God Is The Potter, We Are The Clay
But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. Isaiah 64:8
Have you considered this verse – God is the potter and we as the clay? What it means and why this analogy? Me too! I look at beautiful pieces of pottery and think what patience and talent these potters have. Pottery with delicate roses and birds on its surface. It must take a lot of patience to do that much delicate forming by hand. I see perfectly round bowls and mugs and think what talent that must be – mine would be crazy lopsided! As for plates and platters with intricate designs decorating them, I think what an artist they are. To have patience and talent to create something so exact and pleasing to the eye! When you look at yourself do you think that about our God? What patience and talent He has to make you the person you are with the exact skills needed to fulfill His purpose.
What We Learned in Pottery Class
My daughter and I had a chance to take a pottery class a few years ago. We learned quite a bit as we shaped our bits of clay into the final product. It helped me to understand how God shapes us like a potter shapes clay.
Shape the Clay with Water
First, the clay must have water added to make it pliable in order to work with it. God starts shaping us by His living water that is within us. The living water that He gives us is the Spirit of Him that lives within us. It allows us to bring life and light to the world. This is how we bring Him to others – the Spirit in us reflects how we act, how we serve, and and how we speak to others.
But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life. John 4:14
Potter Needs the Clay To Be Centered
The next step is to put the piece of clay in the center of an electric wheel. The wheel will then start to spin slowly. You can then use your hands to start the molding and shaping process with the clay on the wheel. If is not centered it will fall apart and become really hard to work with.
The clay is centered on the wheel so the potter is able to create a perfectly shaped vessel. You must have Jesus and God at your center in order for God to shape you. When you do this He can shape you for His purpose and create a vessel to do His will. And this creates balance, peace and understanding in your life and where your path is.
Slow Process to Mold, Shape and Transform the Clay
The potter knows what that lump of clay that is slowing spinning on the wheel is going to be. The potter is shaping the clay with gentle hands. But also uses a hand that delves deep in the center for it to become their vision. God does the same.
God knows exactly how you will be shaped, He is the potter after all. He gently shapes us with situations and molds us with His Word. God transforms us by delving deep into us. He then can remove anything toxic that prevents us from having a close relationship with Him.
The Potter’s Final Touch
When the lump of clay is finally formed it must be smoothed and imperfections snipped away. God does the same with us. He prunes away relationships, places, and things that are preventing a vessel in you that is wholly pleasing to God.
How The Potter Shaped Me
I know God shapes and molds me on a daily basis. I know that He has made me the daughter of the One True God. He has made me a mother, a daughter and a sister. God created me to have a creative mind. And has given me a purpose to help others find the beautiful in themselves and in their homes. You can read more about my story here.
I know that I live my life on His strength. This clay vessel He has formed is all because of Him and His blessings. Blessings in the form of shaping me
- by transforming my life.
- by pruning places, people and things from me.
- and being the center of all that I do.
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 2nd Corinthians 4:7
Before You Fly Away …
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