Cleansing fire is not how I typically think of fire. To me, fire is powerful, destructive and final. It destroys what it touches. Yet, one of my favorite scriptures, that I have read hundreds of times, talks about God’s cleansing fire.

^28-29 Do you see what we’ve got? An unshakable kingdom! And do you see how thankful we must be? Not only thankful, but brimming with worship, deeply reverent before God. For God is not an indifferent bystander. He’s actively cleaning house, torching all that needs to burn, and he won’t quit until it’s all cleansed. God himself is Fire! (Hebrews 12:28-29 MSG).

Every year we hear about the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) doing controlled burns in various parks. This is done to rid forests of dead leaves and trees and prevent an out of control forest fire. It can also help with invasive insects and plants. It’s considered cleansing and rejuvenating.

How have I missed this. Often in therapy, I visualize burning old beliefs, thought patterns and situations that are no longer useful to me. Okay, and sometimes a person who hurt me deeply. It has always been a way to release suppressed anger which has led toward healing-cleansing. Fire was always related to anger until this week when the person I process this with said fire is cleansing. It was a lightbulb moment.

All these years, all the times I have burned things in my mind, God was torching all that needed to burn. I have always believed that my journey in healing is led by God. God’s cleansing fire has been at work as I process the all the times I have been a victim, and work through the many layers of beliefs and operating systems that are no longer needed. I no longer see my burning of the past as destructive. It is cleansing me of all that needs to burn so I can stand clear and uncluttered before God.

How do you see fire? Is it destructive or a cleansing fire? Do you use it in your journey in healing? Share your experience here and breathe life and bring hope to others.