January 30, 2009
Run Another Load
By Gina Parcells, She Speaks Conference Graduate
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 (NASB)
Devotion:
Laundry … I’m running another load right now. It seems like once I have washed, dried, folded, and put away the clothes, I discover someone has slipped yet another dirty item into the hamper. The thing about laundry is, its just never-ending.
I’ve considered taking a sabbatical from the never-ending task, but I’m certain it would accumulate into a heap causing a pervasive stench in my house. Then, I’d hear grumbling from the masses about how they have nothing to wear and, of course, I would cave. My sabbatical would ultimately lead to my own panic as I surveyed the overflowing hampers.
So, no laundry sabbatical for me. Instead, I accept the need to wash clothes regularly. And I do it. It’s better for everyone that way.
You know, God has that constant laundering thing going on too, except He’s cleansing our hearts instead of our clothes. I’m sure He would rather we not dirty our hearts with sin, but He knows we do and He is always willing, day or night, to cleanse us.
The problem is sometimes I’m unwilling to put my stinky garments in His hamper to be washed. I have favorite sins, like favorite shirts, that I’m resistant to take off. Sometimes, I just wear my sin day in and day out, and the idea of confessing it and asking for grace doesn’t even cross my mind. It’s like He has a pile of clean clothes ready to go, but I walk right past them.
Fortunately for us, God never takes a cleaning sabbatical, and He doesn’t get overwhelmed when our sin hampers seem filled to capacity. In fact, you can dump ten loads of sin in front of Him and He’ll wash them all. He’s a pro with the delicate cycle. If we can mess it up, He can clean it up ... we just have to ask. As our key verse states, if we confess, He will faithfully forgive.
Dear Lord, I confess to You _________. Thank You for Your faithfulness to cleanse me now, and every single time I come to You. Please help me to recognize my sin and to remember to seek Your forgiveness daily. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
Traveling Light: Releasing the Burdens You Were Never Intended to Bear by Max Lucado
Application Steps:
Read Psalm 32 as if you wrote it to God.
Spend time asking the Lord to search your heart and reveal if there is any offensive way in your heart (Psalm 139:23-24). Use these times of listening and confession as a regular part of your prayer time each morning.
Reflections:
What keeps me from regularly confessing my sin?
What can I use as a trigger to remind me to spend time confessing my sin everyday?
Power Verses:
Psalm 51:2-4, “Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight.” (NIV)
Psalm 51:10, 12, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” (NIV)
Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G,
Matthews, NC 28105
Originally published Friday, 30 January 2009.
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