The Purpose of Crucibles - the significant leaders who make the greatest mark for the Kingdom had to experience their own crucible and fire. Without it, the dross can never be removed from the human heart. Without it, the encumbrances weigh us down. God understands the human heart. He understands that for us to become all that He hopes for us, there are seasons of fire. The greater the use in the Kingdom the greater the crucible to prepare the right foundation. Some of God's greatest crucibles are found in the workplace where we live every day. Each of these is a test from God to find out how we will respond. His grace has been provided that we might pass the tests that He brings before us

"The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart." - Proverbs 17:3

This proverb describes one of God's strangest mysteries. 

It is a description of God's formula to refine the human heart in order to bring out its finest qualities. 

The significant leaders who make the greatest mark for the Kingdom had to experience their own crucible and fire. 

Without it, the dross can never be removed from the human heart. 

Without it, the encumbrances weigh us down. 

God understands the human heart. 

He understands that for us to become all that He hopes for us, there are seasons of fire. 

Joseph went through many tests. 

Succeeding in the test qualified him for greater responsibility. 

The greater the use in the Kingdom the greater the crucible to prepare the right foundation. 

Some of God's greatest crucibles are found in the workplace where we live every day: the employee who betrays our trust, the client who refuses to pay, the vendor who falls short of our expectations.

Each of these is a test from God to find out how we will respond. 

What tests are being brought your way today? 

His grace has been provided that we might pass the tests that He brings before us. 

Should we fail, we need not fear. 

His grace is sufficient for this as well.

Ask God for the grace to walk with Him in whatever tests He has placed before you this day. 

He is able to accomplish what He wants for you.

Os Hillman

TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman

Os Hillman  is Founder and President of Marketplace Leaders Ministries, an organization whose purpose is to train men and women to fulfill their calling in and through their work life and to view their work as ministry.

marketplaceleaders.activehosted.com

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The Trial Of Our Faith - every challenge that comes your way is scrutinized from heaven and only what you can handle is allowed to hit you. The circumstances you face are there to test your faith, to remove the impure and prove the genuine. Just as gold is tried or tested by fire our faith will also be tried and tested. Fire represents adversity or challenges. It separates real faith from what looks like faith. Do not lose heart in the midst of that difficulty. Let the lion in you roar and bring to subjection whatever is challenge to your life in Christ

Tested and Strengthened - the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the desert to be tested. Christ passed those tests and returned from them empowered by the Holy Spirit. Tests and temptations can bring strength and empowerment to a Christian’s life. God wants us to see testing as an opportunity rather than just a struggle. Tests provide the opportunity to learn to trust God more fully. They help us discover the strength God can provide for those of us who faithfully persevere. The Holy Spirit uses the tests and temptations of life to draw Christians closer to Christ

Sifted Like Wheat - some of you are being “sifted like wheat.” Your faith is being tested. You may feel weak and on the verge of giving up. In the Name of Jesus, resist Satan. You have the power and authority. Don't rely on your own natural strength. God has placed the Holy Spirit within you, giving you power over all the power of the enemy. Draw upon that Holy Ghost power. Your position during every test, trial, and temptation is one of power, confidence, and victory knowing that as you resist Satan, he will flee from you

Streams in my desert: Sometimes it's hard to understand adversity - but there's a purpose - let's learn from the trials and tribulations we go through because God has a purpose in them. We may not enjoy it, but when all's said and done, enduring trials faithfully will produce perseverance, character, and hope. when we understand there is a greater purpose involved, then we can pass through adversity with hope, expectation and steadfastness knowing these events are for our greater good. We truly can trust in the God who loves us with an everlasting love because He knows the direction we need to go. And He knows exactly how to get us there

Streams in my desert: Experience the testing of your faith - the trials we experience are experiments upon our faith. God allows our faith to be proven by experience and experimentally verified. Faith is not based on experience but on revelation from God. Its genuineness is tested by experience. And it ought to be growing through every trial, producing a deeper comprehension of God's faithfulness. Faith will be proven in, by and through the very hard experiences and realities of your life. This is not accidental but very much in the plans and purposes of the Lord

Streams in my desert: Embrace your fiery trials - persecution and trials are part of the Christian life, so we must understand how God wants us to respond to them. We learn the following principles that help us in our own fiery trials. Faithfulness to God must prevail over fear. The only things that are lost in the fire are the things that bind you. In a trial we discover new truths about God and ourselves. God is always with you in the fire. Our fiery ordeals benefit us, and God also uses our faithful attitude as a witness to others

Streams in my desert: Rejoice As You Share Christ's Sufferings- if you are in the midst of an excruciating season of life, hold on. The Lord is not finished with you. You may think you are alone in your predicament, but all along God has been storing up blessings for you that you never dreamed of. His glory is going to be revealed through your trial. "Do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you . . . But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed." God’s favor follows you