Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste. He spoke and said to his counselors, "Didn't we cast three men bound into the middle of the fire?" They answered the king, "True, O king." He answered, "Look, I see four men loose, walking in the middle of the fire, and they are unharmed. The appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods. Daniel 3:24-25 WEB.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were tied up and thrown into a furnace that King Nebuchadnezzar heated seven times hotter than usual, especially for them. The furnace temperature was so high that it killed the guards trying to throw them in, so they all tumbled into the blazing furnace together.

The three Hebrews were probably not thinking, "Oh, what a blessing this is to have befallen us today" while falling into the flames. Yet, when they reached the bottom of the furnace, they found they were not alone, for the Lord Jesus Christ met them in the fire.

Later, when the Hebrews came out of the furnace, they didn't even smell like smoke. Their clothes had not burned. Only the ropes which bound them were burned off. They were now walking around "unbound and free." The thing that had a grip on them and once held them so tightly was now burned away.

Sometimes the Lord will use the fire to set you free. The things that bind you will quickly burn away in the furnace of affliction. The baggage we cling to will burn away, and we tend to get a new perspective on what is really important. When you come out the other side of the furnace, you will be "Unbound."

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I trust You today, for You know what it takes. Please send me the Comforter as you promised. Deliver me and meet me in the furnace. Set me free from the things that hold me back. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!

Note: "Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray.” James 5:13 ~ If you have a prayer need, we are here for you! We and the prayer team are ready to lift you up at our private prayer page: RHM Prayer Network. If you are interested in joining the prayer team, here is how to get started Prayer Partners.