Thought for Friday, May 24th

May 24, 2013

The Refinement

And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.

Jeremiah 18:4-6

“One small crack does not mean that you are broken, it means you were put to the test and didn’t fall apart.”

-          Linda Poindexter

God has promised to never ask or expect more from us than what He knows we are capable of handling.  I don’t know, if you, as I have ever taken opportunity to question God with regards to His perspective versus yours.  I have often felt that God was a little over zealous and maybe, like some of us parents, a little biased because we are His kids, in what the reality of what is really possible might be.  Yet when I reflect on this and talk to God about it: He reminds me that in and through Him all things are possible, if I will only believe.  He also reminds me that if I would exercise my faith enough I could move mountains and that most of the things I am able to do are not because of anything so great or wonderful about me: but rather because I have His Spirit living in me and working through me.

When viewed from His perspective, it would seem that His expectations are only limited by our faith and obedience: not by a lack of potential or possibility.

Growing up; we are often told we can be anything we want to be, if we are willing to apply ourselves and work at it: and spiritually speaking there is a similar truth that can be applied: we can be anything God wants us to be, if we are willing to yield, surrender and obey.

So the next time you want to question God about His expectations: maybe it might be a great opportunity to reflect on how submissive you have been to His refinement process.

God will not ask you to do or endure anything you are not capable of – the question is: are you willing to allow Him to be the source and power that it takes to get you through?

Prayer:

Father, help me to move beyond the ‘I don’t think so:’ or the ‘I think I can’ mode of thinking, that I often get trapped in: and help me to embrace the ‘I know I can’ attitude that comes from a life fully surrendered to You and then help me follow through with the surrendering part.