Psalm 66:10-12 “For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried. You brought us into the net; you laid a crushing burden on our backs; you let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance”.

Sometimes in our lives we go through a very rough period.  We wonder if we are coming or going!  In this place we are ebbing but not flowing…where the waves of life seem to batter us face down into the sand!  It is at times like these that we need to realize that the Potter is at work, Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.  He is shaping us and making us into what He would have us be. When He is done we will be refined and able to stand the test of time.

As I reflected on these truths I wrote the following poem and will share it with you to strengthen your faith as an anchor for your soul:

Preparing me to be a

Sanctuary

Purified as gold

And yet I resist

Being Pounded &

Shaped like mindless

Clay

I fight You off

Every chance I get

BUT

You call me to

Go through the Refiner’s

Fire

To submit my desires

To Your crushing Mill

I cry out as I am

Pushed out of the

Shape I know

BUT

You are the POTTER

Not me

You know what You are

Making me to be

So as You purify me

Help me to stop putting up

Resistance

And let You work!

PRAYER

Father it is clear that I don’t like pounding but I trust You and I know you are carefully shaping me into the creature of destiny for the purpose which You have called me for.  Forgive me for fighting you and trying to do things my way.  I rest in you and hand over my wants and wishes to you, knowing that whatever you do is well done.  In the name of the Father who speaks the created word over me, the Son whose blood redeems me and the Holy Spirit who words of truth shapes me.  Amen