Have Thine Way

Originally posted 6/23/14

Have Thine Way" is a popular hymn that many of us have sung or heard in our lifetime. This hymn is from the passage of scripture from Jeremiah 18:3, "So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him." The history of this song is found with Adelaide A. Pollard, a hymn writer, was hoping to go to Africa as a missionary but found herself unable to raise the needed funds to make the journey. Discouraged, she attended prayer meeting one evening in 1902. There an old woman prayed: "Lord, it doesn't matter what you bring into our lives--just have your way with us."

The words sank home. Adelaide went home. She meditated on the old woman's prayer and on Bible texts in Jeremiah 18:3,4 and Isaiah which referred to God as a potter. As a result, she wrote a hymn which millions have sung:

Have Thine own way, Lord! 
Have Thine own way! 
Thou art the potter; I am the clay. 
Mold me and make me after Thy will, 
While I am waiting, yielded and still."

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How many of us understand the frustration of Adelaide, we have so many plans and desires but they seem to not come together. Often into our lives come discouragements and heartaches that we cannot understand. As children of God, however, we must learn never to question the ways of our sovereign God—but simply to say: Have Thine Way. Her words here teach us that we are clay in the Master Potter’s hands. Although it may be challenging, when we submit to the Potter’s touch, we experience the joy of his perfect will. Are you willing to be shaped for God’s use? If so, the first step is to trust Jesus, as your Savior and Lord. The choice is yours!! If you have failed to cooperate with the divine Potter, it is not too late for you to be made into a useful vessel if you will yield to Him. On this Worship Wednesday  surrender all to Him and let His will be your will in all ways. Let him "Have His Way".