New Habits 2: Scorched

We know God has spoken to us about a new spiritual habit, but our life post-fast may feel scorched! We might get pulled back into what had been the norm! But now is the time to recognize the truth about what is going on around us, without apology and without emotion, and ask God to cool the hot spots and heal us. He will! New habits will be welcome and needed in that process.

The Maze Runner books (and film) by James Dashner, where the young men must survive a journey through a solar flare wasteland called The Scorch, brings the feel of a barren desert to life in our minds. I have also been in the Negev Desert in Israel. Desert imagery invokes fire:

When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched (Isaiah 43:2).

The Lord will satisfy your desire in scorched places (Isaiah 58:11).

The scorched land will become a pool (Isaiah 35:7).

The desert is a hot place!

Some Chaldeans said to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, “Your administrators, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, do not worship the golden statue which you have set up.” The king was in a rage and told the young men, “If you do not worship, you will immediately be thrown into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire. What god is there who can rescue you from that?” They replied, “Our God whom we serve is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if He does not, we are not going to worship the golden statue that you have set up.” The king ordered valiant warriors to tie them up and throw them into the middle of the furnace of blazing fire. The warriors were killed, but the young men were not. And the king exclaimed that he saw a fourth man in the fire, “One like a son of the gods.” The young men came out of the middle of the fire and all saw that the fire had no effect on their bodies, nor was their hair singed, nor were their robes scorched, nor had even the smell of the fire touched them. The king responded, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent His angel and rescued His servants who put their trust in Him.” He decreed that no man speak against their God. From Daniel 3.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego got thrown into the fire, but they did not get scorched! God promises that when we are in a scorched place, He will satisfy our desires and the scorched land will become like a pool.

The Jews were exiled to Babylon in 600BC. These three young men showed promise, and along with Daniel (eventually thrown into the lion’s den), were well-educated, had their names changed and became strong administrators in Babylon. But they had not forgotten the meaning of their original names (God is gracious, God is, God helps) or the power of the one God. They were convinced that God would rescue them from the scorch of the fire, but even if He didn’t, they said they would not bow to the king’s golden statue … He did rescue them! 

Sometimes your life may feel like a scorched place. Your emotions are deadened. The latest crisis has devastated your family. Your home reflects the chaos you feel internally. You feel emptied. You want to call the heavenly 911! Please do!

Cry out, He wants to rescue you (Psalms 34:17).

Take up your shield of faith, you can extinguish the flames (Eph 6:16).

Ask, and He will give you living water to cool the fire (John 4:10). 

Describe your scorched place in a journal or take a voice memo. Be specific and expansive. Ask God for His soothing water in each specific area of stress, out-of-control emotion, and out-of-your-control situation. Ask Him to show you one small step you can take toward the new spiritual habit He has asked you to take up.

We are not alone in the Scorch. Share the living water He has given you with people who have no access to the well. Rescued people rescue others. Who might God want you to rescue?

Marvelous Savior, You have saved me from the eternal fires. I have felt the scorch here, but You have saved me for a reason. Amen.