A Clean Heart

 The following guest post is shared by Trisha. Visit her business here. Or her ministry here.


Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Psalm 51:10


A question that I seem to ask myself on a daily basis is this: Why can’t a clean house stay clean? I agonize over this question. It can consume me. After literally spending hours (sometimes days) scrubbing and mopping floors, washing dishes, dusting furniture, vacuuming carpets, cleaning bathrooms and de-cluttering the kids’ play areas in my house, is it too much to ask that the house remain clutter free for awhile? It seems that as soon as one room is clean and I move on to the next room, the tornadoes that are my children seem to follow me and undo all that was just made right. It’s truly frustrating to see a mess that was just cleaned up become an even bigger mess just moments later.

Hmmm…I would think that God must say that same line over and over and over in reference to us. How many times has He cleaned up a mess in my life only to have me go back and completely mess it up again? How many times have I been given an abundance of grace and mercy and forgiveness, only to sin in the very next instant? What a blessing that God’s thoughts are so much different than my own and instead of focusing on the fact that I have once again broken what He just fixed, He chooses to forgive me of my sin and completely forget about it.

How many times a day do I think about what needs to be done at home compared to how many times a day I think about what needs to be done in my heart to honor and glorify God? I need to put more emphasis on keeping my heart clean and less emphasis on keeping my house clean. Why do I sometimes feel that it’s easier to put on my rubber gloves and take my mop and broom and get to work than it is to be filled with the Spirit and strive to honor God and serve others and keep my heart clean?

Luke 10:38-42 tells us the story of Mary & Martha. Jesus came to their house and Mary sat at His feet to listen and learn while Martha busied herself cleaning and serving and seeing to her guests needs. We all know the end of the story…Martha was rewarded for her hard work…right? No! Jesus said that Mary had chosen to do what was needed…to glean from His words and to apply them to her heart. What good does a clean house do if your heart is filthy?

How’s your heart right now? Is it clean or is it harboring sin? Have you been agonizing over a clean house more than a pure heart? Take a moment to examine your life and to ask God to cleanse you from sin. Then go a step further and ask God to show you how He wants to use your life to glorify Him.