March 12th, 2024
by Tony Stephens
by Tony Stephens
Day 1: Embracing Our Shared Brokenness
Brokenness is a common thread that binds humanity; it is the starting point for divine restoration. Acknowledging one's broken state is not an admission of defeat but an opening for God's transformative work. This brokenness stems from sin, which has marred every aspect of human existence, leaving no one untouched. It is a universal condition that affects every individual, regardless of status or piety. The recognition of this shared flaw is crucial, as it humbles the heart and prepares it for the Potter's touch. It is not through self-improvement that one is reshaped, but through the divine intervention of God who, like a skilled potter, can reform the marred clay into a vessel of honor. This process begins with the gospel message of salvation, where one becomes a new creation, and continues throughout the believer's life as God peels away all that is not of Him. It is a journey that requires humility, a surrender of one's will, and a readiness to be molded according to the divine design.
"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
Reflection: In what ways have you experienced your own brokenness, and how can you open yourself up to God's reshaping work in your life today?
Day 2: Trusting in God's Restorative Power
The power of God to restore is unmatched and boundless. No matter the depth of one's brokenness or the distance one has strayed, God's capacity to remake and renew is infinite. This hope is not based on human effort or ability to self-repair but on the trust in God's omnipotence and His willingness to restore. The Potter's hands are not limited by the extent of the damage; rather, they specialize in creating beauty from the ashes of our lives. This restoration is not a one-time event but a continuous process where God works within to align the believer's life with His will. It is a transformative journey that encourages the letting go of self-reliance and the embracing of divine strength and guidance.
"And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." - Ezekiel 36:26
Reflection: Can you identify an area in your life where you need to relinquish control and trust in God's power to restore?
Day 3: The Journey of Sanctification Begins
Salvation is not the conclusion of God's work in a believer's life but the commencement of a lifelong journey of sanctification. This journey is marked by God's continuous shaping and molding of the believer to reflect His holiness and righteousness. It is an active process that involves the believer's participation through obedience and a willingness to undergo transformation. Sanctification is the Potter's hands meticulously working on the clay, smoothing out imperfections, and forming it into a vessel that serves His purpose. This journey is not without its challenges, but it is through these very challenges that growth and transformation occur. Believers are called to embrace this process, allowing God to work within them, changing them from the inside out.
"For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor." - 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4
Reflection: What is one step you can take today to cooperate with God's sanctifying work in your life?
Day 4: Softening Our Hearts Through the Spirit
The Holy Spirit is essential in the believer's life, convicting of sin and guiding back to righteousness. It is through the Spirit's work that one's heart remains soft and pliable, ready to be shaped by the Potter. The Spirit helps to guard against the hardening effects of sin and worldly influences, ensuring that the heart is receptive to God's transformative work. The Spirit's role is to maintain a state of openness and sensitivity within the believer, allowing for continuous growth and alignment with God's will. This divine influence is a safeguard against the rigidity that can set in when one is exposed to the deceitfulness of sin and the pressures of the world.
"And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules." - Ezekiel 36:27
Reflection: How can you cultivate a daily practice that allows the Holy Spirit to keep your heart soft and teachable?
Day 5: Delighting in God's Desire to Restore
God's desire to restore His children is driven by His profound love for them. He takes delight in the process of making His creation whole again. When faced with brokenness, it is comforting to remember that one is in the Potter's House, where skilled hands are eager to begin the work of restoration. This desire is not born out of obligation but out of a genuine longing to see His children thrive and fulfill their divine purpose. God's love is the force behind every touch of the Potter's hand, shaping and refining the believer into a vessel that not only serves a purpose but also brings glory to the Creator. The knowledge of God's loving intent should inspire believers to surrender fully to His lordship and embrace the restorative work He has planned for them.
"The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing." - Zephaniah 3:17
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt God's restorative work in your life. How can you continue to seek His restoration in current areas of brokenness?
Brokenness is a common thread that binds humanity; it is the starting point for divine restoration. Acknowledging one's broken state is not an admission of defeat but an opening for God's transformative work. This brokenness stems from sin, which has marred every aspect of human existence, leaving no one untouched. It is a universal condition that affects every individual, regardless of status or piety. The recognition of this shared flaw is crucial, as it humbles the heart and prepares it for the Potter's touch. It is not through self-improvement that one is reshaped, but through the divine intervention of God who, like a skilled potter, can reform the marred clay into a vessel of honor. This process begins with the gospel message of salvation, where one becomes a new creation, and continues throughout the believer's life as God peels away all that is not of Him. It is a journey that requires humility, a surrender of one's will, and a readiness to be molded according to the divine design.
"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
Reflection: In what ways have you experienced your own brokenness, and how can you open yourself up to God's reshaping work in your life today?
Day 2: Trusting in God's Restorative Power
The power of God to restore is unmatched and boundless. No matter the depth of one's brokenness or the distance one has strayed, God's capacity to remake and renew is infinite. This hope is not based on human effort or ability to self-repair but on the trust in God's omnipotence and His willingness to restore. The Potter's hands are not limited by the extent of the damage; rather, they specialize in creating beauty from the ashes of our lives. This restoration is not a one-time event but a continuous process where God works within to align the believer's life with His will. It is a transformative journey that encourages the letting go of self-reliance and the embracing of divine strength and guidance.
"And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." - Ezekiel 36:26
Reflection: Can you identify an area in your life where you need to relinquish control and trust in God's power to restore?
Day 3: The Journey of Sanctification Begins
Salvation is not the conclusion of God's work in a believer's life but the commencement of a lifelong journey of sanctification. This journey is marked by God's continuous shaping and molding of the believer to reflect His holiness and righteousness. It is an active process that involves the believer's participation through obedience and a willingness to undergo transformation. Sanctification is the Potter's hands meticulously working on the clay, smoothing out imperfections, and forming it into a vessel that serves His purpose. This journey is not without its challenges, but it is through these very challenges that growth and transformation occur. Believers are called to embrace this process, allowing God to work within them, changing them from the inside out.
"For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor." - 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4
Reflection: What is one step you can take today to cooperate with God's sanctifying work in your life?
Day 4: Softening Our Hearts Through the Spirit
The Holy Spirit is essential in the believer's life, convicting of sin and guiding back to righteousness. It is through the Spirit's work that one's heart remains soft and pliable, ready to be shaped by the Potter. The Spirit helps to guard against the hardening effects of sin and worldly influences, ensuring that the heart is receptive to God's transformative work. The Spirit's role is to maintain a state of openness and sensitivity within the believer, allowing for continuous growth and alignment with God's will. This divine influence is a safeguard against the rigidity that can set in when one is exposed to the deceitfulness of sin and the pressures of the world.
"And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules." - Ezekiel 36:27
Reflection: How can you cultivate a daily practice that allows the Holy Spirit to keep your heart soft and teachable?
Day 5: Delighting in God's Desire to Restore
God's desire to restore His children is driven by His profound love for them. He takes delight in the process of making His creation whole again. When faced with brokenness, it is comforting to remember that one is in the Potter's House, where skilled hands are eager to begin the work of restoration. This desire is not born out of obligation but out of a genuine longing to see His children thrive and fulfill their divine purpose. God's love is the force behind every touch of the Potter's hand, shaping and refining the believer into a vessel that not only serves a purpose but also brings glory to the Creator. The knowledge of God's loving intent should inspire believers to surrender fully to His lordship and embrace the restorative work He has planned for them.
"The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing." - Zephaniah 3:17
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt God's restorative work in your life. How can you continue to seek His restoration in current areas of brokenness?
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