God is the potter ( or maker of pottery) and you are the clay. If you’re familiar with the process of shaping and finishing a pottery vase made on a potter’s wheel, you know that lump of clay “goes through a lot of changes” before it becomes a beautiful work of art. The potter starts out by kneading the clay (like you knead bread) to remove air bubbles; then he shapes the clay into a ball before placing in on the wheel. The clay is occasionally sprayed with water as the potter applies physical pressure with his hands to add shape and give height to the lump of clay as it is transformed into a vase. The newly formed vessel is taken off of the wheel, trimmed and then placed into a high temperature oven (kiln).

Next there is a final round of decorating, glazing and another session in the kiln to “bake in” the colors and design details. Notice that the clay endures both pressure and heat before it can be displayed as a finished vase. Looking at your own life, you can ask yourself whether you are really ready to have the Potter apply His hand to your life. Do you cringe and pull back when He touches you? Do you complain when you are going through a trial because it seems like a hot oven or fiery furnace? If we want to become more like Christ, then we have to stay on the potter’s wheel and be willing to endure both pressure and heat. No one enjoys being placed in challenging circumstances but you can choose to stay unmolded as a lump of clay or you can choose to become a vessel of God, divinely shaped by the Heavenly Father.

Pray the Word:
Father, in the name of Jesus, I submit myself to You this day, allowing You to mold me and shape into the image of Your Son Jesus Christ. Make me more sensitive to Your desires and commandments. Give me a heart of total obedience to Your Word, that I may be committed to both hearing and doing Your Word. Amen.

Scriptures:
Jeremiah 18:1-6
Romans 8:29
James 1:22

Have you ever been hurt by someone so deeply that the only thing you could do was think about what they did and how angry you feel? Have you ever been so worried about a situation that you couldn’t focus on anything else? If you have ever let yourself get caught up in that endless loop, you probably didn’t realize that you can make a choice to think about something else. Don’t set yourself up for worry, anger and frustration when the Bible says you should think about things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely and of good report.

You may wonder where you can find anything good to “think about.” The answer is right there in front of you—God’s Word—the Bible. Think about how much God loves you (John 3:16). Think about His promises of prosperity and increase (Psalm 115:12). Think about the fact that God’s Word will endure forever (1 Pet. 1:25). Think about God’s promise that He will never fail you nor forsake you. (Deut. 31:6). Think about His faithfulness and mercy (Lam. 3:23) If you displace thoughts of worry, anger and frustration with thoughts about God, you’ll find that your perspective will change. Instead of being caught in a cycle of “down” thoughts, you’ll be on top of the situation because God’s Word will provide you with godly insights and perspectives that will change your thinking.

Pray the Word:
Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus I cast down every thought and vain imagination that is contrary to the truth of Your Word. Your Word says the thoughts of the righteous are right; my purposes, plans, and thoughts are aligned with Your Word. I renew my mind daily with the Word of God and meditate on the Word of God day and night; therefore, I have good success. I am not conformed to this world but I have been transformed by the renewing of my mind. I prosper because worldly thoughts do not influence or entrap me; I do not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of the scornful. Thank you Father that Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Amen.

Scriptures:
2 Corinthians 10: 3- 6
Romans 12: 1-2
Psalm 119:105
Psalm 1: 1-3

When a house is being built, the contractors and workers follow a blueprint — detailed written specifications that indicate exactly where to erect walls, install plumbing fixtures, install wiring for electrical connections, etc. Without that master plan or blueprint the house could not be properly constructed and would, therefore, not be approved for occupancy or use.

Before the foundation of the world, God developed a plan for your life in Christ. Sadly, many have not taken time to seek God’s plan but are building a house on their own terms according to a seriously flawed “sketch”, not even a blueprint.

Jesus taught that a foolish man built his house on sand (meaning erroneous beliefs or spiritual principles) and when the rain, floods and wind beat upon the house, it fell. In other words, the house could not withstand external pressures and storms. To avoid personal destruction of your house, meaning your life, you must build according to God’s blueprint which is His Word. Following God’s blueprint for your life will enable you to withstand the storms of sickness, financial challenges, family problems and other crises. When your house is built on God’s Word, you can withstand problems and pressures of life.

You’ve got to stay in close fellowship with God through prayer, however, to see and understand His plan for your life and bring it to pass. Would you rather build a house that can withstand rain, wind and floods or would you prefer a house that will collapse in a storm? The answer is obvious. Just choose to obey God; seek His Plan for every area of your life and build accordingly!

Pray the Word:
Father, in the name of Jesus, I trust You with my whole heart, leaning not to my own understanding. Lead me, guide and and direct me according to Your perfect will for my life. Amen.

Scriptures:
Proverbs 3: 5,6
Matthew 7:24-29
Jeremiah 29:11-13

There is no substitute for fervent prayer. Rather than worry and wring your hands about a challenging situation in your life, you can pray about it. Sometimes prayer is viewed as a last resort, something you do after everything else has failed. That’s not the correct Bible perspective.

