Path Through Fire

Hi all, I almost burned the house down 2 weeks ago. Our yard is 4+ acres of now dormant, dry grass ringed by 6 acres of woods for a total of 10 acres, and that is surrounded by 100's of acres of other people's property. Around the perimeter of the lawn where grass meets woods, is a well worn path that I walk in the mornings - it's just over 1/4 mile around and I make 16 laps or 4 miles, using that walk as my daily prayer time for those who support us financially and/or are part of our network, and are self employed within our network, and/or call or write in prayer requests, or whomever the Father tells me to pray for. That path is the object of this week's thoughts. The sceneAs you look out the front door there is a small fishing pond to the left, and in front of that a picnic table where we have cookouts. Beyond that is where we burn the trash. The cars are parked out front, and the driveway leads in from the right. On the other side of the woods out front is a creek that separates us from the neighbors, and a dirt road as well. It started out innocently enough; Barb went to town to get groceries and I needed to burn some trash and answer emails. The trash burning pile is ringed by large rocks, so once the fire was burning I went inside to check emails. There was a little wind, but we've never had any problem before down in this little valley, so I didn't give it much thought. But about 15 minutes later in the house, in the middle of answering emails, I heard the Father say: "You'd better check your fire." I know the voice of the Father - Immediately I sprang to the door to find the whole front yard on fire! The biggest part of the yard had already burned and the fire line was expanding and headed right for us in an ever enlarging circle. It was burning to the edge of the pond to the left, into the woods out front, almost to the cars right in front of me, and meeting the driveway to the right. I knew if the weeds and cattails at the pond caught fire it would climb right up the wooded hill behind us and be out of control. But the worse part was the fire burning in the woods out front. The wind had come up and all the undergrowth was on fire, and I didn't want it to jump the creek. The first priority was to save the house and cars, which I did with the water hose, a shovel, and my size 13 shoes in pretty short order. At that point I raced inside, called the local fire department (so happy we pay the $3 fire protection fee with the water bill each month), and ran off to battle the fire in the woods before it jumped the creek and got to our neighbors. Within 10 minutes 2 tanker trucks and 7 men were on scene, with the largest tanker putting the fire out just as it reached the creek. Within 45 minutes (just at sunset) the fire was out! Barb arrived home after dark, and you can imagine her thoughts as she drove through the lingering smoke in the valley, thinking someone was burning a big leaf pile, only to have her headlights shine onto the newly charred and smoking woods and lawn! But that's another conversation - suffice to say she was rightfully upset I had been so careless, but much more happy that I was OK. The PathAs we looked at the damage the next day several things stood out. The first thing we noticed was that the area by the picnic table where our house church has cookouts was not touched. The fire had burned a perfect ring around that area like a 25' diameter island untouched in a sea of charred grass. The second thing was that the fire had burned right up to the path I walk, but no further, and in fact died at the prayer path. There was only 1 area where it had jumped over the path to ignite the woods, but for the rest of the yard my prayer path proved to be the border where the fire could go no further. In these uncertain and difficult times, this story provides a good lesson about the path of righteousness we walk. The path was not touched, and indeed proved to be the saving of the woods and possibly our neighbors. The prayer path stood in the way of the fire and set it's border and limit of damage. In the one area the fire jumped over the path, it did not burn the path itself, but merely leaped over it to the other side. Proverbs 2:8 says "He keeps the paths of judgement, and preserves the way of his saints." When the fires of life burn around us, we need to keep on the well worn path we've been walking, because "when we walk through the fire, you will not be burned, neither will the flame kindle upon you." (Isaiah 43:2) If I had been out there earlier and stood on the path, I could have watched the fire get larger and larger as it approached me on the path. That would have been intimidating, but as it turned out, the fire died when it met the prayer path. I could have just stood my ground watching the fire burn itself out. There are areas of our lives that are 'burning' all around. But what's burning is the area around the prayer path, not the path itself. You can see the fire coming, it's almost upon you, and it's easy to fear when we see the fire and smoke, but if we stay on the path we will find it dies at our feet, and we won't be burned! The picnic areaThe picnic area is significant. The only time over 6 years we have used that area is to host church cookouts. Though this whole property belongs to the Lord, that area is special - many times we've all sat around the fire and visited, cooked meals and eaten S'mores, and God protected it just like the prayer path. The threats we are faced with are indeed very real, but through the smoke we can see areas of our life that are set apart for God; family, home, friends and the times we've shared in the Lord. Those areas are islands of safety in the midst of a firestorm. Our battle is not fear, but in truth it's a matter of trusting the Father. The question in our minds is; Can we trust the Lord to know how special 'this island' is to us and how badly we'd like it preserved? Paul said "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that (last) day." (II Timothy 1:12) There is a time to let go and let God. Things are merely, well, things, after all. But when those things are dedicated to God and used for his purpose, and you believe his plan is not yet complete for them, that is the time to fight the fire. I like what Psalm 89 says because it's a declaration of God's faithfulness. Verse 2 says: "For I have said, Mercy will be built up forever; your faithfulness will you establish in the heavens." God establishes his faithfulness in the heavens, for all to see. Trust that when you are through the fire, all will see the Father's faithfulness spread before them as big as the sky. Never thought of it that wayWe go through life, our routine, our prayer time, our study time, our worship time - our, our, our - and think this is good for us. And so it is, and that is how I've viewed that path around the property as well. I've thought that as I walk and pray with my little prayer list printed out in size 8 font so I can squeeze all the names and needs on there (still takes 1/2 page), it's just something I need to do for those who support us. Though it seems clear now, I hadn't really thought of that perimeter path as being a barrier of protection surrounding those I pray for. It was just a path. But from heaven's perspective that prayer path and those places special to us and (to our amazement) special to the Father, form spiritual barriers that limit what the enemy can do to us. That path also protected those I don't pray for very often, our neighbors. You never know how your life lived before others may be turned one day as a provision and protection for those who have been watching you from a distance. Perhaps you see an approaching fire in your life as you read this. Maybe the fire is upon you. Stay on the prayer path! The fire will either die at your feet, or leap over you without harming that path you are on. Trust the Father that the things special to you and dedicated to Him, are special to Him too. Psalm 11:7 says "For the righteous Lord loves righteousness; his countenance (face) always beholds the upright." In this little analogy it should be noted that I knew nothing about how the path and picnic area would be preserved, I was caught up in fighting the fire. I smelled like smoke, I had ash on me, and for a week afterward I was still blowing ash out my nose. I had to fight the fire the best I knew how, but it was bigger than I could handle. That's when it was time to call in the 'angels', the 7 firefighters who came to my rescue. Without them the fire would have spread much further than it did. Fight the fires in your life, but trust the Father to protect your prayer path and special areas he's not done with yet. But also realize there are special forces available to fight on your behalf, and they have equipment to do the job. The Father is good - heaven is for you - and He will deploy the forces needed to protect and preserve! "He keeps the paths of judgement, and preserves the way of his saints." (Prov 2:8) Some thoughts this day,Blessings,John Fennwww.iFaithhome.orgskype: jfenntulsa