THE POTTER'S HANDS

Genesis 2:7

Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground and breathed

into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being.

The Potter has set aside clay jars for sacred use. He is waiting to shape and mold His beloved bride. The Potter's goal is to form the clay into a beautiful vessel, expecting that vessel to be used for His great pleasure, He want to fill the vessels with His very being, permeated through and through with His perfect peace.

2 Corinthians 4:7

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing

power is from God and not from us.

God designs different vessels for different purposes. A vessel fit for the Master's use.

1 Corinthians12:27

All of you together are Christ's body, and each of you is a part of it. Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church: first apostles, second, are prophets, third are teachers, then those who do miracles, those who have the gift of healing, those who can help others, those who have the gift of leadership, and those who speak unknown languages.

WHEN THE CLAY ISN"T BEING FORMED AS PLANNED

Jeremiah 18:1

Then the Lord gave another message to Jeremiah, He said, "Go down to the Potter's shop, and I will speak to you there," So I did as He told me and found the Potter working at His wheel. But the jar He was making did not turn out as He had hope, so He crushed it into a lump of clay again and started over.

The Potter had power over the clay. The defects could remain, or He could reshape the pot, (Our choice). The Potter's favorite job is reshaping and molding that broken, cracked, clay jar.

RECOGNIZING THE EXTRAORDINARY WORK

OF GOD IN OUR EVERYDAY LIVES

The process of reshaping a clay jar:

1. Searching- The clay has to be pliable to reshape. The Potter searches for humble hearts wanting to be transformed.

2. Cleansing- The clay has to be cleansed before the Potter can reshape the clay. As we surrender, the cleansing process begins. He takes our sins and throws them in the sea of forgetfulness. Our filthy hearts are purified, and He washes us in His mercy, we're washed in the blood of His sacrifice. And a robe of righteousness is placed on us.

3. Transforming- The Master Potter uses our broken, shattered lives to mold a clay jar into something that is useful, beautiful, and valuable. Because of our past wounds, shattered dreams, fears, doubts, and loss, our vessels have cracks in them. The enemy uses our weakness and slides his way into those open cracks to derail us from our purpose and defines us by our past. This is what the Potter says to you today, "I was there in your brokenness. I was there in your depression. I was there when you were rejected by your family and friends. I was there when you were hurt by the church. I was there when your health was being challenged. I was there when you were addicted. I was there when you were abused. I was there when you lost all hope and despair. I was there when you went through that divorce. I was there when your finances were down to zero. I was there when you lost that loved one. I was there when you were betrayed. I was there when you were barren. I was there when you miscarried. I was there when that wayward child left. I saw it all. I saw every tear that was shed and I bottled those tears. Will you release all your pain and hurt into my hand? I want to be the Master Potter in your life. I want to fill those cracks in your heart with my love and seal them with a holy kiss. I want to replace that stoney heart with a heart of flesh. I want to place dreams, visions, purpose, and destiny in my beautiful clay vessel. Now, I sit back and marvel at the beautiful piece of pottery that I recreated. It brings me great pleasure to watch your new beautiful life unfold before my eyes. My child, I love you with an everlasting love."

4. Pressure- It takes pressure to form a clay pot. As we are yielded, the Potter applies pressure to that pot to help form the clay jar. In James1:2 "When trouble comes your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy." For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So, don't fret when trials come your way, know that the Potter is walking right alongside of you. He never leaves us. Remember, that pressure has to be applied because he is trying to mold us into His image. The Potter is trying to produce good fruit in His vessel. Love, Joy, Kindness, Patience, Gentleness, Self-Control, Longsuffering, Goodness, and Faithfulness.

5. Fire- The temperature of the furnace has to be at a desired setting, so that the clay can harden. The clay has to be heated slowly, if not the water in the clay turns to steam and could explode. In this journey with the Potter, the heat gets turned up at times. As we're walking with the Lord, we will go through purification processes. Only His fire can purify us. The Potter has to burn out anything that is not of him in order for his vessel to be used properly. And everything that comes forth from the vessel has to glorify the Master Potter. We will go through persecution and some intense trials and wonder where is the Potter but remember the fourth man in the fiery furnace that was with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

Our lives are depicted as honorable vessels. The Potter views the clay as His valuable treasure. Will you allow the Potter to place you on His spinning wheel? Will you trust what He wants to do in and through you? He is waiting on our yes. He is the master at renewing broken things. I surrender my life to the Potter's hands. Draw me, that I may know you. Set me apart and make use of me.

Blessings, Jennifer