“So, as the Holy Spirit says: ‘Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert, where your fathers tested and tried Me and for forty years saw what I did.'” ~ Hebrews 3:7-9, New International Version
Our Sunday School lesson was about this very scripture. I am familiar with it and also familiar with the phrase, “Do not harden your hearts.” As I sat on the church pew listening intently to the teacher, my mind’s eye began to see a potter molding and shaping a ball of clay.

What is it Lord? I asked. What are You showing me?
He quickly reminded me of Isaiah’s words, “You, O Lord, are the potter and we are the clay.” 
I closed my eyes to see more clearly. I could see the wet clay spinning round and round on the potter’s wheel, the Master’s hand caressing it, applying pressure where needed, a gentle touch here and there. But over to the side, lying on the floor was some clay that had become hard – dried out. It was brittle and broken – mere shards of a vessel that was.
This, child, is a picture of a hardened heart. I cannot penetrate it with My love. It has refused My Living Water and has thus become calloused, withdrawn from Me and now lies in the shadow of My hand. I can no longer mold and shape this heart into the beautiful vessel I desire. I try to pour the love of My Living Water onto its surface, but I am quickly rejected and my Water runs off and pools at My feet. If only the hardened heart would allow Me to lift it up and hold it tenderly. I would bathe it in My love. My tears would soak through the hardness and make it pliable once again.

Life has a way of dragging us away from our Father’s love. We shut down when the enemy taunts us with his lies. The fiery darts come fast and furious. We slink away into the shadows hoping to hide from the One who made us. And in those shadows far away from His loving hands, the Water of His Spirit seeps out and drains us dry. Our once pliable heart becomes hardened. Calloused. Brittle. But the Potter? The hand of the Potter reaches into the shadows every time and beckons us to come. He never gives up on us as He pursues us with His love.

Let the water of His love wash over you today.

Father, Your love is beyond our comprehension. Thank You for never giving up on us. Shape us Lord, mold us into a vessel for Your glory. Please forgive us for allowing our hearts to become calloused and hardened to Your sweet whispers of love. Stir up a hunger and thirst for Your Word – the Living Water that keeps our hearts soft and pliable in Your mighty hand. You are amazing God. We love You so much and we desire to be all that You want us to be. Blessed be the Name of the Lord! Hallelujah!
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