Wash Me Clean

Have you ever tried to portray a cleaned-up version of yourself to someone? A sweeter, totally- got-it-together you? I have. And even crazier, I’ve done it to God.

But then I’m smacked in the face with the truth I’ve always known: God gets me better than I do. Not one immortal second is spent wondering why I do the things I do. Not one. He sees our pain, feels our hurts, and understands how we forget who we are and what we’re worth. So, He whispers,

“Just Come.  No masks. The real you, with whatever is on your heart. I’m waiting. I’m listening.”

But we get busy. We fill our plates to overflowing… until the stress begins to show. We snap, lose sleep, and look for comfort somewhere when what we truly need is just a conversation. Telling God what’s up. We call it prayer.

I love my friend’s description of prayer:

“Closing your eyes and telling God the truth…and closing your eyes is optional.”

God can’t help what we hide from Him. He can’t forgive or heal or restore what we refuse to reveal. Let me tell you about a prayer that touched, healed, and freed me. Maybe it will free you.

I sat down with two friends who prayed for me. They asked me to just be quiet for a while and then silently talk to God about whatever was on my heart. Simply telling God the truth.

They asked me to let them know if I heard the Lord say anything or if I saw any pictures in my mind as we were still.

After a few minutes of quiet, a very vivid scene came to my mind. I was standing at a dump, with trash and debris piled all around. Jesus was right by my side. We were both looking at a heap of burning trash. Jesus said to me, “This is all the garbage and junk that has collected in your heart, and I am burning it for you, to get rid of it.”

But the best part of that entire scene was Jesus’ voice when he said those words.

There was no condemnation, only love.

I basked in the glow of that healing and freedom for a long time.

Jesus understands how weighed down we get. Words and actions can break our hearts and steal our joy. He came to heal those places—sins done to us as well as sins we have committed.

He wants to get rid of all that trash and debris. Maybe it happened yesterday or maybe you’ve been carrying it around for years.

What is weighing you down? Jesus wants to free you from that load. My prayer is that you let Him.

Love,

Linda

“God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending His Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again.” John 3:17 (The Message)