Marysville Nazarene marysvillenazarene

It took Elijah three years to be shaped and prepared in the "forge." It required obedience, and listening--the most important component to prayer. 

Trial by fire is necessary for many, but we often miss out on glorifying God because we can't take the heat! We bow down. Conform. And what we fail to see is that God uses those fiery experiences of life to purge and purify us. The fire doesn't destroy--it burns out the impurities. It refines us. And when you're in the fire for His sake, you'll discover that you're never alone in the flame.

Spiritual formation is about God moving us, improving us, making us stronger, giving us purpose, and showing us what love looks like.
When we become comfortable, we put ourselves at risk without realizing it. But Jesus models for us what it looks like to be sharpened, and it's not for position, authority, or title. We are sharpened to serve! Let's stop striving under our own efforts and begin thriving in the purpose to which our refiner has created us!

We were created for community, and faith leads us into a relational process of formation where God uses our failures, struggles, and experiences to shape us until we find our place and purpose within our faith community. It's also in our gatherings that we are shaped. Our shared worship, in our accountability to one another, and within the safe spaces where we can be honest, vulnerable, and transparent... all of it resulting in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Belief leads to transformation. What informs us about God, Jesus, grace, hope, and love is more than knowledge. These pieces of faith equip us for purpose and ministry, resulting in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Relationship with God requires growth, nurturing, and development. This growth shows itself as we move from reaching others to making disciples, and our character is forged over time--often through fiery trials. But allowing God to purify us is the first step toward transformation, and only when the Refiner sees a clear reflection of himself is the process complete.