Today’s thoughts are by Julie Wicker

Jeremiah‬ ‭18‬:‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — But the pot he was shaping from the clay WhatToReadNext marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.

In 2026 Deborah and I are striving to do more reading. Some of you have asked for book recommendations. This week I am sharing books that have inspired my ministry. Today I am sharing, Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. This book changed my life when I read it back in 2012. At that time I was a young mom and a lukewarm Christian. My husband and I attended church regularly but it wasn’t until my children were a little older that I really got involved in Sunday School, VBS, and other ministry opportunities.

Redeeming Love is a fictional book based off of the biblical story of Hosea 3. Hosea is instructed by God to buy his wife even though she was a prostitute and adulteress. When reading this story, I finally understood God’s redeeming love for me. Where I had felt underqualified, God was making me new. Just like today’s key verse, I am God’s clay and He is molding us all into something beautiful. Are you allowing God to mold you and make you beautiful for His glory? Take time to read today’s surrounding scripture verses in Jeremiah 18:1-6 NIV.

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for redeeming me with Your unconditional love. I surrender to You as Your daughter and for Your glory to shine through my service. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

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