Formed Day 16: Pulled From the Inside Out

Scripture:

“I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world... Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.” — John 17:14, 17 (NLT)

Devotional

Once clay is centered on the potter’s wheel, the potter shapes it by pulling the walls upward. This pulling process requires two equal forces working simultaneously: pressure applied from the inside of the vessel outward, working alongside guidance on the outside. Formation happens from both the inside and the outside.

In John 17, Jesus prays to the Father about the ultimate tension of our spiritual formation: we are called to be in the world, but not of the world. God uses this exact tension to stretch and expand us.

Internal formation occurs as God’s Word and Spirit fill our hearts, pushing outward to build spiritual strength. External formation happens as we navigate living in a world that doesn't share our values. God uses this daily tension to pull our faith upward, shaping us into vessels that reflect His truth.

Reflection

How are you allowing God's truth on the inside of your heart to push back against the outward pressures of the world?

Prayer Prompt

Lord, thank You for forming me from the inside out. As You stretch and pull my faith upward, help me yield to Your Spirit within me so I can stand firm in the world without being shaped by it. Amen.