Cleaning Our Spiritual Filters

Recently, I was cleaning out the filter of my clothes dryer. Usually, I just pull the lint out, but I pulled the entire filter out and was shocked at all the packed-in lint. There was no doubt my dryer was working overtime. It made me ponder, “What kind of spiritual lint or clutter am I accumulating, therefore slowing down the work of the Holy Spirit in my life?”

I have learned a sign of spiritual clutter in my life is physical clutter. When I look around my office or home, and all I see are piles, I know I have pulled back control from the Holy Spirit. I feel overwhelmed. I don’t know where to begin to put order into my spiritual and physical life.

I need to stop, take a deep breath, pray, and allow God to reveal what needs to be dealt with beyond the obvious of hanging up my clothes, putting things in the proper file, etc. It is time to ask what spiritual issues need to be addressed, and more importantly, to listen. It is usually not a pleasant process, but it is a freeing process.

Giving and asking for Forgiveness

Both giving forgiveness and asking for forgiveness are probably my most vulnerable areas for accumulating spiritual lint. This saddens me, especially since forgiveness is at the center of Christ’s sacrifice for me. But truth be told, I am stingy with forgiveness. I don’t like this about myself. There is often an internal battle of excusing myself over actions I deem insignificant. It can be over a seemingly minor infraction, perhaps a snippy response to my dear husband when I am tired, “No big deal,” I tell myself, “I am tired.” But it is a big deal.

Each time I fail to ask for forgiveness, there is a buildup of hardness. It is a type of spiritual plaque clogging the free flow of God’s spirit just as the buildup of bad cholesterol inhibits blood flow. Eventually, I risk not hearing God’s gentle prompting, “That was unnecessary, apologize.” Jesus reminds us in Luke 16:11, “The one who is faithful in a very little thing is also faithful in much; and the one who is unrighteous in a very little thing is also unrighteous in much.” Every time I ignore the Lord’s conviction in a minor matter, I risk falling into sin in a significant matter, progressively searing my conscience.

The Acknowledgment of Wrongdoing

The beautiful truth is my Father knows my weakness. He has provided His son’s sacrifice and the means for the daily cleaning of my spiritual filters. It is confession: the acknowledgment of wrongdoing. The Amplified Bible expresses our need for confession in James 5:16 “Therefore, confess your sins to one another [your false steps, your offenses], and pray for one another, that you may be healed and restored. The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) can accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have tremendous power].”

Confession is not for God’s sake but for ours. The Lord knows as we acknowledge our offenses, we keep our relationship with Him and others healthy. As we practice confession, we build spiritual muscle memory, which makes confession easier and more automatic.

I feel freer when I confess my sins. It is an intentional act of giving up my pride. There is a sense of refreshment and renewal. At the same time, I am allowing the fruits of the spirit to grow and thrive. I love what Louise Smith, one of the first top-level women NASCAR drivers, said: “You can’t reach for anything new if your hands are still full of yesterday’s junk.”

It’s time for spring cleaning. I encourage you to join me by letting go of any accumulated spiritual lint and the clutter of old hurts, unforgiveness, disappointments, and pride. Make room for all that God has provided. He has given us nonperishable and lavish free access to His gifts of love, joy, peace, and forgiveness.

Blessings,

Personal Parables is the blog of Dyann Shepard. Get Dyann’s complementary study in Proverbs and prayer guide, What to Do When You Don’t Feel Good Enough. If you need encouragement to remember the truth about yourself in times of doubt and anxiety, this free 5-day study is for you. Follow Dyann and Personal Parables on Instagram and Facebook. Dyann is available for speaking, guest blogging, and article writing.

Scripture for Meditation

Here are some passages of scripture to help you meditate on my post, Cleaning Our Spiritual Filters.

Psalm 139:23, 24 – Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts and see if there be any hurtful way in me; lead me in an everlasting way.

Psalm 19:12 – Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from hidden faults.

Ephesians 2:4-9 – But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

Psalm 19:14 – Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Ephesians 4:32 – Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, and forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.