Consuming Fire

Deuteronomy 4: ²⁴ For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.

Deuteronomy 4 and Hebrews 12 address obedience and talks about God being faithful to correct those He loves.  Fire is unique in that as it forces an oxidation reduction reaction in the fuel, it forever changes the fundamental molecules involved.  Often the fuels involved, such as gasoline, are large, complex molecules that get broken down into simpler, non-reactive elements. 
God uses two cleansing elements in His creation: water and fire.  We remember the cleansing we receive in Christ's death, burial, and resurrection at our baptism upon accepting Him as savior.  I wonder though, as we journey from that point of justifying grace through the remainder of life experiencing God's sanctifying grace if at times God uses fire to break down barriers to a more pervasive control of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  Our hold on idols in our lives can be simply impossible for us to break on our own.  Fortunately, we are set free from the requirement to do this on our own as Christ has placed himself in us via the Holy Spirit to do what we cannot do on our own.  Breaking these walls must at times break down my complex character into simpler elements so that I can become more like Christ.  
Are you going through difficult trials, times, or circumstances?  Could God be allowing you to go through the crucible of a cleansing fire to change you into His likeness?  I pray that I welcome His correction such that become more like Him and am therefore useful in His service.