Yielding in trust to the transforming work of God in us, is a daily process. My friend Rachel Roark was describing to me encounters she had with Jesus during Lent, in which daily they visited the Potter’s House to partner in caring for her soul. I was so encouraged by her experience, that I invited her to share it with you.
Rachel:
I grew up in church and a Christian home, but I was well into adulthood before I learned about the observance of Lent. Lent is a time to remember the 40-day fast and temptation experience that Jesus had in the wilderness as recorded by the gospel writer Matthew in chapter 4:1-11. It begins on Ash Wednesday and marks the period of 40 days preceding Easter. Lent is a season of refocusing, remembering, repentance, and renewal. During these days many people choose to fast from something that they deem a distraction or disturbance in their lives, while others choose to take on something that they believe will enhance or refine their walk with God.
As the Lenten season approached this year, I began asking God how He would have me observe this ancient church practice. A couple of weeks prior to Ash Wednesday while in a counseling session, I saw my soul personified as a crystal clear, diamond-like structure in my abdomen, reflecting beautiful streams of rainbow-colored light as a prism would in the sunlight. It was as if God was letting me see how my soul could be transformed to reflect His glory if I were to fully surrender to Him.
On the morning of Ash Wednesday (March 5), I got up early to begin my 2025 Lenten journey of pursuing God’s presence and work for this special time. I decided I would spend 5-7 minutes in prayer while listening to instrumental soaking music then see what the Lord would show me. Each day became an interesting and enlightening experience. I found during my prayer time that I would usually see myself having some kind of encounter with Jesus. One day we might be in the woods walking and talking, another on a high mountain overlooking a beautiful landscape, still another sitting on the sand watching the waves roll in toward the shore on a beach. One of my favorite places to go with Him is a beautiful field full of tiny white flowers where we end up splashing around in a crystal-clear stream. The landscape of our destination changed each day, but the follow-up to those experiences always led to the same place: the Potter’s wheel.
Every morning after prayer, I found myself looking on as Jesus spun common brownish- gray clay on a wheel. I knew right away that this was a representation of the soul work He wanted to do in me. Some days I would see Him remove things from the clay, small items like a feather, a pebble, or a speck of dust. Other days the items He removed would be simple images like a tiny brain, a lightning bolt, or teardrop. Then I began to see Him change the way He molded the clay, one day making the vase-like structure look shorter and wider like a bowl. Another day, He allowed it to get wobbly and disfigured so that He could stabilize it once again. On some of my favorite days, He would appeal to my other senses like showing bubbles rising from inside the structure to pop, or wafting aromas above the wheel to fill the atmosphere around us. A couple of days He let me place my hands on the clay with His, feeling how He was holding the clay steady, but never expecting me to do the work alone.
Seeing these images daily was amazing, but the most beautiful thing about this experience was that He never left me wondering what I was to understand. Some days I would ask questions and others He would just tell me. “These antique eyeglasses are to show you that I want to change how you see your life.” or “These lumps that formed on the side of the clay represent the bumps of life that can affect your soul.” Every day my observation would change, but His hands never left my soul clay. The wheel continued to spin, and He continued to work. Even on days when I felt weary, and the work felt hard, He was persistent, gentle, and kind. I never opened my eyes feeling ashamed.
“Here is the word YAHWEH spoke to Jeremiah: ‘Arise and go to the potter’s workshop, and I will speak to you there.’ So, I went to the potter’s workshop and there was the potter spinning his wheel. And whenever a piece of pottery turned out flawed, he reworked it into another vessel, as seemed good to the potter.” Jeremiah 18:1-4 TPT
Steps in Pursuit
- Take some quiet time with God in the early morning, or on a lunch break. Close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, and imagine Jesus standing before you and see where He might take you. If this is challenging for you, picture yourself in a “happy place” that you love and imagine Jesus being right there with you. See what kind of adventures might unfold.
- Try imagining a potter’s wheel. Ask the Father to show you things that might be hindering your relationship with Him or others. Be willing to confess any sin or shortcomings and don’t be offended if He reveals something that needs to change. Remember, He is a kind and gentle Savior, who longs to shape you into a beautiful work of art on display for His glory.
- Record in a journal the encounters that you have with Father, Jesus or the Holy Spirit. Revisit these places and allow the encounters to continue, as you grow in your spiritual discernment.
The loving encounters that we can experience with God are endless as we trust him to complete the good work he has started in us.
I pray with great faith for you, because I’m fully convinced that the One who began this gracious work in you will faithfully continue the process of maturing you until the unveiling of our Lord Jesus Christ! (Philippians 1:6, TPT)
Continue the Pursuit,
Denise
