Dirty, dirty, dirty

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🧼 DIRTY, DIRTY, DIRTY

What My Kitchen Taught Me About the Soul

In Norway, there's a unique tradition that takes place every year before Christmas. It’s not about shopping or baking cookies—it's about cleaning. And not just a light dusting, but a deep, thorough cleaning from ceiling to floor, including the inside and outside of every cabinet. We call it general cleaning.

Today, I tackled the kitchen cabinets. At first glance, everything looked clean and tidy. But when I took out all the items inside, a different story unfolded. Dust, crumbs, and hidden grime became visible. I grabbed a wet cloth and started wiping down the shelves. By the time I was done, the cloth was filthy. I couldn’t believe how much dirt was hiding in those seemingly clean cabinets.

As I was scrubbing, I couldn’t help but think: we humans do the same thing with ourselves. We bathe, shower, put on nice clothes, and try to present ourselves as clean and polished on the outside. But what about our inner selves—our soul, body, and spirit?

Every day, we take in things through our eyes, ears, and emotions. Some of it uplifts us, but let’s be honest—some of it pollutes us. Just like the cabinets, we might look okay on the outside, but when we stop and reflect, we may discover that our inner being needs some serious cleaning, too.

But here's the good news: there’s no mess too great for God to handle. He invites us to come and be cleansed—no soap or water needed. Just an honest conversation.

“Come now, let us reason together,” says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.”
—Isaiah 1:18

What a beautiful invitation. God asks us to reason with Him—to talk, to open up, and to let Him in. We do this through prayer and by reading His Word. Yes, the Bible is a big book, but within its pages are the words that renew us daily.

And if you're wondering how to stay clean—not just physically, but spiritually—Scripture gives us a roadmap:

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true,
whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—
if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
—Philippians 4:8

So next time you're wiping down your kitchen or organizing your closet, take a moment to reflect. Our hearts, just like our homes, need regular cleaning too.

Because being clean on the outside is good,
but being clean on the inside?
That’s life-changing.

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🙏 Closing Prayer

Lord, thank You for the gentle reminders hidden in everyday tasks. Just as I clean the dust from my home, help me to invite You into the corners of my heart that need Your touch. Renew my spirit with Your Word, and help me to focus on what is true, noble, pure, and lovely. May I carry Your peace and cleanliness into every space I enter. Amen.