Tied up in Fire

I've been thinking about the 4 Hebrew youths who were taken captive from their home-to Babylon.  People tell of what they endured, and refer to the 3 besides Daniel, as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.  I, personally, prefer to refer to them by their actual names: Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael.  Daniel's name was also changed to Belteshazzar.

These young men were taken, and forced to learn the Chaldean language and literature, and go through a 3 year training period, so they could be shaped into counselors who would know how to conduct themselves in the palace at the end of that training.  They were given Babylonian names.  But one thing that is striking is that they were chosen because they already had something.  They were strong, good-looking, widely read, healthy, informed, alert, and sensible.

Many of us have heard the story, which is a true story--not just a "story", and we understand that because Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael refused to bow to anyone but The One True God, they were thrown into a furnace that was heated up seven times hotter than usual-so much so, that the guards who threw them into the furnace were killed by the fire that leapt out of the furnace.  We know that they believed that even if God did not deliver them from this fate, it was not because He wasn't able to deliver them.  They were strong and sure in their convictions.  These young men were thrown into the furnace, and fell down inside, bound up.  And the king, Nebuchadnezzar looked in, and saw something shocking:

24 But suddenly, as he was watching, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisors, “Didn’t we throw three men into the furnace?”

“Yes,” they said, “we did indeed, Your Majesty.”

25 “Well, look!” Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire, and they aren’t even hurt by the flames! And the fourth looks like a god!”[c]
Daniel 3:24, 25 (TLB)
  
For us, children of The Most High, we may be facing fiery trials.  And being in the fire is rough.  In some cases,  it's not just being in the fire.  We feel as though we are bound--tied up!

What you must understand is that there is something in you.  You may look at yourself and focus more on your issues than your strengths, but God has put something special in you.  He has made many investments in you, and although you may not always see yourself as having something to offer, God's perspective is very different.  I believe that the thing that moves God most of all is FAITH.  Believe that God will receive a return on the investments He made in you.  Speak it! Know it! Trials do not change God's plan for your life! In fact, the fire is known to purify.  Submit to the process of purification by fire.  The Father has said He would never leave or forsake us, so no matter how hot the situation is, if God be for us.... you know the rest, right? Yes!! Who can be against us? He is more than the whole world against us!  I'm excited about my future, but even more excited about my present, because I can see myself becoming more like Him, and who could ask for anything better!??