Welcome to Week 4 of January 2020. I'm doing my Happy Dance right about now. Only 11 more days and we say kwaheri to Month One of 2020. I hope you are being intentional about each and every day and being awesome at it. On to this Week's Devotion, which is practically the first in 2020 *Does Happy Dance* {Again} - Safe In The Potter's Hands.
For some reason, I keep feeling like I've written about "In The Potter's Hands" before but I can't seem to find that post. Then again, I've lost count of the number of posts that get scripted in my head and never make it to the Blog. I have a teeny weeny feeling, this is one of them LOL!!!! I think it also feels very familiar cause it is one of the major lessons I learnt in 2019 - Karsh, You Are Safe In God's Hands.
Today's main text is from Jeremiah 18:1- 6 "The Word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying; 'Arise and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause you to hear My words'. Then I went down to the potter's house, and there he was, making something at the wheel. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make. Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 'O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?' says the Lord. 'Look as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!"
A little back story on the Israelites: The Israelites were constantly rebellious and turned away from God so called on Prophet Elijah to go down to the potter's house where he would be given a message for the Nation - thing is God loved this Nation despite their rebellious ways . I get fascinated by the Israelites cause they are a true reflection of how we are as Christians - or let me speak for myself - how I am as a Christian. The Israelites were stubborn, hard headed/hearted, rebellious, professional complainers & constantly provoked God even after all they witnessed Him do for them like delivering them from slavery in Egypt, settling them in the promised land & handing them victory as they battled against different nations. Anytime I read on the Israelites, it's like a mirror being held up before me and I can see such a clear reflection of myself it spooks me.
Back in school we had an Art & Craft subject which I must admit wasn't one of my favorites - I couldn't create stuff or even draw to save my life LOL. One of the lessons was on modelling, where we had a project to come up with an item made of clay. Sourcing for the clay was a task in itself especially cause it was not the rainy season. Most of us found not so "clean" clay as we collected it mixed with stones, some had grass while others had pieces of broken glass. Once we all had our clay, we soaked it in water for a couple of days to make it easier to separate the impurities and get it ready for modelling. Once the impurities were out, we moved on to kneading that mostly ensured that we get all the air bubbles out of the clay and have it as firm as possible. The teacher was categorical that we need to apply as much pressure on the clay as we can & even advised that we could throw it against a hard surface just to make sure all air is out before we start shaping it.These first two steps were critical as they eventually determined the quality of end product. Any clay that had impurities/air bubbles left obviously produced a not so good end product. Eventually, once we had our items, we had to subject them to fire in a kiln to harden them before we glazed and presented them for marking. It was both interesting and difficult to do.
It is interesting that God chose the Potter & Clay to depict the relationship that He had with the Children of Israel and in effect, the kind of relationship He has with us. Just as the potter takes the clay through the various processes, same applies to God. He takes us through:
Separation - when God draws to Himself - John 6:44 "No can come to Me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day" - from wherever it is He finds us, there is so much in us that He needs to separate and purge. He picks us up with all our sins and iniquities and washes us clean. Once we are separated from the sin that entangled us, He gets ready to prepare us to be vessels that He can use. The separation process is a hard one cause at times it involves letting go of relationships that don't fit into His plan, letting go of our comfort & luxury to pursue what He has for us.
Preparation - This is where God "Kneads" and "Shapes" us. The kneading can be painful cause it involves pressure. God takes you through seasons where every air bubble must be eliminated until we are able to withstand the pressure of being refined in the fire.
Purification - Fire purifies & hardens and for every clay item, it needs to be subjected to high temperatures to make it not only tough but durable. Once God takes you through the fire, He is assured that you are strong and can withstand whatever comes your way wherever He will send you.
Glazing - Once you are through the fire, God now gets to that part where you are beautified and presented as a finished vessel ready to do the works He purposed for you.
Most times when we see beautiful ceramic products, do we really appreciate the process that they have gone through? In effect, when you see a beautifully crafted vessel of God, do you take time to find out how their making process has been? Or do we just assume that they "woke up like that"? At certain points in your walk with God, I'm sure you go through either of these processes - you are either being separated, kneaded, shaped or being purified. So as we start this week, whichever stage you are at, I would like to encourage you to stay in God's hands, there is safety in the Potter's hands. He is carefully crafting you to be a vessel of honor, ready and available for His good works which He prepared for you.
Let us pray.
Heavenly Father thank you for this beautiful day that You have given us. Thank you for the opportunity to share what you have been teaching me - that there is safety in Your hands. Lord I pray for anyone reading who feels they are in a such difficult place and the process of being separated, prepared and purified is too difficult, may You give them grace. May you assure them that You have them in the palm of Your hands and are working on them & eventually they will come out purified, sanctified and ready for use for Your glory. I bless you, I commit this week into Your hands. I pray for the grace and patience to hold on to You even as You work on us. Most importantly, Lord give us the grace to remember that as clay is in the potter's hands so are we in Your hands.
