As winter is coming to an end, many of us are preparing for spring cleaning, an act where we during the early months of Spring choose to throw away things we don’t need in order to make room for what is to come.
Similarly, God does the same thing in our lives. Let’s dig in.
A few months ago, I was at my second job. As an after-school counselor, and my co-workers and I were tasked with cleaning up messes that had been made, crafts that were left undone, and more.
Eventually, our boss asked us to clean tables and at first, I was confused. Why? Well, because I didn’t understand why we needed to clean tables we don’t use. But, out of obedience and sportsmanship to my coworkers, I grabbed a clorox wipes and began to clean.
As I did, I looked at the tables in amazement. Before I began to clean them, the Lord had me to observe them. As I did, they seemed like they were not dirty. Sure – they were not sparkling and they did have a thin layer of dust, but hey- it was clean enough to me. Here is what they looked like:
See what I mean? Sure, there were visible specks of dirt, but I honestly did not think the tables were that dirty….until I begin to wipe it. Within 3 strokes of a Clorox wipe, I saw how dirty the table actually was. I mean- the white Clorox wipe was turning brown faster than I had expected.
As I began to clean each table, the Lord spoke these words to me:
“Malaysia, I am performing a gentle yet intentional cleansing of you.”
When I first heard those words, I smiled. God speaking this particular message didn’t surprise me because it was a confirmation of what He had already told me in His word:
“Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
– Psalm 51:7, NIV
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.”
In this psalm, Kind David was repenting. This psalm was written after he had commited adultery with Bathsheeba, and he knew he needed to lament before the Lord – and so he did.
In this particular passage, we see King David urging and pleading with God to cleanse and wash him. King David was cognizant of his shortcomings and knew that only The Father could cleanse Him thoroughly.
To be honest with you all, this psalm is a prayer I have used countless times in my personal life. Time and time again, after I have sinned- like David I find myself uttering these words because I need a deep cleaning that only PaPa can do.
As I navigate this current season of being cleansed, I’ll admit, there are times where I detest God’s process. A lot of times it’s Him correcting me and making me see just how much I need Him. Some days it’s like He’s holding up a mirror to me and I can’t stand it. Other times it feels like he’s ripping away at things – and it hurts to let go.
But, even in the midst of the uncomfortablness, I also wouldn’t trade it for the world.
I say this because God’s cleansing – while serious – is also sweet, gentle, and kind. As God reveals things in my life that need cleansing, He also gives me strategy as to how He will heal specific areas. When He reveals, He Heals.
And when He reveals a need for cleansing in you, friend, He will heal.
I’m being honest with you all because God is doing just that: cleansing each of us day by day.
Now , I don’t know what season you are in with our Father. But in each season, He is renewing us gently. Some days it will hurt. And boy, does it sting! But at the end of this cleansing process – we will indeed be whiter than snow.
How do I know? I can speak with assurance because God’s cleansing of us is rooted in His original design for us. You see, we are made in His image (Genesis 1:27) and He called us each with specific talents and purposes.
Yet, because we live in a fallen world, our God-like nature is often blocked by sin and unrighteousness. But when we surrendered our lives to Christ, God began His cleansing process.
This is the process of sanctification, where God makes us new to walk and talk like Jesus (Isaiah 48:10, John 17, 1 Thess. 4:3). It is God himself who strips us of old nature and prunes us into who He has already created and ordained us to be. Isn’t that something? God is just revealing what was already there, hidden by all of our muck, and showing us where His handprints are.
“You hem me in, behind and before,
Psalm 139:5 ESV
and lay your hand upon me.”
Again David wrote these words and they describe what we’ve been talking about perfectly.
This idea of hemming us in is God’s way of holding us together. Tailors hem shirts to cut off excess material , making the article of clothing tighter and more fit for its purpose.
In this same way, God hems us to Him as He cleanses us and makes us new. it is this dressing of us that makes us fitted for His purpose.
It is this hemming that cleanses every unrighteous idea and act and makes us holy before Him.
To conclude this post, I want to encourage you all that God is doing a deep cleansing in you and I. Even on the days where we can’t see it and especially during tough seasons of pruning, God is constantly cleaning us up.
I encourage you, reader, to trust Him because He uses even the dirtiest of things and makes it work for our good.
Happy cleaning!
With love and a new appreciation for God’s cleaning,
Malaysia 🙂
Chosen Grace 
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