God spoke to me in the DUST...
I've been on my hands and knees.
Literally.
The other day, the printer needed new ink and since it sits on the floor, under the desk, that's where I had to go to change it. While waiting for the "alignment" stage of my printer to finish, I noticed some things while down there. As I began to clear away the dust from UNDER the desk, I looked around at the rest of the room, from an ant's eye view and I saw much the same thing....cobwebs and dusty baseboards, so I spent the rest of the afternoon on my hands and knees, cleaning it out...and when I got a look at the rag, it was downright disgusting....
in need of a bit of spring cleaning....
MIND YOU....had you walked into that room that day, you would have seen a very SURFACE clean space....tidy and what would appear clean to the casual eye, but upon further examination, (from my under the computer desk point of view) it became clear that there was work to be done!
in need of a bit of spring cleaning....
and in that dirty rag, there it was, a parallel to my own existence.
It is only when I get down on my knees and humble myself before God can any real " spiritual cleaning" go on. Think a second with me....the surface looks great, and my room did too. It was tidy and 'clean' to anyone who walked in, it wasn't until you got down and R~E~A~L ~L~Y looked that you would see any need for a bit more work~ and that is how it is with me.
My soul continually needs to be "SPRING CLEANED," in order to stay in a place where I can hear and allow God to use me. If the 'dust' builds up, and ladies, we all know how DUST works...it sneaks into the tiniest nooks and crannies! The dust in me is much the same way, it comes in from the outside and tends to settle in the nooks and crannies and then I'm just not as effective! Not as effective a disciple as I need to be... Oh I may LOOK nice on the outside, but on the inside I am laden with dust ~ yuck!
How do I spiritually clean "my house"
It must begin with an inward look.
and mine begins here, in Matthew 23
"How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You are hypocrites! You wash the outside of your cups and dishes, but inside they are full of things you got by cheating others and only pleasing yourselves. First make the INSIDE of the cup clean and then the outside of the cup can truly be clean."
Jesus was clear, the outside LOOKED good, just like my sunroom....but the inside, under it all was a mess. There was no getting around the fact that the OUTSIDE can't be TRULY clean unless the inside is...Spring may or may not be "right around the corner" but my SPIRITUAL SPRING CLEANING must be an 'all year long' process....
With the world we live in, dust in the form of gossip, white lies, little time for prayer, frustration, impatience, creeps into our souls and if we aren't careful, we'll soon find that the DUST is taking over.
I've learned that I need daily dusting of my soul to stay SPIRITUALLY CLEAN....
I need to spend time with HIM, in HIS word, praying, thanking, repenting, cleaning my soul....
from the inside out!
and all of that from the dust under the desk!
Father,
I know that it is in cleaning my soul from the inside that I can find you. Help me to daily strive to clean away anything that unwontedly settles in. I know that with your help I can be TRULY CLEAN on the inside, free from the "dust" that would prevent me from doing your will in my life.
Thank you Father for the reminders that come in unlikely places, gently reminding me and guiding me to your ways.
In Jesus' name,
~amen~
in Him,
I'd love if you came by for a visit!
Literally.
The other day, the printer needed new ink and since it sits on the floor, under the desk, that's where I had to go to change it. While waiting for the "alignment" stage of my printer to finish, I noticed some things while down there. As I began to clear away the dust from UNDER the desk, I looked around at the rest of the room, from an ant's eye view and I saw much the same thing....cobwebs and dusty baseboards, so I spent the rest of the afternoon on my hands and knees, cleaning it out...and when I got a look at the rag, it was downright disgusting....
in need of a bit of spring cleaning....
MIND YOU....had you walked into that room that day, you would have seen a very SURFACE clean space....tidy and what would appear clean to the casual eye, but upon further examination, (from my under the computer desk point of view) it became clear that there was work to be done!
in need of a bit of spring cleaning....
and in that dirty rag, there it was, a parallel to my own existence.
It is only when I get down on my knees and humble myself before God can any real " spiritual cleaning" go on. Think a second with me....the surface looks great, and my room did too. It was tidy and 'clean' to anyone who walked in, it wasn't until you got down and R~E~A~L ~L~Y looked that you would see any need for a bit more work~ and that is how it is with me.
