Formed Day 7: Softening a Resistant Heart

Scripture:

“O Israel, can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay? As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand.” — Jeremiah 18:6 (NLT)

Devotional

Another reason potters relentlessly wedge and press the clay is to make it pliable. Clay that hasn't been worked is rigid, resistant, and incredibly difficult to shape. The constant pressing breaks down the resistance until the clay reaches a malleable state.

Here is a difficult but true reality of our spiritual formation: A hard heart cannot be shaped by gentle hands.

Often, we want God to just lightly touch our lives and make everything better. We want Him to decorate our lives without disrupting them. But God uses His Word, prayer, times of conviction, trials, and correction to act as the "pressing" that softens our hearts. He isn't trying to punish you; He is trying to get you to respond to Him. If you are experiencing correction or trials right now, it might be the Master Potter working out your resistance so you can finally be formed by His hands.

Reflection

In what area of your life have you been resistant or rigid toward God's direction?

Prayer Prompt

Father, I confess that I have allowed parts of my heart to become hard and resistant to Your leading. I yield to the pressing of Your Word and Your conviction. Soften my heart today. I don't want to be rigid; I want to be pliable and responsive to Your hands. In Jesus' name, Amen.