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Refined by Fire - Daily Steps

Posted by Meg David on

Welcome to Daily Steps
A weekly devotional message with daily scripture readings, prayer prompts, and action steps to help you spend time with Jesus and strengthen your relationship with Him.

1 Peter 1:13-16 “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’” (ESV)

A Godly Mindset

The worldly mindset of success teaches us that we should strive to achieve whatever we desire in life — a promising career, a perfect family, a lovely house in a good school district, and lavish vacations. It seems as though everyone today is busy running a rat race to achieve their goals at the cost of their health, mental peace, and relationships. However, we often forget that God does not measure us by the worldly standards of what we have achieved in life. It doesn't matter if we have given our family the best gifts, the cars we drive, or the money we make. What matters is if we live our life according to God's purpose for us.

What we focus on grows. If we focus on worldly things, we could probably achieve them, but Peter asks us to check our mindset. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “A person will worship something, have no doubt about that. We may think our tribute is paid in secret in the dark recesses of our hearts, but it will come out. That which dominates our imaginations and our thoughts will determine our lives, and our character. Therefore, it behooves us to be careful what we worship, for what we are worshipping, we are becoming.” This is why it is crucial for our focus to be aligned with God's plan versus our own agenda. We must first prepare our minds before we put things into action. The basis of our efforts should be grounded in God's purpose in our lives, not our own.

Peter was in prison when he wrote his last letters to the body of Christ. His focus was on conveying God's message, and it did not matter if he was sitting in the world's biggest library, a beautiful study, or a damp prison cell. Worldly struggles and challenges were not a distraction for him, such as what he will eat, or drink, or where he will sleep. What mattered to Peter more than anything else was to fulfill God's purpose in his life to convey the message of God to the Church.

If Peter were here today, he would challenge us to prepare our minds with prayer and ask the Holy Spirit to show us the actions we need to take on a daily basis. Our hope should be fixed on Jesus and what He has done for us. As everyone makes plans to return to a post-pandemic world, we need to keep our desires and agendas in check.  If we align our hearts to the plan Jesus has for our lives, we will endure our current struggles with supernatural grace and receive the wisdom needed to align our priorities with those of the Holy Spirit’s. It all begins with a mind renewed by the power of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, we need to prepare our minds first for God's work, and the rest of our actions will follow.

Daily Bible Readings

This week, as you go through the daily readings below, ask the Holy Spirit to make each of the passages deeply personal and applicable to you. (NOTE: We suggest you read each of these passages in several different versions of the Bible, including at least one paraphrase version.) As you contemplate these passages, make time to pray before and after you read them. Write down anything the Holy Spirit whispers to your soul.

Monday - Read Psalms 32:8 and Romans 8:28. God has a plan for each person’s life. As you pray, ask God to show you what He wants to accomplish through you. Living life in complete surrender to God’s direction, will take the pressure off of you and infuse you with the motivation to take action for Him. Spend time worshipping Him today with your favorite hymn, such as I Surrender All. 

Tuesday - Read 1 Peter 1:24-25 and Psalms 46:10. We need to put our faith in our eternal God rather than in things that are fleeting and materialistic. As we wait patiently on the Lord, He transforms us through the challenges of life. Spend a few moments listing out your strongest distractions and then submit each one in prayer to the power of the Holy Spirit. As His presence brings peace to your mind, take the time to be still and let Him speak to your heart.

Wednesday - Read Jeremiah 29:11 and Romans 8:28. Set aside time today to have a cup of coffee, tea, or favorite beverage with Jesus. Praise Him that He holds your life in the palm of His hand and has a specific plan designed just for you. Throughout the Bible, we read story after story of how God’s plan came to fruition for His people. As you ponder the magnificence of His plans throughout time, which Biblical character’s story comes to your mind? Praise Him for the ways that story teaches you about God’s purpose in your life. Write down the ways that story can help you navigate any decisions you need to make or actions you need to take in your life. 

Thursday - Read Isaiah 12:2 and Psalm 145:18-19. The agonizing moments of life remind us that we are not in control, God is. If we look to Jesus, we will find that the challenging situations in our lives will pass. All we need to do is to pray for strength and patience while we wait for improvement or direction. Jesus will be faithful to give you the courage and strength to see the light in all of the broken places of your life. Reflect on all of the challenging times in your life. How did God help you overcome those challenges? How did you feel His presence? What key lessons has God been teaching you during different chapters of your life? Apply those lessons in the present moment.

Friday - Psalm 27: 1-3 and Nehemiah 8:10. One of the keys to thriving through trials is to go one step beyond acceptance to embracing whatever challenges and trials you face. As you welcome what comes, your heart becomes prepared to receive God’s supernatural grace, strength, and wisdom. By studying and meditating on God’s word, the Holy Spirit will help you to reach a place of peace.

TAKE YOUR NEXT STEP
Grow closer to God each day and explore what it means to be a part of bringing the Kingdom of Heaven down to earth.

Want to Go Even Further? 
If you are not already using our weekly study guide with your community group or family members, you're missing out on thought-provoking questions for discussion or individual study. 

REFINED BY FIRE STUDY GUIDE

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