A Clean House

Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!

Psalm 139:23-24 ESV

Have you ever seen the show, Clean House?

On the outside, the house looks nice and the people look happy and normal. It isn’t until the host and her crew make their way inside the house with their cameras shining on the heaps of clothing, old magazines, stale food boxes, and garbage that the audience is introduced to what the house really looks like.

We are like the house.

We can look wonderful on the outside with our new outfit and a smile pasted across our face as a welcome mat.

To the neighbors passing by walking their dogs or taking their morning jog, we look great. However, on the inside of us is piles of junk that the people viewing us from the outside cannot see.

Unconsciously, we walk pass the piled up clothes in our hearts and pretend that it is not there, but it’s there. Right along with the garbage we should’ve taken out two weeks ago.

Sometimes, we need an intervention to show us what’s really going on.

When the living situation becomes unbearable, the owners of the house, a close friend, or their children contact the host to intervene.

The host then “reveals” to the owners what the house really looks like by bringing in her cameras to inspect the place. After the host identifies the problem, the host shows the owners how to get rid of the junk and clean up the house.

God is the same way. He inspects our hearts with His host, the Holy Spirit, by shining the camera lights of His Word on every hidden place in our hearts to reveal to us what our heart condition is really like.

But like the Clean House host and her crew, God doesn’t show us that our house is dirty without helping us clean it up.

God will remove every stony place of un-forgiveness, every hoarded pile of envy, and the leftover shame. He will then help us take out our rubbish full of anger, and vacuum away every speck of hurt and sorrow.

After removing all of the junk, your Heavenly Father will scrub away the residue (memory) of dirt left behind with the perfect disinfectant, the blood of His Son, Jesus.

Then He will give your inside a complete makeover courtesy of Divine Design!

It glorifies God to see you beautiful, joyful, and rejoicing on the inside. This type of wholeness cannot be faked on the outside, but shines forth in a way that makes you stand out.

This week, take the time to allow God to show you the hidden places in your heart and then allow Him to “clean house”.

Guest devotion by Sharna Tingle. Sharna is a a research fellow at the National Cancer Institute. She is passionate about the Gospel, science, public health, and enjoys writing. Learn how you can become a guest writer.