Thank you, in Jesus name I pray. Amen.
Have an awesomely blessed week. God loves you.
For some reason, I keep feeling like I've written about "In The Potter's Hands" before but I can't seem to find that post. Then again, I've lost count of the number of posts that get scripted in my head and never make it to the Blog. I have a teeny weeny feeling, this is one of them LOL!!!! I think it also feels very familiar cause it is one of the major lessons I learnt in 2019 - Karsh, You Are Safe In God's Hands.
A little back story on the Israelites: The Israelites were constantly rebellious and turned away from God so called on Prophet Elijah to go down to the potter's house where he would be given a message for the Nation - thing is God loved this Nation despite their rebellious ways . I get fascinated by the Israelites cause they are a true reflection of how we are as Christians - or let me speak for myself - how I am as a Christian. The Israelites were stubborn, hard headed/hearted, rebellious, professional complainers & constantly provoked God even after all they witnessed Him do for them like delivering them from slavery in Egypt, settling them in the promised land & handing them victory as they battled against different nations. Anytime I read on the Israelites, it's like a mirror being held up before me and I can see such a clear reflection of myself it spooks me.
Back in school we had an Art & Craft subject which I must admit wasn't one of my favorites - I couldn't create stuff or even draw to save my life LOL. One of the lessons was on modelling, where we had a project to come up with an item made of clay. Sourcing for the clay was a task in itself especially cause it was not the rainy season. Most of us found not so "clean" clay as we collected it mixed with stones, some had grass while others had pieces of broken glass. Once we all had our clay, we soaked it in water for a couple of days to make it easier to separate the impurities and get it ready for modelling. Once the impurities were out, we moved on to kneading that mostly ensured that we get all the air bubbles out of the clay and have it as firm as possible. The teacher was categorical that we need to apply as much pressure on the clay as we can & even advised that we could throw it against a hard surface just to make sure all air is out before we start shaping it.These first two steps were critical as they eventually determined the quality of end product. Any clay that had impurities/air bubbles left obviously produced a not so good end product. Eventually, once we had our items, we had to subject them to fire in a kiln to harden them before we glazed and presented them for marking. It was both interesting and difficult to do.
Separation - when God draws to Himself - John 6:44 "No can come to Me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day" - from wherever it is He finds us, there is so much in us that He needs to separate and purge. He picks us up with all our sins and iniquities and washes us clean. Once we are separated from the sin that entangled us, He gets ready to prepare us to be vessels that He can use. The separation process is a hard one cause at times it involves letting go of relationships that don't fit into His plan, letting go of our comfort & luxury to pursue what He has for us.
Preparation - This is where God "Kneads" and "Shapes" us. The kneading can be painful cause it involves pressure. God takes you through seasons where every air bubble must be eliminated until we are able to withstand the pressure of being refined in the fire.
Purification - Fire purifies & hardens and for every clay item, it needs to be subjected to high temperatures to make it not only tough but durable. Once God takes you through the fire, He is assured that you are strong and can withstand whatever comes your way wherever He will send you.
Glazing - Once you are through the fire, God now gets to that part where you are beautified and presented as a finished vessel ready to do the works He purposed for you.
Most times when we see beautiful ceramic products, do we really appreciate the process that they have gone through? In effect, when you see a beautifully crafted vessel of God, do you take time to find out how their making process has been? Or do we just assume that they "woke up like that"? At certain points in your walk with God, I'm sure you go through either of these processes - you are either being separated, kneaded, shaped or being purified. So as we start this week, whichever stage you are at, I would like to encourage you to stay in God's hands, there is safety in the Potter's hands. He is carefully crafting you to be a vessel of honor, ready and available for His good works which He prepared for you.
Let us pray.
Heavenly Father thank you for this beautiful day that You have given us. Thank you for the opportunity to share what you have been teaching me - that there is safety in Your hands. Lord I pray for anyone reading who feels they are in a such difficult place and the process of being separated, prepared and purified is too difficult, may You give them grace. May you assure them that You have them in the palm of Your hands and are working on them & eventually they will come out purified, sanctified and ready for use for Your glory. I bless you, I commit this week into Your hands. I pray for the grace and patience to hold on to You even as You work on us. Most importantly, Lord give us the grace to remember that as clay is in the potter's hands so are we in Your hands.
Thank you, in Jesus name I pray. Amen.
Have an awesomely blessed week. God loves you.