Christian Devotionals

Cheryl writes: "The Lord saved me when I was 30. I am now 68. I have been writing poetry since I was saved. I have been married to my husband Marcelo (also a believer) for 48 years. We live in Arizona. We have 3 children, 6 grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren. I love the Lord Jesus Christ with all my heart, soul, and strength, and living for Him is my greatest desire.  In 2014, I wrote and had published a book called, 'Tali's Mysterious Dream', (thank you Jesus)!"

Jeremiah 18: 1-4 KJV

The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.  Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.  And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

I do not keep a literal diary, this devotional is simply written using a diary entry as a theme.

Shortly after I came to know the Lord as my personal Savior, I was going through an extremely difficult period in my life.  It was at that time I wrote My Trip To The Potter’s House.  Since then, by God’s grace, I have grown somewhat in my spiritual walk.  I now know that God is a good God.  He is a faithful God.  A God I can trust.  We need not fear His plans for us.  He always does right Genesis 18:25.  

Dear Diary,
The Lord has spoken to me and told me to “Arise and go down to the Potter’s house.”  You notice He said said “down.”  Mountain tops are up, victories are up, but the road to the Potter’s house is always down.

I really don’t want to go, and I don’t even know if I can.  I’m already dying inside, and I know what is in store for me, “down” at the Potter’s house.  At that place, construction goes on.

Hard callous scales are chipped away.  Spirits are crushed, and hearts are broken.  No, I can’t bear anymore; already I feel in my heart that I will refuse to go. 

You notice verse 2 says for “Me to arise and go.”  It’s my choice.  I don’t have to worry; God won’t physically carry me down there.  He won’t force me to go kicking and screaming.  The choice is mine.

Now, what are my alternatives?  I can run and turn back, and just forget it all.  Admit I wasn’t cut out for this type of work or I can stay right where I’m at.  After all, I’m not totally useless to the Lord.

I have had some surgery done on me in the past, at the Potter’s house, and then remember Diary, I even went without hesitating.  For a brief moment, the alternative of staying where I am floods my mind again.

The Potter has cut me before, but now it would truly begin to hurt, because each time He cuts and molds, the more it hurts.  It’s like a splinter Diary, if it’s only on the top layer of skin then there is no problem, but the deeper it is, the more pain is inflicted to have it removed.

Dear Diary,
I have a choice to make, and I don’t have much time to make it.  Either I turn back and forget it all, or stay the same.  

I know if I stay the same, I will become stagnant, like water that is drawn and just left uncared for.  If I choose to remain the same, it will be the same thing as saying, “Forget it all, and turn back” for in time, that is exactly what will happen.

Luke 9:62 keeps going through my mind, where Jesus says, “No man having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God.”

I know in my heart, Diary, what I must do.  Oh, how I dread it!  I wish like the cowboy days that I had a bullet I could bring to bite on.  But I don’t.  All I have is the obedience to “arise and go” and the faith and assurance that the Potter will apply even pressure as He lovingly and carefully, molds me, and that His loving, gentle, but firm, nail scarred hands will uphold me within.

As I travel “down” to the Potter’s house, I am reminded of Isaac, how he went to the altar not knowing what to expect, but believing that his father loved him and had his best interest at heart, he submitted.

Dear Diary, 
I am at the Potter’s house now.  The journey down here was almost as difficult as having the Potter actually place me on the grinding wheel.  But every time the wheel goes around, and God shapes me His vessel, He holds me even more tightly inside.  And I’ve gotten to where I look forward to the clicking sound of the wheel as it makes a complete turn, because every time it goes around, He says, “Oh my, how I love you!”

The Potter isn’t finished with me yet, for this is extremely intricate work, and my Father only knows perfection.  But Diary, He put verse 4 of Jeremiah chapter 18 in the bible to remind me, that when He is finished, I can write to you and say, “So He made it again, another vessel as seemed good to the Potter to make it.”  Praise God!    

(© 2018 Cheryl A. Mariano AKA Cheremiah – All rights reserved. Written material may not be duplicated without permission.)