A Lump of Play-Doh

Written by Barbara Alpert

Is God shaping you today? Come talk to a mentor.

“Yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter, we are all the work of your hand.” (Isaiah 64:8)

Several weeks ago, my grandson received the Play-Doh Fun Factory as a gift. For those not familiar with this toy, you put mounds of colorful Play-Doh into the press and squeeze it out the other side to form various shapes. You can cut stars, hearts, moons, and mold a variety of animals and people with your hands. The sky’s the limit! You can form all sorts of adorable looking critters out of a mere lump of Play-Doh.

While engaging in this lighthearted activity, we are the potter and the Play-Doh is the clay. We have the creative ability to form, shape, and create whatever our heart desires. However, such is not true as followers of Christ. We are to submit our lives into the hands of God. He is the potter and we are the clay. He is our creator and we are the work of His hands.

Our best reaction is to surrender our lives into His hands and let Him mold, shape and transform us into the vessels He desires. In Romans 9:20-21 we read, “But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’ Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?” He shapes each one of us into a beautiful vessel that is usable for His kingdom. If we resist this transformation process, we become a hardened piece of clay that is neither soft nor pliable in His precious hands.

Jesus said in John 15:1-2, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”

When our lives are in the Potter’s hands, He will press, cut, and remove whatever He chooses. The molding, forming, and cutting away process at times is hard to fathom, but we know that God has a plan. The transformation process can be painful but afterwards He has a vessel that is usable.

Heavenly Father, We submit our lives into your hands. We ask that your Holy Spirit will transform us from the inside out into lovely vessels designed for the great purposes you have ordained for each one of us. In Jesus’ name, Amen

Questions: Have you placed your life in the Potter’s hands yet? Is He currently molding, pruning, and reshaping your life?

Tags: devo, Devotional, God's plan, Isaiah 64:8

6 Responses to “A Lump of Play-Doh”

Loading comments
kanj says:

February 13, 2012 at 9:42 pm

Jamie,
Perhaps standstill was the wrong word. Perhaps dis-quieted was more what I meant to say. I’m struggling but I will not allow this struggle to linger. It can’t. I know that Jesus is encouraging me all the way because the Holy Spirit is supplying the strength and guidance.
Jamie says:

February 13, 2012 at 12:40 pm

Kanj, what do you mean ‘at a standstill’? How do you know that Jesus is there encouraging you?
kanj says:

February 11, 2012 at 7:06 pm

God is and has been molding, pruning and reshaping my life. I’m in my 5th year now, in and through Jesus Christ and as late, even though I’m finding myself at a ‘standstill’ if you will, I know that He is there for me, encouraging me.
Alfred says:

January 11, 2012 at 8:53 pm

What is it in my life that I last complained about? Was the molding / pruning a pain for me? When will I ask to see the bigger picture, to look for opportunity in every difficulty, and thank our Maker for greater assignments? No one said growth would be easy, but we are assured that it is always rewarding! Let’s pray: Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You for growth experiences, for You alone know what we are capable of (with You). Also, You have a plan for a each life, and we are privileged to be Your co-worker. May the love, patience, faith, and joy (that all come from You) be helping us to serve You. Thanking You, we pray in the name of Jesus, our intercessor. Amen.
Denise says:

January 7, 2012 at 6:09 pm

Loved this! Thank you for sharing. I am Nanny of an almost three old and a 9 month old. Often we play with play dough and I think of this alot. Her and I talk about what shape Jesus wants us while we are molding and making little animals and letters of the alphabet. I tell her I want God to shape me into a joyful person so I make a smiley face and she laughs. She tells me she wants to be a kitty that purrs. I asked her what does purring mean and she said the kitty was happy. So I said, yes, Jesus wants her to be a happy little girl, and she replied, “yep” and I smiled form ear to ear. :-)
Pauline says:

January 7, 2012 at 12:58 pm

Im needing this….I want and need God to mould me and shape me into what He wants me to be.I want to be pliable in His hands….but I do tend to think He needs help…….