Since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:21-23 (NIV)
Near the end of a very hectic week, I had several choices about how to spend one evening. I could go to the gym and work out which can be a good way to calm down. An hour marching along on the treadmill clears my mind and propels the tension out of my body. I could groom my horse, which also helps me to relax. The calming effect of brushing him, breathing in his scent and resting my head on his shoulder ought to be patented. I just purchased a book and could have curled up on the couch to read, something I rarely have time to do. I was behind in my Bible Study and could have focused on God’s Word for a while. All of those things are excellent stress relievers for me. However, it had been a such a hard week that I chose the one thing that never fails to make me feel better. I cleaned my house. That’s right, for me, house-cleaning ranks right up there with the strongest tranquilizer available. I find it easier to throw things out and cull the clutter when I am wound up tight. Stuff no longer matters, cleanliness does. I cannot feel comfortable in a messy house. I clear the countertops and tables of all the little piles that accumulate unnoticed while I race around in a whirlwind all week long. Viewing the tidy spaces, I feel myself start to unwind. I take out my frustrations on the dirty kitchen floor, attacking it like a construction worker with a jackhammer. I massage the furniture with my dust cloth, and my muscles start to relax as well. As I fold and store the scattered piles of laundry, I can see my dining table. Suddenly, pressure eases and the thought of fixing dinner and sitting down as a family to eat becomes appealing once more. The mirror in the bathroom sparkles, as the pungent glass cleaner seems to push aside my tension headache. One room at a time, I scrub and shove the week’s debris into its proper place until my house is neat again. Then, I finally can sit down in a melted heap free of the anxiety that has plagued me all week long. What is it about cleaning house that allows me to decompress? I don’t know exactly, but I do know that it is not just my physical surroundings that need to be straightened in order for me to feel right. My heart needs a regular good thorough cleansing as well. When I am most frantic, worried and upset, that is time for me to take my heart to God and ask Him to purify it and make it spotless again. Contamination from my daily life, from worldly thoughts and imperfections build up in my life unless I stop to ask God to tidy it with His cleansing power. Gently, carefully, He removes all the stains and scrubs me until I am fresh and pure again.
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