Today’s societies are promoting self-determination as the way we should live. That is the reason many people, including believers, are used to making decisions and changing their minds as quickly as they first decided. Yes, self-determination is about me, myself and I: I can decide my own faith, choose my own path, choose to have children all alone, choose to divorce if I want, etc… My brother, my sister, all those ‘self-things’ may be a source of great personal satisfaction, but not only are they worldly perversions, they are also offering nothing close to what the Lord planned for you. Sooner or later you will realise it when regrets and suffering comes. The Bible says: “The blessing of the LORD brings wealth, without painful toil for it” (Proverbs 10:22). True enough, the society always present us the self-made man as the model to follow to have a big business or reach higher in society. My friend, that is all illusion. In reality, your real value is the one God has made you. Therefore, we should never forget that our life, any talent or ability we possess are not of our own choice, will or desire. We are not successful because we determined it, but because God determined it for us. That is why we need to learn to glorify Him in all occasions, for even something you may consider to be a failure in your life may be a success to Him who is moulding you according to His own plans for you: when Joseph was thrown into prison, He could have thought it was the end of his life, while that prison was a step to make him become a governor of people. Yes, you and me are nothing more than moulded clay and the shape we take on is determined by the Master’s hand as stated on today’s verse: “Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.” My friend, if you had not realised this, realise it today, submit to your Father and let Him shape you according to His plans for you. Stay blessed in Jesus’ name. [/facebook] [facebook] [retweet]