Around Do I Lift Up"1
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Ephesians 4:26-27 – "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. (NIV)
In 2023, wildfires burned out of control in many parts of Canada. One such fire near the town of Fort Nelson in northern British Columbia destroyed thousands of forested acres. As winter arrived, the fires disappeared from view; they went underground. With the reappearance of spring and frost-free ground, however, the blazes surged to the surface and once again burned out of control.
This event reminds me of the fires which can burn deep within our hearts: fires of anger, hatred, pain, jealousy, and envy; fires kindled in our lives by various events or people; fires that we buried, for whatever reason, letting the sun go down upon them, instead of dousing them through the power of God's wisdom, love, and forgiveness.
The problem with burying such fires, however, is that we never know when they will make a resurgence within our lives, and when they do, the secondary blaze is often worse than the original one, for it has had time to fester and grow within our hearts. We have, in fact, given the devil time to stoke those fires, as we have secretly mulled them over in our minds, allowing ourselves to become more and more indignant, bitter, and even set upon getting revenge.
These inner blazes are very dangerous, for they damage us spiritually and emotionally. Left unconfronted, they become sin, and sin separates us from God. Even for Christians who are forgiven for their sin — past, present, and future — buried sin still blocks believers' full relationship with our heavenly Father. Sin blocks the Holy Spirit from moving freely within our lives, and the abundant life that Christ wants us to experience is diminished bit by bit as our underground fire continues to smolder and burn.
King David was well aware of the dangers and pitfalls of buried sin when he penned these words:
Psalm 32:3-5 – When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord" — and you forgave the guilt of my sin. (NIV)
Do you have wrongful fires burning within your heart today, things you have sought to bury rather than confessing them for the sin that they are? If so, take heed from the psalmist. Confess them to the Lord and allow Him to help you to douse them with His love and forgiveness, once and for all. Pray with me:
Prayer: Lord God, search me and know me. If there be any sinful fire buried within my heart, draw it forth that I might deal with it forever, together. In Christ's name, I pray. Amen.
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About the author:
Lynne Phipps <lynnephippsatlin@gmail.com>
Tawatinaw, Alberta, Canada
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So true, Lynne.
You wrote a great devotion. I am always touched by your writing.
Anger kills – you and your neighbor – pray for forgiveness and peace.
Thanks, Lynne.
What an excellent devotional today! Very inspiring and challenging!
I pray you and your family, a bit furry and not, are all well.
Thank you for this self-reflection and inspiring post.
Thank you for that Lynne. It seems that you just spoke my whole life. I am trying very hard to let the Lord take control.
Morning Lynne, another great read. You certainly have a beautiful way of insightfully looking at things. A great perspective! Thanks.
Thank you for sharing this encouraging devotional reprimand with us today.
To God be the glory! Blessings.
Good morning, Lynne,
Another good one,
God bless.
Lynne, I also live in “forest fire country” but had no idea that fire can be dormant underground, only to resurge later. This is a great illustration of smoldering sin in our hearts.
Lynne,
What a fine analogy. Buried fires are just as lethal as flames shooting into the sky. Cleanse the whole body and one can be truly at peace.
Thanks again. I really enjoy your writing. The examples stay with me.
Visual may be my learning medium! Enjoy summer. Not much smoke from fires in Manitoba where I live.
Morning, Lynne,
Just read your devotional. Fires of any kind can be devastating…in the soul and on the land…very good comparison and thank you once more.
Lynne ….wow…whenever I am struggling with something….there is your written encouragements from the Lord, through you. I am amazed, thankful, and pray you never give up your writing.
Thank you for the wisdom of today’s message. The revelation of how fires burn deep within us without our understanding the root sin which contributed to them in the first place blocks us from full freedom in our walk with our Lord. Thank you again.
Lynne – This makes two devotionals without animal characters; I must reassess my ability to figure out an author as I read along.
That said, I find your insights to be a valuable part of my growth in Christ’s service.
Hi Lynne,
Thank you for today’s message. This is an issue I’m struggling with, and your sharing somehow opened up a window that let out the steam of it and my heart is quietened. Thank you for putting emotions into words!
Good morning, Lynne!
You did it again – for me! Thank you for this powerful message today. Only prayer and believing in the Words of God can eliminate all the hurts and pain that are buried deep within all of our beings.
Blessings!
Good morning, Lynne,
I didn’t know that about a fire coming back after the cold of winter. I am surprised. I know that the fire department stays around for hours or days to check for hot spots but didn’t realize after a winter it would resurface.
Definitely I have experienced something that I thought I had dealt with comes back maybe even years later. Interesting to realize that I didn’t ask God for help with this and confess my part. I will join in your prayer.
Many thanks, Lynne, for another of your very special devotionals that have such in-depth meaning. Yes, it is so important that we don’t let anger or guilt about something burn deep within us and cause more disruption, not only to our lives but also to others. We need be ever thankful that we can take the situation to our loving Saviour and ask His forgiveness. He is the one who is ever ready to hear our request and bring peace to the situation.
The words you have included from Psalms are very important. Blessings for these inspiring writings you prepare and share with us.
Oh Lynne – again the LORD has helped me through your clear description of some spiritual truth. Our son is a wounded soul, and I yearn to guide him, but he is so sure that he is following the LORD perfectly. I’m sad to think that my only hope to help him is through prayer … because I’m much more a ‘doer’. Actually that’s not entirely true – I’m deeply committed to intercession for others – but it still hurts!! I pray that he will open his heart wide and allow the Holy Spirit to ‘take the weight’ of his life – there’s a human tendency to be fully committed to HIM, but unknowingly holding back parts of our lives; holding tight to our own ‘life jacket’ for fear of drowning if we let go. I think it was Paul who wrote something about God forgiving him because of his ignorance – which is where we all are in various ways. God’s forgiveness is ever present – except when we act knowing full well that what we’re doing is wrong. Even then, there’s an element of His Grace that is still available and active. How amazing our LORD is in HIS insights into each human heart – supplying each experience that can lead a person TO HIM, but never forcing a human heart against the will. So I guess our prayers must address the will of the heart of those for whom we pray, and also that the LORD would set things up for a particular person for the greatest possibility for them to ‘see’ HIS TRUTH, HIS PRESENCE, HIS GRACE, and to act accordingly with total conviction that HE will catch them when they ‘let go’!
God bless you all.
Thank you, Lynne. I didn’t know physical fires could do that — good comparison to our inner fires we don’t take care of.
Hello Lynne,
Your message sure spoke to me and has encouraged me to bring to the Lord again some long “smouldering” issues. Thank you for being faithful to Him with this ministry!
I hope you, your family, and all your 4-legged friends are safe and well, in spite of the smoke which must be a persistent presence. So far, thanks be to God, we are safe here, with mostly clean air.
God bless and keep you!