JoAnn's Spiritual Lessons

We ask God to mold us into pure vessels; Isaiah 29:16'

Isaiah 29:16
"Surely you have things turned around! Shall the potter be esteemed as the clay; For shall the thing made say of him who made it, 'He did not make me'? Or shall the thing formed say of him who formed it, 'He has no understanding'?"
NKJV

 

Imagine...the God of the universe who spoke stars and galaxies into existence is the very one who formed you into the person you are today. Your eyes, nose, hands and feet were all created by the One who holds the oceans in the palm of His hands. I don't know about you friend, but that is a humbling image. What great comfort to know that the God of all things created me the way I am and yet, He still desires to mold and make me more and more like Jesus.

Of course, this process is tough and quite messy. There's a lot of molding, cutting and carving that seems painful at the time but in the Master's hands, we become a masterpiece. When we fully submit our lives to God, He is able to take hardened clay and bring new life to it by wetting it with His Word and Spirit. He then begins shaping us into the image of His Son by scooping out the excess clay that is weighing us down. He then prepares us for His service and writes on us His name because we now belong to the Master. Friend, if you find yourself enduring hardship or trials, know that the Father is molding you into a vessel that He can use. It may be difficult, but we can trust His hands because He loves us and knows what's best.

Life Lesson: We are the clay and God is the potter

Dear Father,
Thank You for the forgiveness of sins through Jesus. Thank You for saving me and changing my life. Lord, I pray that You would take this broken ball of clay and make it new. Mold my life into what You desire. Help me to see the hardships in my life as the Master's hands shaping me more into the likeness of Jesus. Use my life for Your world and Your glory. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Living to tell what He died to say,
Pastor David McGee

My Comment: God is surely molding us through all the trials and tribulations we have and go through. Before we come to know Him who loved us so much He sent His only begotten Son to us to be born in a stable and His Son Jesus suffered for our sin by dieing on the Cross to take our sin upon Himself. He knew no sin yet became sin for us so that we might live eternally with Him. Amazing!

Before we knew Him who offered to save us we found trials and tribulations and they were allowed in our lives so we would turn to God and accept His Son as our Savior. He did this because He loves us and wanted us to be with Him eternally. Then when we accept His Son as Savior we go through trials and tribulations to mold us and shape us into what is pure and acceptable to Him so we may be His and live with Him. When we come to Him and are His we find joy even in the pains of life because we know we are His and when we pass from this life we will be with Him and there will be no more pain or suffering.

Molding can be painful. Surely the cutting away of our sin nature is painful yet the vessel we will be will bring Him glory and through it all we may be used to bring many to the saving grace of Jesus the Christ. As the trials of our lives and the suffering of our bodies and the pain of losing our loved ones come into our lives may we all turn to Him for our strength, comfort and may we find joy in Him.

Abba, we are the clay in your hands and we bring our sufferings, trials and tribulations before You who loved us from the beginning mold us and make of us what You will. You are the Beginning and the End the First and the Last, the Alpha and the Omega and we praise and glorify Your Holy Name. Thank You Father for Your love and for caring about us so much that You sent Your Son to bring us salvation.

Abba, we ask You to give us strength, wisdom and understanding in all You have allowed us to go through. May we find joy in serving You and helping to bring others to the glory of Your salvation in all we think, say and do. Give us Your peace Father so we may glorify Your Holy and Wondrous Name. Lift us up in Spirit so that no matter what we are asked to go through we will not falter nor fall. Help us to lean on Your understanding and fill us with Your knowledge. Lord place Your words in our hearts and minds and on our tongues that we may find strength and wisdom for ourselves and others. Jesus thank You for showing us The Way and for seeking us out to share in Your Kingdom. Thank You for filling us with Your Holy Spirit and showing us the way to pray. Father may it be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Amen

Rebishka