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What Love Does
(An excerpt from "Spiritual Warfare for Women" by Leighann McCoy)
 "Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the Lord, who has compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10
If you attended a Southern Baptist Church in the late 1970s, you might remember the musical
It's Cool in the Furnace. I'll never forget it. My favorite song went like this (wish you could hear the tune):
Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego...
They had funny names and they lived far away but they set an example we can follow today.
Another great song in that musical had this phrase: "it isn't HOT in the furnace, man; it isn't hot in the furnace, no that furnace is cool, cool, cool." When we performed the musical at the First Baptist Church, a college student named Ken played the role of cruel King Nebuchadnezzar. His performance was worthy of Oscar recognition. I'll never forget the night he got so "angry" that he shook his turban right off his head. The story about three men and a blazing furnace is recorded in the book of Daniel, and it illustrates what God's love does in the lives of His servants. This story provides scriptural basis for a powerful truth I challenge you to embrace today:
Every attack from the Enemy brings with it a divine invitation from the sovereign hand of God to learn by experience what love does.
If I did not believe that truth, I wouldn't be writing this book. I told you in the introduction that since I started writing I have been diagnosed with cancer, our church was flooded, and my daughter left home. What I have experienced may be more than what you have experienced in the past few months or less than what you have experienced recently. As I reference my personal battles, please know that in no way am I diminishing the battles you face. I am humble as I share with you that already I have experienced the love of God in each of these situations. Two of them (the cancer and flood) have impressively demonstrated the power and glory of God. And I am fully convinced that He will do the same, perhaps even bigger and better, in my daughter's life as well. Furthermore, I am convinced that God will also demonstrate His power and His glory in whatever circumstances you find yourself in today.
Every attack from the Enemy--every one--brings with it a divine invitation to experience what God's love does. Romans 8:28 speaks this truth:
"We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose" (hcsb).
Notice that this verse says that all things work together for good. All things includes cancer, diabetes, fibromyaligia, Alzheimer's, divorce, affairs, husbands addicted to pornography, floods, tornadoes, fires, wars, prodigal children, depression, and anything else that invades your life to steal your joy. all things includes...ALL THINGS.
....Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego determined to serve the Lord. That determination invited warfare into their lives. Their enemy created a furnace and threatened to destroy them. They resolved that if they died, they died. But either way, live or die, they were going to do so to the glory of God. So God took the furnace that was designed to destroy them and turned it into a place where they learned that they were "free to dance."....
...Have you ever danced in the fire? How did it feel? Read Daniel 3:26-30. As a result of their devotion to God, Shadrach Meshach, and Abednego were promoted to even higher positions of honor in the pagan empire of Babylon. And God was glorified. How might God bring glory to himself in the battles you face today?
Begin your prayer with this:
Father, I'm amazed at what your love does. When I face the "various trials" that come my way, teach me to recognize the "pure joy" that you supply with them (James1:2). When the devil attacks my life, remind me that attack comes with an invitation to experience what your love does. Help me to grow so in my faith that like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, I can choose to serve only. I love you, Lord. I trust you.....I want to bring glory to your name.
"God's love for you will never be removed."
Leighann McCoy is an author and speaker who helps women develop a never fail faith. She knows an unfailing faith is possible because she's no stranger to the tough stuff in life. Leighann has endured a personal battle with cancer, walked with her daughter through a teen pregnancy, and served for over 25 years as a pastor's wife. That's enough to test anyone's faith! Yet, in those experiences, she wasn't afraid to ask God the hard questions about disappointent, failure, and loss. What she learned changed her life and transforms the women she teaches.
(read more about writers from Contagious Joy) | 
