Burning Fields
by Tanya Person
On a trip to Serbia recently, I was impressed by the sight of fires buring in the fields all along the highway. The air was thick with smoke as the fires burned brightly through the haze. The farmers were burning all the stubble from the fields to prepare them for planting. I did some research and discovered that this method of preparing the ground takes everything that was not useful and turns it into nutrients. It also kills all the seeds from the weeds so that when they plant the crops there will not be as many weeds growing with the crop. Many countries, however, are not allowing the farmers to clear the fields in this way because of the unpleasantness of the smoke.
This reminds me of the scripture in Hebrews 12:11 that says, ‘No discipiline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it’. God wants us to reap a good harvest. He wants us to be fertile soil. As we allow Him to work in our lives, He burns up every useless thing. As He burns away all the seeds of weeds that have fallen in our lives we can see that in all things God works for the good of those who love him (Romans 8:28).
God’s fire in our lives as we yield to him is different from His fire if we don’t yeild to him. He baptises us with the Holy Spirit and with fire (Luke 3:16), rather than the unquenchable fire reserved for the unrighteous. It is more like the controlled burning that the farmers do...burning up the waste without going out of control. And, even though it may not seem pleasant at the time, we can rest assured that God is working it out for our good, so that we can reap righteousness and peace.
Prayer: Lord, help me to yield to You as You burn away the old, useless things in my life and turn them into useful nutrients that will help me produce a healthy crop for You. Thank You that You work all things together for good to those who seek You. Even though what I am going through may not seem pleasant, thank You that You have a purpose and a plan for me.
Tanya Person Tanya and her husband, Jim, were missionaries to Hungary for over 18 years. They have worked with Ellel since 2005. After serving in various positions with Ellel in Central and Eastern Europe, God led them back to the United States, where they are now serving with the Ellel USA team. They have a passion to see leaders restored, the church discipled and walking in God’s fullness of life and freedom, and for mentoring the existing and developing team. Tanya also enjoys crocheting and knitting in her free time and has written some children’s picture books.
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