Recently, we brought home some orange Play Doh and gave it to our daughter Kaiah on the occasion of her 17th birthday. That’s a bit of an unconventional gift, right?

Well, we purchased it in a half-joking way on behalf of “Team Hobbs,” which is the name of endearment we have given our YouTube family. Some of the channel’s subscribers follow along with the shenanigans of the Hobbs family. They get to know me, hubby and our four children through videos posted on YouTube twice weekly—Wednesday and Sunday.

So when Kaiah’s birthday rolled around, I told her with a wink that Team Hobbs had picked out her gift: Play Doh.

Now, any other teenager might not have been amused. They might have even been insulted by such a gift. But not our Kaiah. She enjoyed it. You see, Kaiah makes things out of clay as a hobby. Over the years, she has requested several different tools and various types of clay for her creations. It is absolutely fascinating to see how she takes a lump of clay, molds it, shapes it, bakes it, paints it and fashions it into exactly what she wants it to be. Her process is brilliant and amazing.

On a recent vlog, Kaiah filmed herself squishing the Play Doh design she created on camera between her fingers. With one squeeze, it was ruined … unlike her clay designs. The clay creations, after being molded, are put in the heat, which hardens them and makes them durable. So when they’re squeezed, they don’t fold.

Earlier today, as I was thinking about Kaiah’s giftedness in molding clay, I thought of God, our Heavenly Father, who calls Himself the Potter and us His clay. He molds us into whatever He wants us to be as long as we’re willing to stay on the Potter’s wheel. He also uses the heat of fiery trials to make us strong.

We must be willing to submit to the process it takes to become the beautiful, blessed and radiant vessels of honor God has destined us to be.

I was reading Jeremiah 18 today. In this chapter, God tells Jeremiah to go down to the potter’s house. So, when he gets there, the potter who makes bowls, pots, plates and other pottery by hand is in the middle of molding a lump of clay on his wheel. But suddenly, whatever he’s making gets ruined. So the potter simply molds the clay into something different.

Seems simple enough.

But God was using this moment to make an important point. He told Jeremiah in verses 6-11, that the clay represented His chosen people Israel and the potter represented Him.

Israel was in God’s hands and He could fashion the nation into something beautiful—if they cooperated with His will. But they didn’t. God wanted to bless Israel and elevate them as a nation, but sin and rebellion marred that plan. What they became depended upon their response to God.

Obedience meant blessings, favor, protection and prosperity. Disobedience meant forfeiting all the benefits they would receive for acknowledging and honoring Him as the only true and living God. Sadly, verse 12 depicts Israel as being rebellious and stubborn, and saying, “We will continue with our own plans.”

But for someone reading this, you feel the opposite way. You have willingly committed your plans to the Lord, which makes you a perfect candidate to receive all He has in store. You are completely open to God’s plan and you want Him to make something beautiful out of your broken life. Because of that, God is going to do just that. He is going to fashion you into something more amazing than you would ever believe.

Your willingness to forfeit your plans and give up your selfish desires, and say yes to His will has set you up to be on the receiving end of an abundance of favor from the Potter.

Though it’s not always easy staying on the Potter’s wheel as He spins you around, molds you and then places you into the flames so you will be sturdy and able to endure, you have done it anyway. You have cried, but you stayed on His wheel. You have been hurt, but you stayed on His wheel. You have been frustrated and confused, but you stayed on His wheel. You submitted to His way. You have said yes to Him.

So watch what extraordinary things He does next in your life! He has dreamed a bigger dream for you than you have for yourself. He has an even greater vision for your life than you have. Your expectations will be exceeded. You are in His hands and He is lovingly shaping you into the masterpiece He predestined you to be. You have cooperated with God, so you will reap rewards.

He’s making something better than good out of that seemingly unremarkable lump of clay that is your life. Get ready to be exceptionally blessed. The Potter delights in the faithfulness of the clay. As uncomfortable as the heat has been, because you did not abandon Him to escape the pain of refinement, He will do more than what you have asked and better than what you expected.

You will reap rewards.

The next time you feel a bit low, discouraged, and frustrated with God’s plans, meditate on Isaiah 45:9 NLT, which says, “"What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator. Does a clay pot argue with its maker? Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying, 'Stop, you're doing it wrong!' Does the pot exclaim, 'How clumsy can you be?'”

As you drink down the contents of your cup, remember is better to avoid the sorrow of arguing with God and embrace the joy of saying yes to the Potter. Your yes will cause you to reap a great harvest

Get ready for it.

As you rejoice over the blessings and favor you will receive as God’s response to your faithfulness, please join me in praying for the following members of our Daily Cup faith community who asked to be included on our “Thoughtful Thursdays” intercessory prayer list.

As you do, I pray that God will release a double portion of His blessings as He did with Job twice after he prayed for his friends according to Job 42:10.

