When I was kid, my mom would make homemade Play-Doh. You remember Play-Doh, right? It came in bright yellow buckets, and if you were super fancy, you also bought different playsets that did different things with your Play-Doh. The barber shop, the McDonald’s licensed playset, and the “Doctor Drill ‘n Fill” playsets were super popular.

But my magical mom knew how to make her own. I don’t know what was in that stuff, but as I think about those memories, the smell of it returns in a palpable way to my nostrils. Crazy how that works.

I’m not sure why she didn’t just buy Play-Doh at the store, but I’d guess it was cheaper to make our own. I remember I always struggled to have patience while the clay cooled, so I could play with it without getting third-degree burns.

I do recall that there were more than a couple of occasions where I would be playing with the homemade version of our Play-Doh and I’d get distracted by some other thing, probably Tom & Jerry or He-Man. Or maybe my Legos were calling me. And I’d leave my squishy clay out on the kitchen table.

Whatever shape your spiritual life and health are in right now, it is how you last touched it. Whatever condition your faith currently exists in, it is a direct result of what you have done with it–for better or for worse.

Can I ask you to stop whatever you’re doing right now–whatever episode of Tom & Jerry your heart is distracted by, or whatever pain your life circumstances have handed you, or whatever bitterness has developed because of that wrong you feel has been done to you–and simply return to the kitchen table and sink your hands into an actual conversation with Jesus?

If you don’t, that clay will harden. It will stay in the shape it is currently in and the work of reshaping it will become more difficult the longer it sits. How fresh is your faith right now? How much time has passed since you’ve obediently sculpted it with God’s Spirit playing alongside you?

If you have found your heart and faith have hardened like that lump of clay, simply invite God’s renewing Spirit to breathe new life into your mind and heart right now. It isn’t a chore for Him; it would be His joy to rekindle that conversation and soften that lump of clay, so that you can continue to grow.

Jesus, I return my heart and my affection to you. I come back to the place where I loved you most. I acknowledge that lesser things have pulled me away, and I’ve allowed that to happen. But in this moment, I want to return to you, my first love. Thank you for love that forever welcomes me back.
Amen.

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I looked up a recipe for homemade Play-Doh, in case you’ve never experienced it, or if you have and just want to rekindle some memories. While you do, spend time talking with Jesus.

1. 1 cup plain flour. 1 cup water. ½ cup cooking salt. 1 tablespoon cream of tartar* … 
2. Mix the flour, water, salt and cream of tartar in a saucepan over medium heat until thick. Allow the mixture to cool and then add the oil. Knead well over a floured cutting board. … 
3. Store your play dough in an airtight container.