Laurie Hopkins

The Lord had given the land to the Israelites. 
The previous verse tells us that the land was subdued before them.
 But they still hadn’t possessed the land.  Joshua gave them direction to actively, “rise up”, and “go through” the land and survey it.
What “land” has God promised you today? 
Have you actually taken possession of it? 
Often we wait on answers to our prayers, when in reality the Lord has already given us the land we have asked for and he is waiting for us to go out and possess it. 
Today is a day of intentionality. 
Today is a day of activity. 
Today is the day to RISE UP, GO THROUGH the land which the Lord has already given you and begin to survey all that it encompasses. 
That is the first step in possessing the land.
You can’t possess what you don’t know and don’t claim as yours. 
Begin to claim it. 
Survey it. 
And then possess it.
It is yours!

Do you believe the Word of the Lord to be true? 
Do you believe the Word of the Lord to be applicable in your life? 
In several places, the Word compares our lives to that of clay on a Potter’s wheel.
In this process what is the clay responsible for? 
The clay is only responsible to lay on the wheel, mouldable and pliable. 
It doesn’t decide what the Potter is making; it doesn’t offer the Potter tips on how to make a better piece of pottery; it doesn’t cry out each time the Potter stretches it or forms it into various shapes.  There is an intimate trust between the clay and the Potter.
The Potter believes that the clay knows its role and will remain pliable. 
The clay knows that the Potter is a master at moulding nondescript and common clay into something beautiful. 
The Potter knows what the clay needs.
When the clay begins to harden, the Potter adds a bit of water here and there to soften it gently.
When there is a flaw part way through the process, the Potter knows to flatten the clay out and start again.
Through it all the clay seeks to stay mouldable and pliable in the hands of the master and expert. 
We say that we believe the Word and that it is applicable to our lives. 
Are we clay?
Is the Lord our Potter? 
Do we seek to be pliable and mouldable in His expert hands? 
Or do we offer suggestions on what He will make us into and cry out at every stretching, offering tips to the Lord to help Him out?
Do we recognizing the waters of refreshing He sends us to soften us? 
Do we recognize His Hand in those areas that seem to be deconstructed and fall apart for no reason?  Is there an intimate trust between us and our Lord? 
A knowing that He has a plan and He knows what we need? 
Today, if we truly believe the Word and truly seek to apply it to our lives, let us become like the clay on the Potter’s wheel.
Always seeking to be mouldable and pliable in the hands of the Master Potter who we know will take our lives and make them into something beautiful.

Do you believe the Word of the Lord to be true? 
Do you believe the Word of the Lord to be applicable in your life? 
In several places, the Word compares our lives to that of clay on a Potter’s wheel.
In this process what is the clay responsible for? 
The clay is only responsible to lay on the wheel, mouldable and pliable. 
It doesn’t decide what the Potter is making; it doesn’t offer the Potter tips on how to make a better piece of pottery; it doesn’t cry out each time the Potter stretches it or forms it into various shapes.  There is an intimate trust between the clay and the Potter.
The Potter believes that the clay knows its role and will remain pliable. 
The clay knows that the Potter is a master at moulding nondescript and common clay into something beautiful. 
The Potter knows what the clay needs.
When the clay begins to harden, the Potter adds a bit of water here and there to soften it gently.
When there is a flaw part way through the process, the Potter knows to flatten the clay out and start again.
Through it all the clay seeks to stay mouldable and pliable in the hands of the master and expert. 
We say that we believe the Word and that it is applicable to our lives. 
Are we clay?
Is the Lord our Potter? 
Do we seek to be pliable and mouldable in His expert hands? 
Or do we offer suggestions on what He will make us into and cry out at every stretching, offering tips to the Lord to help Him out?
Do we recognizing the waters of refreshing He sends us to soften us? 
Do we recognize His Hand in those areas that seem to be deconstructed and fall apart for no reason?  Is there an intimate trust between us and our Lord? 
A knowing that He has a plan and He knows what we need? 
Today, if we truly believe the Word and truly seek to apply it to our lives, let us become like the clay on the Potter’s wheel.
Always seeking to be mouldable and pliable in the hands of the Master Potter who we know will take our lives and make them into something beautiful.