You know how sometimes you get little cleaning spurts? Where you are just sick of the mess and the dirt and the grime and you just have to do something about it? Why don’t we just get in a routine- a daily, or weekly (or both) routine of cleaning our bedrooms, our kitchens, our cars, our houses?
My last cleaning spurt was a few days ago. It wasn’t just one of those cleanings where I cleaned my bathroom and put away clothes that have built up on my bench in my room. No, this was one of those super deep clean, get all of the dirt out of there, cleanings. I went through all of my clothes to find out what to give away, I washed my duvet cover, all of my shams, ironed every single ruffle on my bedding, and did a whole lot of other cleaning.
As soon as I completed all of that cleaning, I felt so good. Like I was in such a great mood- so much that other people noticed. It’s kind of embarrassing when cleaning can make you that happy… And when other people notice… Isn’t it crazy how a clean space can do so much mentally for you? I felt free and unburdened and clean. Just because my room was clean, I felt clean myself.
Deep cleaning my room was something that had been put on the back burner for seemingly a year. I would think about cleaning my room and I would immediately get stressed or anxious about that task, just knowing that it was long overdue and it would be a big task.
Cleaning out my room and going through all of my things made me realize something.
In my life, I don’t know about you, I go through spurts and seasons of mountains and valleys with God. I go through seasons of where all I want to be is clean and white as snow, but there are other seasons where I am more or less just fine living in my sin. Either that, or I know it’s been too long and the clean out makes me feel anxious, like I can’t run to God because it’s been way too long. Of course, going through and cleaning out my heart and cleaning out my soul feels SO good, but why don’t I do it more often? If it makes me feel so refreshed and renewed spiritually and mentally, why is it not a daily occurrence, or even a weekly occurrence? It seemingly only happens when I’ve had enough of the dirt and the grime in my life.
After I realized how good my clean room made me feel, I decided to make a cleaning schedule for myself to help me remember to stay on top of the dirt and to remind myself that I am happier when things are clean. While I might not follow the schedule exactly or even on time, it serves as a reminder to me. It reminds me that I don’t just want to clean when I’ve had enough of the dirt, but instead, I want a routine cleaning, one where I can be consistently clean.
How often do you go to the dentist to get your teeth cleaned? Probably every six months or so, right? If you just decide to skip a few cleanings, is there more buildup? Is it harder for the hygienist to clean? It’s probably easier for the hygienist to clean your teeth if you have been going consistently, not if you just go every few years.
Similar to the dentist, I realized that my spiritual life is no different. I shouldn’t just wait until I am burdened with my life to run to the Lord, but I should be running to him DAILY. I should be making a HABIT out of this. Matthew 11:28 says, “Come to me all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
The Lord WANTS us to come to Him. I think sometimes the shame of sin makes me want to hide and run farther from Him. The devil makes me think that my sin makes me unlovable and not wanted. My uncleanliness makes me feel like I am not enough and that I can’t run to Him because he would be so ashamed at me for how far I’ve gotten from Him. In my nature, and in my personality, I struggle with thinking I’m not enough. I struggle with thinking I am being too much for some people, while at the same time thinking that I am not worthy of other people’s love and friendship and help. I’m not worthy. I don’t deserve love. I I don’t deserve whatever compliment my friend is telling me. It’s not true. That’s what the devil tries to whisper into my ear as I wake up every morning, what he whispers when I feel sad, or what he whispers when I am weak.
Just like my cleaning schedule, I have to remember and be reminded that the Lord wants me and the Lord deems me worthy because He sent Jesus for me. He wants me to run to Him. He wants me to give Him all of my burdens. He wants me to routinely come to Him to be made new, to be made clean.
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