Faith-bearing Seed for the Soul
"While the earth remaineth,
Seedtime and harvest
....shall not cease"

Genesis 8:22

It's House KEEPING Time!

I've been doing some heavy house cleaning...you know, the into the cracks and crevices kind. The entire time I was scrubbing the white ceramic floor tile with a brush, I kept thinking about a lady I know that used to do house cleaning. She was an awesome house cleaner! She would find dirt in places I never ever even dreamed of looking for it.

But, if you ever visited her personal home, you'd never believe it ... clutter everywhere, piles upon piles of STUFF everywhere. Then, on occasion she'd have a gathering and the place would be spotless. She is a prime example of a house cleaner, but she is no house keeper! A house cleaner's home is clean for an hour or so right after it's cleaned and then the clutter begins to build again, while a house keeper enjoys the pleasures of a clean house all the time.

When you don't keep a house clutter free and dirt free continuously a lot of tension builds, there's misery and frustration and a lot of guilt exists.

Because any time someone comes over unexpectedly, you are embarrassed. Plus, when things are not in order, lots of energy is wasted looking for things. However, after the house is finally cleaned what happiness, joy and relief.

In Psalm 32, David expressed these same feelings about God's dwelling place...US. When we let the clutter and dirt of sin build up in us, we have guilt to carry: dishonesty, misery and frustration. David said that continuous daily repentance is needed, rather than allowing those little "sins" to accumulate and trying to hide them constantly. God knows every secret sin, and just like an unexpected visit by the pastor, our secret sins will find us out at the worse times. (Ps. 90:8)

Psalm 32:6 (emphasis mine)

Now I say that each believer should confess his sins to God when he is aware of them, while there is time to be forgiven. Judgment will not touch him if he does.

Immediate repentance is like being a good house keeper so that you can enjoy the benefits of a clean house all the time. Often Christians live such depressing and defeated lives because instead of repenting of known sin, large or small, it is hidden and pretended like it is not there. David admitted to doing this too...

Psalms 32:3

There was a time when I wouldn't admit what a sinner I was. But my dishonesty made me miserable and filled my days with frustration. All day and all night Your hand was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water on a sunny day until I finally admitted all my sins to You and stopped trying to hide them. I said to myself, I will confess them to the Lord." And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.

David did some HEAVY "house cleaning" and finally realized the need to become a house keeper insofar as his soul was concerned. Here are the benefits of immediate, moment by moment repentance:

Psalms 32:1-2

What happiness for those whose guilt has been forgiven! What joys when sins are covered over! What relief, for those who have confessed their sins and God has cleared their record.

Perhaps it's house keeping time at your house? Se'lah.

Planted and rooted in Him,

Marlene

Seed for Thought Devotionals are written as the Lord leads and are sent only if you request a subscription by e-mail.  

Would you like to subscribe to the TexasSower Devotional?  e-mail texassower@texassower.com and put "subscribe" in the subject line.

"Keep on sowing your seed, for you never know

which will grow--perhaps it all will."

Eccl. 11:6

return to the TexasSower home page

.

You are cordially invited to visit the   page for additonal inspiration readings and prayer..