I was putty in her hands, turning into a wet noodle when she slowly massaged my sore and aching muscles. Oh, how I needed this after the stressful week at work! She picked up my arm and rubbed from shoulder to fingertips. I didn’t resist. I didn’t pull back. I allowed her to move my arms, legs and neck in any direction she wished, in order to do her job. She was a professional masseuse, and knew what she was doing.
Next, she worked on the hard knots in my shoulders, and the stiffness in my neck. Her knuckles kneaded into my skin. Deeper and deeper she pushed, trying to loosen my tight muscles. As uncomfortable as this was, I knew I would be more flexible afterward.
The Lord has been working on me too. Kneading into my strong will, trying to break the knots of resistance I have; the resistance to doing His will. I push against Him, causing stress and tension in my life.
Cease striving, He tells me. Let Me do My work in you. Be flexible…your way is not THE way.
I tend to rush ahead, focused on my “to-do” list, and what I want to accomplish. With my head down, I hurry along, checking things off the list. I have tunnel vision, missing the fine details around me. I can’t even see that life is passing me by in a blur.
“Wherever you are, be all there.” Jim Elliot
Barreling forward, head hanging down so as not to be distracted, I feel the kinks forming in my neck and shoulders. I am tired, working in my own strength. I need to stretch. So I look up.
Looking up to Christ stretches and eases the tension in my body. I relax and allow Him to move me any direction He wishes. I let Him rub out the rough spots in me, molding and shaping me into a better likeness of Him. I surrender to a deeper dependance on Him.
When I am putty in Christ’s hands, He shapes me.
Day by day, I become more pliable in His hands. When I cease striving, stop working against Christ, He uses me. He allows me to join Him in His work, doing His will. I am what He makes me to be.
“Still, God, you are our Father. We’re the clay and you’re our potter: All of us are what you made us.” Isaiah 64:8 MSG
Lord, may we all be putty in Your hands, moldable into Your likeness, doing Your will. In Jesus name, Amen
Are you letting Christ knead out your resistance?
Until next week,
Joining in with Kelly Balarie @ Purposeful Faith #raralinkup, Holly Barrett @ Testimony Tuesday and Jennifer Dukes Less @TellHisStory
What a joy to read today’s post and connect with you, Ellen. The correlation between a massage (ahhhh!) and being clay in the hands of the Potter hit the target. I do desire to let Him knead out any resistance in me. Have Your way, Lord.
Hope your weekend overflows with wonderful, Ellen!
Kristi, thanks so much for stopping by! Oh that we would submit to the Lord as easily as we do to the masseuse!
Thank you, Ellen! I know I need to stop resisting and let God do His work. I’m such a control freak! I’m going to bookmark this post so I can read it again as needed when I feel myself taking charge:)
Oh, Kristine, me too! It’s so hard to just let it go! Thanks for stopping my!
Ellen! You’ve been posting weekly! Yay! Progress! And this is a beautiful one. I love this analogy. I love how ordinary becomes extraordinary in the Potter’s Hands. I want to be molded. Kinda dumb to resist Him, but I do it sometimes!
Yes, Betsy! Weekly! A SMART goal! WOO HOO!
A beautiful analogy that reminds me of one of my favorite Sixpence None the Richer songs …
I’m like Thomas doubting
Fingers routing the scars in your wrists and side
Touching flesh will make my mind believe
But I want to be, like David
Throwing his clothes to the wind to dance a jig, in my skin
And be remade by your cleansing again
I give you myself, it’s all that I have
Broken and frail, I’m clay in your hands
And I’m spinning unconcealed
Dizzy on this wheel, for you my love
I’m like Peter crying, crowing burning my ears
Still you come near, you take my hand
And place it upon an eternal chance
I give you myself, it’s all that I have
Broken and frail, I’m clay in your hands
And I’m spinning unconcealed
Dizzy on this wheel, for you my love
***
God bless and thanks for sharing.
Thanks beautiful! Thanks David, for stopping by and sharing those lyrics!
Beautiful! Yes- he kneads my knots of pride and fear- willing to continue until I’m reshaped and beautiful. Thank you for this encouraging message- Loved it!
Thank you Karen! I appreciate you stopping by! Reshaping sometimes is painful, but in the end, we are more like Christ!
I do love me a good massage! As I read this I was so caught up in your story. I tend to be a Martha and miss some good stuff. I will remember this analogy because it will remind me to relax, let Him do the work. Love it friend!
Thanks sweet friend!
This is such a beautiful message. I especially loved this quote “Wherever you are, be all there.” Jim Elliot Thanks for stopping by my blog earlier. Blessings to you.
Hello new friend! Thanks for stopping by! Love your blog!
Wow Ellen! Great minds think alike (or at least your mind is – ha!). I actually wrote a similar thing about getting a massage and letting go for another site. How true it is. I think we need to get more massages so that way we can let go more. 😉 No really, you are SO right, we we are putty, he shapes us. Praise to Jesus. Let us just fall into his hands, so his hands can do the work. Great words, which I was delighted to read. Cheering you Ellen, cheering!
Yes, Kelly! More massages! If they would remind me to be putty in His hands, they would be well worth the money spent! Thanks for stopping by to cheer me on! I appreciate you!
“Wherever you are, be all there” – I struggle with this. Being present and in the now. My husband is great at it – soaks up the moment while I’m over there wringing my hands about tomorrow. I desire to trust Him more than that. Such a great post for me tonight. Thank you.
So glad you enjoyed it Melody! I am a hand-wringer myself, and get caught up in my own little world that I forget to look around me! Thanks for stopping by!