My soul continually needs to be "SPRING CLEANED," in order to stay in a place where I can hear and allow God to use me. If the 'dust' builds up, and ladies, we all know how DUST works...it sneaks into the tiniest nooks and crannies! The dust in me is much the same way, it comes in from the outside and tends to settle in the nooks and crannies and then I'm just not as effective! Not as effective a disciple as I need to be... Oh I may LOOK nice on the outside, but on the inside I am laden with dust ~ yuck!
How do I spiritually clean "my house"
It must begin with an inward look.
and mine begins here, in Matthew 23
"How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You are hypocrites! You wash the outside of your cups and dishes, but inside they are full of things you got by cheating others and only pleasing yourselves. First make the INSIDE of the cup clean and then the outside of the cup can truly be clean."
Jesus was clear, the outside LOOKED good, just like my sunroom....but the inside, under it all was a mess. There was no getting around the fact that the OUTSIDE can't be TRULY clean unless the inside is...Spring may or may not be "right around the corner" but my SPIRITUAL SPRING CLEANING must be an 'all year long' process....
With the world we live in, dust in the form of gossip, white lies, little time for prayer, frustration, impatience, creeps into our souls and if we aren't careful, we'll soon find that the DUST is taking over.
I've learned that I need daily dusting of my soul to stay SPIRITUALLY CLEAN....
I need to spend time with HIM, in HIS word, praying, thanking, repenting, cleaning my soul....
from the inside out!
and all of that from the dust under the desk!
Father,
I know that it is in cleaning my soul from the inside that I can find you. Help me to daily strive to clean away anything that unwontedly settles in. I know that with your help I can be TRULY CLEAN on the inside, free from the "dust" that would prevent me from doing your will in my life.
Thank you Father for the reminders that come in unlikely places, gently reminding me and guiding me to your ways.
In Jesus' name,
~amen~
in Him,
I'd love if you came by for a visit!
Labels: He is "I Am", Lori's articles, Prayer
posted by lori @ 12:05 PM
13 Comments:
Lori---I can see you and I could really get some major cleaning done together! You should have been over here this weekend with me while I've had little Zackary! He would have "talked us" through it! (He does not close his mouth!)
I have found myself this past week asking Him to reveal some things that needed attention in my life---so this post was right on target for me!
What a blessing you are to me girl!
Lori - You always write such a wonderful post. Your words are so understanding. I can relate to the dust thing, in my house and inside me. I have been working really hard to try and clean up both. Thanks for a good reminder. God Bless!
This was awesome, Lori! I love the analogy... GREAT POST!
love ya!
amy
Ouch - down here we say you've "quit preachin' and gone to meddlin'!" LOL Great word and very convicting. Thanks for sharing. . . . I think! :-)
De-cluttering, dusting, spring cleaning -- why do there have to be so many parallels between our relationship with God and housework!!?? Another thought-provoking, convicting post, Lori. Well said. And now, I'm off to wash some dishes....
I really like this analogy! Yes, looking inward and only looking outward does make sense. Sometimes, it is very scary to look to far inside one's self. It is necessary for me, though.....Thanks,Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com
Amen Lori, I'm in the process of some deep cleaning in my heart these days.
It is much more fun just to do the surface stuff and go off and play awhile. The deep cleaning takes some sacrifice and attention that sometimes I would rather not give it.
Great word!
Sue
Exactly where I'm sitting these days!
God has really made it clear to me that I am truly not allowed to keep any "junk drawers" or dusty hidden places anymore. Time for deep cleaning, not just moving the yuck to another spot while I keep the outside polished.
Can't imagine anyone doesn't need to hear this today. Thanks, Girl!
Darnelle
I will join the chorus of I need to do some Spring cleaning in my heart...deep spring cleaning...Had a couple of rough months and have been on "cruise" control. God had His hand on the button and I've not left Him, but I need to do some serious cleaning out and have no more dirty hidden places, (which reminds me of all the dirty hidden places in my house), which is another story....Mary Lou at dlowran1(at)comcast(dot)net
Thank you Lori for the gentle reminder to look beyond the surface of what I am doing and who I am.
It is so easy to let things build up. Just as our homes need attention daily, so do our hearts. But just as I sometimes let my home get a bit out of control, I can also ignore those places on the inside that need to be cleansed before the Lord.
Thank you!
I can't number the days I've walked around like a white-washed tomb - pretty and shiny on the outside yet carrying around a dead girls bones...
This was a great analogy.
And now I feel the need to go scrub some baseboards. :)
Lisa
This comment has been removed by the author.
Lori, that was beautiful. Its so ture.... Thanks for sharing your heart!
Love, Lisa
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