Christian Writers Circle

by Brenda D. Flowers

As I was entering my house recently, I noticed spider webs had taken over the crevices and corners of many of the nearby windows. This question came to mind, “Does our power washer work?” I tried to recall the last time my husband and I had tried to use our power washer to clean the outside of our house. It had been a long time and the thought of the job brought dread. I recalled the last time we used it; I had turned the knob on too high a setting which caused our wooden deck to splinter in several places where I tried to clean.

Awakened this morning at 3:00 AM, I realized I had been dreaming about the dread of cleaning the outside of my house. I couldn’t recall details but I know I was balking about the process in my dream. Then I realized I was hearing another message. It’s also time to do some internal house cleaning.

As we mature in Christ, there are times we must allow Holy Spirit to have a good POWER cleansing. He is the best Power Washer, and yes, He works at just the right time, although we may not know it at first. Isn’t it true, the times He seems to do His best cleansing isn’t on calm cool partly sunny days, the kind of days we hope to have when cleaning our brick and mortar houses. No, to do His cleansing, He chooses intense, hot sunny days or more often than not dark stormy days, days when times are hardest.

As I compose this article, I realize there are still places in my heart needing a good cleansing. The hard hidden dirty places where some bitter roots are starting to grow. They need to be softened and the roots removed. By choosing to forgive instead of getting bitter, God’s love can fully fill me, enabling me to be more sensitive to his calling for me. The process of maturing is a gradual cleansing process. Yet, Holy Spirit is patient and gentle, unlike the power washer treatment I have used in the past on my house. I realize, He waits until we are ready. This verse comes to mind as I pen these words:

Search me, O God, and know my heart;

                                                 Try me, and know my anxieties;

                                                 And see if there is any wicked way in me,

                                                And lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:22-24 (NKJV)

That is my sincere prayer.