Unrecognizable

When someone has been burned or consumed by fire, many times he or she is unrecognizable.

I don’t mean to be graphic, but hear me out.

It’s sad to think that someone would have to suffer in pain like this, and in some instances, succumb to death.

I pondered this in prayer last night and then these words fell from my own lips:

 

“I want to be unrecognizable.”

(Y’all know that was the Holy Spirit and not me!)

But seriously, the Lord’s word for me this year in 2018 is FIRE .

Now I won’t pretend to know what it all will mean for me this year, but stay tuned. Fire represents so many things that I won’t begin to unpack in this one post.

I will start with one thing that was heavy on my heart last night as I considered this 4 letter word.

I want God’s fire to consume me in such a way that I, Charlene, am unrecognizable to those who know me and those who thought they knew me.

I desire for the fire of God to consume me in such a way that Charlene really is dead and what remains is my life completely hidden in Christ. (Colossians 3:3)

I can be ok with me not being seen or known as long as Jesus is seen.

I am ok with being unrecognizable, no matter how painful it gets. I want it to lead to my death—death of my plans, my agenda, my goals.

As we are continuing to become His best right NOW, while waiting, become ok with being unrecognizable.

For so much of my life, I felt hidden, unseen, forgotten, unimportant and I became comfortable with it, but it wasn’t healthy.

Until I learned these vital truths:

I was never hidden from God.

I was and am always seen by Him.

I am important to Him.

I was never forgotten.

And this is enough for me.

Now I can rest in this: whether I am ever known or recognized in this earthly life, I will always be recognizable and known to Him.