Clay in its natural form is common and has no great value. However in the hands of the potter, a lump of clay can be made into a beautiful and useful vessel.
“Be still my soul! the Lord is on thy side; Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain; Leave to thy God to order and provide; In every change He faithful will remain. (Be Still My Soul, Katherina A. von Schlegel, 1752).
“Be still my soul thy best, thy heavenly Friend through thorny ways leads to a joyful end…”
Sometimes, God just doesn’t make sense, but it is said that His ways are NOT our ways! Perhaps we do best to remember, we are but ‘lumps’ of clay.
Jeremiah 18:1-6, Amplified:
18:1-6, The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2 “Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will make you hear My words.”3 Then I went down to the potter’s house, and saw that he was working at the wheel.4 But the vessel that he was making from clay was spoiled by the potter’s hand; so he made it over, reworking it and making it into another pot that seemed good to him.
5 Then the word of theLord came to me: 6 “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?” says the Lord. “Look carefully, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.
“Be still my soul! thy God doth undertake To guide the future as He has the past. Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake; All now mysterious shall be bright at last…”
Psalm 62:5-12, NIV: 5 Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
my hope comes from him.
6 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
7 My salvation and my honor depend on God[a];
he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
8 Trust in him at all times, you people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge.
“Be Still my soul, thy best Thy heavenly friend, through thorny ways, leads to a joyful end…”
Psalms 62:6 For God alone my soul waits in silence and quietly submits to Him,
For my hope is from Him.
He only is my rock and my salvation;
My fortress and my defense, I will not be shaken or discouraged.
7 On God my salvation and my glory rest;
He is my rock of [unyielding] strength, my refuge is in God.
8 Trust [confidently] in Him at all times, O people;
Pour out your heart before Him.
God is a refuge for us. Selah.
“Be still my soul, the waves and wind still know the Voice who Ruled them, when He dwelt below…”
9 Men of low degree are only a breath (emptiness), and men of [high] rank are a lie (delusion).
In the balances they go up [because they have no measurable weight or value];
They are together lighter than a breath.
10 Do not trust in oppression,
And do not vainly hope in robbery;
If riches increase, do not set your heart on them.
11 God has spoken once,Twice I have heard this:
That power belongs to God.
12 Also to You, O Lord, belong lovingkindness and compassion,
For You compensate every man according to [the value of] his work.
TODAY, I am speaking to myself today in Psalms and hymns…but remembering as well that God is holy, and God is just:
Jeremiah 18:6-10, Amplified: 6 “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?” says the Lord. “Look carefully, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel. 7 At one moment I might [suddenly] speak concerning a nation or kingdom, that I will uproot and break down and destroy; 8 if that nation against which I have spoken turns from its evil, I will [a]relent and reverse My decision concerning the devastation that I intended to do. 9 Or at another time I might [suddenly] speak about a nation or kingdom that I will build up or establish; 10 and if they do evil in My sight by not obeying My voice, then I will reverse My decision concerning the good with which I had promised to bless them.
Be still my soul! the hour is hastening on When we shall be forever with the Lord. When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone, Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still my soul, when change and tears are past, All safe and blessed we shall meet at last. “
Praying today Lord, “Our Father in heaven , hallowed be Your name, Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven…lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,… ”
Please let these words not be said of us Lord when You look at our individual hearts, we weep today for our nation…The words written in Jeremiah 18:15-17:
‘Yet My people have forgotten Me;
They burn incense to worthless gods,
They have stumbled from their ways
From the ancient roads,
To walk in pathways,
Not on a highway,
16
Making their land a desolation and a horror,
A thing to be hissed at perpetually;
Everyone who passes by will be astounded
And shake his head [in scorn].
17 …I will show them My back and not My face
In the day of their disaster [says the Lord].’”
“…forgive us our trespasses and we forgive those who trespass against us…for Yours is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory FOREVER, amen. ” (The Lord’s Prayer, Matthew 6).