Tamela Mann - One Way - The Overflow DevoSample

Potter

Every song on this new project has special meaning to me, but if I am completely honest, “Potter” is my personal favorite. I identify with this song for many reasons. First of all, I am the clay that God molded.

I am the earthen vessel that God shaped into something, even though I saw myself as nothing. I used to be a girl with many insecurities. I used to point out all of my imperfections. And still, God saw fit to use me for His glory.

When I was growing up, I felt a lot like Moses. I didn’t have a stuttering problem per se, but I didn’t like to speak in public. I didn’t consider myself to be a woman with a phenomenal vocabulary, so I tended to shy away from public speaking and the spotlight altogether.

But God molded me - like the Potter He is - not into who I wanted to be, but into who He called me to be. Now I stand before God’s people, in awe of the masterful handiwork of my Lord and Savior. Little ole me. The youngest of 14 and the first in my family to graduate from high school. The Potter molded me, Tamela Mann, for His glory and for my good.

But in order for God to mold me, I had to let Him work on me. I had to fully surrender to God, and I had to allow Him to remove all of the insecurities from my heart. The moment I let Him work on me, generational shackles began to fall off.

Every time I would sing, I felt the Potter washing me and cleansing me from all of the excuses that I had allowed to hold me down. I didn’t have many things as a child, but I did have a song. I had a choir who believed in me, and a church that gave me a space to sharpen my gift.

When I didn’t have money, at least I had music. God used music to save my life. He used the church to sanctify my heart. And now that I am where I am today, I can rest in the truth of these words: He is God alone…He came to make you strong…though it hurts for a moment…let Him work on you.

You, too, have something that the Potter wants to use for His glory. Don’t focus on what you lost; focus on what you have left. As you prepare for work today, or as you drive to church this morning, listen to this song and remind yourself that you are a soldier in His army. He is the Potter. You are the clay. He’s got everything in control, and He’s preparing you to conquer whatever you may face. Let Him work on you.