I know what I want! I can picture it, I can dream it. I can even plan it. I have an idea of what I would like to see happen in my own life and even in the lives of those I know and love. The problem with what I want, even though it seems good, is often, it is probably not really what I need according to God’s plan for me.
Consider. The circumstances you thought would go one way and ended up going another. The plans you made that were thwarted. All of the dreams and ideas you’ve held on to for a time that you’ve eventually learned to let go of. Have you ever said or thought to yourself, ‘I’m so thankful things didn’t go the way I wanted’? Praise God for His intervention in our plans, for not always giving us what we want or fulfilling the picture we carry in our mind for our own life!
Consider. The goal. To be more like Jesus. To grow in the way I think, to have no lapse time between understanding and the light bulb finally turning on, and to have my desires line up with His will in all things. To bring honor to His name. These goals are not the kind I can draw out a plan for, follow it, and see the wanted results achieved. To become more like Jesus is not a curriculum I can follow in a class to complete or a diet to count calories and measure portions for success. This is God’s work in me. All I can offer is a willing heart and unwavering trust in His plan. Obedience to God’s will requires the desire to give up my own tarnished will. I’ve purposely used the word desire because it is incredibly hard to give some things up. Without even realizing it, we can hold so tightly to our wants, our goals, and our plans. I am unable on my own to just turn off my desires for some things. I need Jesus to literally change my heart to want His plans for me. He does do this and it is truly amazing to look back at the things that used to be important and hold value for me. I realize that I don’t care so much about former things, I think differently! God has taken my desires and changed them to line up more with His will. Incredible.
God knows my heart better than I do, therefore His path set out for me is best because it will bring about what I truly need in order to continue to be molded in His likeness. Have you ever watched an artist design something out of clay? They take a lump of clay that looks like all the others and begin to pinch and pull and knead to create something that is one of a kind, with its own uniqueness. Sometimes, additional tools are used to smooth out the rough areas or to carve out distinctive lines. After all the initial shaping is done, color may be added. Perhaps subtle or maybe bold, whatever the potter has in their mind’s eye. The potter alone understands the purpose for its use once it’s finished. Then, comes the firing. Heat – extreme heat – turned up between 1,500 – 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. And we’re still not done, because often a glaze is added before a second firing at a lower temperature.
In the book of Isaiah, the nation of Israel looks to God as their Judge, their Comforter and their Redeemer. Once we get to chapter 64, their prayer continues with acknowledgement of God’s power and their transgressions. Following their confession of waywardness, in verse 8, we find this sweet scripture of recognition of God’s sovereign care and control of His children who have returned to Him. Repentance and obedience bring us to the place of dependence on God for His work in our lives. Think of the scenario. Here is a nation who has rejected God, His holy temple has been decimated, yet they know they can still appeal to Him as their Father for His mercy. This is a kind of love that is beyond the reach of human capability.
Isa 64:8 But now, O LORD, Thou art our Father, we are the clay, and Thou our potter; and all of us are the work of Thy hand.
“Even though O Lord by your just judgment you may utterly destroy us as the potter may his pot, yet we appeal to your mercies, by which it has pleased you to adopt us to be your children.” Geneva Bible Notes
I especially love the technique used for the clay sheep I have sitting on my desk. (You can read more about where it was purchased in my blog, thensingsmysoultothee.com, titled, Sheep published February 1, 2018. The artist pinches lumps of clay into shapes. The idea of pinching is sometimes how I feel God is working in my life. Ouch! It is not pleasant to be pressed and squeezed. Or to have pieces of myself nipped off. It is often painful as God changes my heart to be more in tune with His own. It hurts when my sin is exposed and cut off from the source. I often don’t understand that an area even needs a bit of readjusting. But the Creator sees the whole beautiful finished piece of work that He is making with His hands. He is preparing me for Himself to bring glory to His name here on earth and to forever be with Him in Heaven.
Please continue this study on Isaiah 64:8 by clicking on this link.
