Quote from Forum Archives on November 10, 2002, 9:44 am

Posted by: wrather <wrather@...>

Please sign the GuestMap at The Burning Bush website.  You can plant your country's flag on the map and leave a message.  You can find it on the front page at http://www.theburningbush.org

Today’s devotional was written by my son, Clark Wrather, who is the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Broken Bow, Oklahoma.  Clark may be contacted at fbcbb@pine-net.com.  The Scripture and title have been added.

The Burning Bush Devotional
11.11.02

Hearts of Clay

“Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, in the day of trial in the wilderness, where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, and saw My works forty years.  Therefore I was angry with that generation, and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart, and they have not known My ways.’  So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest.’”  - Hebrews 3:7-11.

“Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘Today,’ lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”  - Hebrews 3:12-13.

No one had ever told me about the red clay around here!  Last week, we had to dig a 3 ft. deep pit fit for cooking a pig (For a youth event.).  The first 8 or 9 inches went by quickly, then we hit this awful red clay.

The clay would stick to your shovel.  It was hard to remove.  Eventually, we had to get a pickaxe and pummel the clay over and over and over again.  You can probably imagine how much fun this was….

Finally, the pit was the right depth, because enough red clay had been chipped away.  The hole was now ready for a big fire and a fine swine. 

I know several people who have hearts that seem to be molded out of the same red clay.  God has to hammer away at them.  Sometimes it seems like He uses the spiritual equivalent of a pickaxe.  Unlike me, God’s not wanting to roast a pig in there.  He does chip away at your heart for a purpose.

You see, God wants to enlarge His home in your heart.  He wants to fill you completely with His Holy Spirit.  Sometimes, we are so stubborn that God has to get out his pickaxe or dynamite to knock out that “red clay” in our hearts.

It is so much easier when we ask God to fill us up and actually let Him do it.  Our hearts become like sand and His Spirit flows into every aspect of our lives.

Copyright © 2002. Ed Wrather. Permission is given for use of the
devotionals on a non-profit basis with source credited.

If this devotional is a blessing to you, maybe you have a friend or family member who would like to start receiving it.  Subscribing is easy.  Send a blank email to burningbushdevo-subscribe@MyInJesus.com or to subscribe to the html version send a blank email to burningbushhtml-subscribe@welovegod.org  If you desire to receive a text only version of the devotional you can make the change yourself by going to www.injesus.com click "Click Here" in the upper right hand corner login with your email address and password click the My InJesus tab at the top of the page click the My Profile in the My InJesus box on the left click Pure text.

If I can help you in any way please contact me at wrather@logixonline.net

Subscribe to the Burning Bush Prayer Group. Send and receive prayer
requests to over 300 members. Send a blank email
to:  BBPG-subscribe@MyInJesus.com

Subscribe to the Burning Bush Inspirational Group. Send and receive
inspirational material to over 100 members. Send a blank email
to: bbinspire-subscribe@MyInJesus.com

Subscribe to the Burning Bush Restoration and Recovery Group for those with
addictions or recovering from addictions. Receive devotionals and
inspirational material directed toward those with addictions. Send and
receive prayer requests. Over 200 members. Send a blank email
to: tbbrr-subscribe@MyInJesus.com