Anonymous wrote: I want to give God praise for softening my husband's heart toward me. I requested prayer 2 weeks ago to help me make a decision to keep standing for my husband and our marriage after he abandoned our family or to divorce him. This past weekend he showed up and was very apologetic and asked for forgiveness. He said that he wanted to come home but that he is not in his right mind and he needed more time to get his mind together. I ask that you pray in agreement with me that God will give him a sound mind and that he will be released from whatever is holding him captive.

Anastasia wrote: She had a terrible accident and had spine fusion. She's having trouble with nerves in her legs, from the knees and down. She needs to get back control of using her legs and also going to bathroom. She feels a little but cannot function. Her father has become an atheist. I'm a believer! Please pray for my husband and my two sons to see God’s intervention, to believe that there is a true God, Lord and Saviour. Please pray for FULL recovery of my daughter!!! And her salvation. Thank you and God bless you all.

Anonymous wrote: Please add my niece, Syreetta Falkner, to your list for a complete healing of Multiple Sclerosis. Her 7-year-old daughter is requesting her healing so that Syreetta can play with her again.

Anonymous wrote: Adrinne is in the hospital because while playing he somehow hurt his spine. Well praise God he can move his hands and feet. They are keeping him in the hospital longer because he still has swelling around his spine. Asking for prayer for his total healing. Thank you.

Elizabeth wrote: My husband recently lost his job and our family is beginning to show signs of stress and struggle. Please pray for an open door. My daughter seems to have become stagnate at her daycare. I like the teachers but she doesn't seem to be learning. I pray for direction. I pray for favor over my job and over my car and over my finances.

Rachel wrote: I am currently a senior at Charleston Southern University, and it is a Christian, private school, so it is quite expensive. I am short almost $4,000 for school, and that doesn't include the cost of books and other supplies. I am trusting God for a miracle, and I'm asking for prayer from everyone. Thank you so much! This is a beautiful ministry!

Anonymous wrote: Please pray for my peace of mind. I am 52 with no children. I desired to be married and have children but it was not to be. God didn't heal my issue of blood dealing with fibroids. Why was I not healed? Why was I not chosen to be married and have children? This still bothers me even though I know God has been good to me. I just need peace. I'm tired of crying.

Cheryl wrote: For the last two months, there has been an attack on my finances. I've been a faithful tither for 8 years, and never had a problem in my finances. I didn't change. I still tithe but for some reason I rarely have anything left. I'm at the point of frustration but I know God is on my side. Please pray for full restoration in this area of my life. May the Lord bless you!!!

Matt wrote: Blessings, can you keep alive in your prayers that Mighty God will abound more grace and mercies throughout all of Australia, and for the Mighty Holy Spirit to infiltrate this nation, governments and leaders and all people and all businesses and that Jesus Christ will stand this nation up spiritually, mentally physically, emotionally, and financially, and that the Glory of Jesus Christ will consume the clouds of darkness, and the kingdom of Heaven will expand. In Jesus Christ’s Name, Amen.

Kesha wrote: Please pray for my child Katelyn. She is 11 years old. Katelyn’s Dad and I have been divorced for almost 3 years and he is using Katelyn as a pawn. He never does anything that is in the best interest of the child. I, myself, Kesha, am going through some adversities. I need direction in my life. I feel like I’m stuck.

Anonymous wrote: I applied for a divorce. My husband is taking our money spending it on Hooters and his mother is helping him hide his assets. I’ve been married for 27 years and I don’t know where to turn. Intervene Jesus or I am done. We have three children I plead the blood on this whole situation.

Anonymous wrote: A week or so ago, I submitted a prayer request to remember me during the days that I was going to be taking an important test. I completed the two-day test yesterday, and it was grueling. It was my fifth attempt at this test. I have failed this test four times, but I haven't given up, but sometimes I want to give up. Sometimes I think to myself if somehow I'm only kidding myself. Through the daily devotions, I hear God speak to me, through Ms. Hobbs. The messages always come at an opportune time, when I least expect it. Honestly I am ashamed and embarrassed that I can't seem to pass this exam. Inside, I'm hurting, crying, doubting, questioning, etc. My exam results are in God's hands. He is in control, and despite the outcome, I will believe. I am exhausted, but I still have enough breath in me to keep asking, knocking, and seeking.

Now let’s pray.

God, You are sovereign. You are faithful in all things. You are good at all times—even when we don’t understand Your ways or know what You’re doing. Today, we bring every request to You. We lay all these burdens down at Your feet, knowing there is nothing we can ever present that is too hard for You to do. You are able. We rebuke sickness, lack, discouragement, confusion, opposition and every demonic attack that comes to hinder Your people. Your word tells us in Matthew 7:7 to ask and it will be given, to seek and we will find, to knock and the door will be opened. So we seek after You today with full expectation that You will do what only You can, according to Your will. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may today's cup of inspiration uplift, encourage, and empower you!

If you need prayer, don't hesitate to request it. I would be honored to stand in faith with You. I know that prayer works. CLICK HERE to learn how to submit your prayer request.