Handling Life Belongs to God
“An abandoned potter’s wheel in a field reminds us: life is not for us to shape alone—it belongs in God’s hands.”
In Immeasurably More, Ray Stedman draws from Leviticus 17 to highlight a forgotten truth that undergirds all of human behavior: life does not belong to us. God required the Israelites to bring their sacrifices to Him—offering them not in secret places or to mythical goat idols, but publicly and properly at the tent of meeting. This wasn’t mere ritual. It was a visual declaration: all life—animal and human—belongs to God, and we dare not try to manipulate or redirect it through superstition, control, or self-will.
Stedman’s core message is this: we are not equipped to handle life. The moment we try to manage, manipulate, or direct life in our own strength or on our own terms—whether through occult practices or modern self-dependence—we walk into the same deception ancient cultures believed. That somehow, through technique or willpower, we can rule over the spirit-realm and life’s course. But the Lord makes it clear: all life is His. Every breath, every moment, every relationship, every sacrifice—it’s all under His sovereign hand. We were never meant to handle life apart from Him.
Personalized Journal Entry in the Voice of the Holy Spirit:
You were never designed to shoulder the mystery of life on your own. From the first breath to the last heartbeat, life is Mine—it flows from Me, it finds meaning in Me, and it flourishes when returned to Me. You’ve seen what happens when man attempts to manage his own destiny—confusion, exhaustion, fear, and manipulation. But I call you to rest in the truth that you are not the architect of your days. I am.
Bring your work, your relationships, your sorrow, and your joy to Me. Offer them as sacrifices—not to gain favor, not to control outcomes, but because they were Mine to begin with. I am not far off—I walk in you. My Spirit governs not through force, but through quiet confidence. I draw you into My rhythm, where life is no longer your burden to carry but your gift to entrust.
Do not be lured by the illusion of control or the magic of self-effort. What the world calls empowerment is often enslavement dressed in glitter. Instead, surrender to the truth that I am sovereign and loving, and that My ways are always good. Every plan I initiate is woven with purpose. Every delay, a refining fire. Every outcome, filtered through My love. Life handled by Me is never wasted.
Come, yield again. Not to resignation, but to release. Lay down your strategy, your pressure to perform, your demand to understand. I know what I’m doing with your life—and you are safe in Me.
(Leviticus 17:5,7; Romans 12:1; Proverbs 3:5-6; Isaiah 55:8-9; Colossians 3:3; Galatians 2:20)
Prayer of Trust:
Father, I acknowledge what has always been true: my life is Yours. Not just in theory, not just on Sundays, but in every detail. I choose to live as one who is not in charge of outcomes, but who is joyfully available to You. Thank You for being the rightful Handler of life, and for dwelling in me to guide, govern, and carry out all that You desire through me. I trust You to express Your life in and through me today—not by my own managing, but by Your indwelling presence. Keep me attentive to Your quiet nudges and confident in Your sovereign love.
Devotional Credit:
Immeasurably More by Ray Stedman
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