Prayer has to be a top priority in your life and should precede every decision and action you make. In fact, prayer should become an integral part of a your lifestyle. That’s why the Bible states we should pray without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17) Prayer is to the believer like water is to a fish. Jesus taught His disciples to pray and personally demonstrated that an effective prayer life was essential in His ministry. In Luke 6:12 the Bible states that Jesus went out to a mountain and prayed all night. In the Garden of Gethsemane just prior to His crucifixion, Jesus prayed that the Father’s will, not His own will, would be done. In the book of Hebrews, the Bible states that Jesus, even today, makes intercession for us. (Hebrews 7:25)

James 6:17 states that Elijah, a man like us, prayed so effectively that his prayers impacted the weather, first causing rain to cease and then causing rain to come. In the Old Testament, Elijah prayed that a widow’s dead child would come to life and the child lived . The Bible states “And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah: and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.” (1 Kings 17:22)

From the examples of both Jesus and Elijah, we can see that effective prayer can mean the difference between life and death, between doing the will of God or doing your own will. Viewed from that perspective, it is important to know how to pray. There are several keys to a having an effective prayer life. Pray God’s Word which is His Will. Then you have confidence that He will bring His will to pass in your situation. Do not complain and do not pray the problem (1 John 5:14,15). Pray in faith, believing that you have received the answer to your prayer. (Mark 11: 24) Pray with a clean heart (free of sin, unforgiveness and selfishness). Pray fervently; pray earnestly; pray with expectancy. Rest in the promise that God’s ears are open: “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous and his ears are open to their prayers.” (1 Peter 3:12).

Pray the Word:
Father God in Heaven, Your Word says that Your ears are open to my prayers for I am righteous in Your sight. I thank You that Your perfect will is done in earth as it is in heaven according to our prayers. Help me to become a mighty prayer warrior. Amen

Scriptures:
James 5:16-18
1 John 5:14,15
Matthew 26:36-46

If you feel overwhelmed — like things are caving in on you – then go to the spiritual position that is above your problems. That spiritual position is what the psalmist referred to as the rock. When you are flying in an airplane, houses, trees and even tall skyscrapers look tiny when you look down on them from the airplane. Those same objects don’t look small when you are standing at street level, however. The same holds true for your problems. When you look at things from an earthly, rather than divine perspective, you feel like there’s no hope. But if you build your faith by hearing the Word of God, studying the Word and meditating on the Word, then you will have a different, victorious perspective regarding your problems or circumstances.

Being overwhelmed means that you see your problems as bigger than yourself and even bigger than God . But can any problem be bigger than Almighty God, El Shaddai? Can any problem be too hard for God, the creator of heaven and earth? Luke 1:37 states that with God nothing shall be impossible. The Bible states: “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” (Isa. 26:3). Going to the Rock means that you focus on God and His Word – seeking His direction and guidance. Then you will be assured of coming through your trial victoriously.

Pray the Word:
Father, I thank You that You are my rock, my shelter, and my strong tower. I keep my mind focused on You – reading, studying, speaking and meditating Your Word. Therefore, I shall remain in perfect peace, protected from the enemy. Amen.

Scriptures:
Luke 1:37
Isaiah 26:3
Romans 10:17
Philippians 4:13

At the top of your priority list each day should be spending time with God — reading His Word, praying and listening. Mary understood the importance of that but Martha liked being busy. In today’s society, Martha might be considered a “Type A” hard-driving personality who always has something going on. But let’s get practical. Every car owner knows that if you drive your car around without refilling the gas tank , sooner or later you’ll end up stranded somewhere when the car runs out of gas. We tend to treat our inner being – our spirit – as if it does not need to be fed. However, Jesus stated that man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4)

Jesus even referred to Himself as the “Bread of Life.” (John 6:35) We rarely let our physical bodies go without food; when hunger pains strike we head to the refrigerator or the vending machine at work. If you are feeling stressed out, discouraged, depressed or burned out, that’s the spiritual equivalent of a physical hunger pain. It means that you need to follow Mary’s example; she sat at the feet of Jesus and heard His Word. To alleviate spiritual hunger pains you need to “feed your spirit” with the Word of God. Here’s a practical tip that might help. Set aside some quiet time today to read your Bible. Psalm 23 is a wonderful place to start. Read it out loud and then meditate on God’s promises – abundance, guidance , peace, comfort, and protection from evil.

Pray the Word:
Father, I come to You in the name of Jesus, thanking You for Your Word. Your Word is life to me, worth more than gold and silver. I purpose in my heart to order my steps and my priorities according to Your Word. Today and every day I seek first the kingdom of God. Amen.

Scriptures:
Luke 10:38-42
Matthew 4:4
Psalm 119:72, 97, 133
Matthew 6:3