I have an affinity for flowers and plants that has increased over this past year. Flowers have always been an inexpensive addition to my home that quickly adds vibrancy and joy. Last week, I walked into the grocery store to purchase a few items. Upon entering, my eyes were drawn to a beautiful flower I now know is called a Protea. I was overdue for my weekly floral purchase, so it was a no-brainer to take her home with me. 

I wish I could articulate how the presence of this flower instantly put a smile on my face. I showed my appreciation by having an amateur photoshoot in my living room to capture the moment. (The finished product is my post thumbnail.) 

Several days after bringing my Protea home, I was sitting on my sofa in prayer. The Lord told me to investigate further her characteristics. At the time, I could not recall the name of the flower and turned to Google for assistance. Approximately ten minutes later, the answer emerged. 

As I read about the Protea, this sentence struck me: 

They bloom well after wildfires because their outer layer is scorched, causing latent buds to eventually emerge.

"Fascinating Facts to Know About the Protea, South Africa’s National Flower."

Truth be told, I have always been intrigued by wildfires. Being a California dweller has introduced me to their sobering reality. I have met people who lost their homes, drove past live flames on the freeway, smelled burning in the air, and seen ash on my car. I am fully aware this is no light matter. However, I believe we can learn from them. There is a lesson God wants to teach us. 

Before I could fully appreciate what God wanted to convey through my Protea, I needed to understand more about wildfires. As I continued to research, I stumbled upon an article posted on the California Government website. Below are various benefits of wildfires they identified:

Fire removes low-growing underbrush, cleans the forest floor of debris, opens it up to sunlight, and nourishes the soil. Reducing this competition for nutrients allows established trees to grow stronger and healthier. History teaches us that hundreds of years ago forests had fewer, yet larger, healthier trees.

An attribute of God seen all throughout the Bible is connected to fire. I want to hone in on one verse in particular for our conversation. Hebrews 12:29 teaches us: "God is a consuming fire."  If we replace the word "fire" in the text above with "God" and considered ourselves to be the forest, what would uncover?

The fire of God identifies, addresses, and removes deep-rooted issues of the heart. The fire of God cleanses us from the junk within us, opens our eyes to see His light, and allows for our souls to receive the nourishment it needs daily. His fire reveals distractions and nutrient suckers. Our hearts become fertile soil that produces lasting fruit. When His fire burns in our lives, we are like trees, planted by rivers of water, bearing fruit in season, whose leaf never withers, and everything we do prospers. (Ref Psalm 1:3)

As I sat with this, I was left in awe. Friend, God is ALWAYS speaking. It is our duty to be in a posture to listen. He never disappoints.  

Now that we have a working comprehension of wildfires, let us revisit the statement I shared earlier about the Protea. 

They bloom well after wildfires because their outer layer is scorched, causing latent buds to eventually emerge.

Simply put, if we are the Protea, the fire burns away the things keeping us from manifesting the gifts God placed inside of us. These gifts are for us to share with the world, with the ultimate goal of introducing and leading people back to HIM. 

When you encounter the fire of God, while the process can be painful, there is such a great reward on the other side. It is more than gifts being discovered. It is about becoming more like Jesus. 

My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. Galatians 2:20

So I encourage you to allow the fire of God to burn in your life. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you as a consuming fire. Allow Him to deal with the parts of you that need to die. Yield to His hand of correction. Obey even when it is hard, unpopular, and counter-cultural. The truth is, this is not about you. It is about the people He wants to reach through you. Are you willing to let the fire burn in your life? 

That is a question only you can answer. I pray your answer is yes.