That ball rolled right under the……refrigerator.  I did not want to go there this morning, but it was the baby’s ball. 

I found a flashlight, got down on all fours, and shined the light into the darkness. There was the ball – sitting right in the middle of a dusty mess!

If you ask me if I make my bed every morning, I can go super spiritual on you and righteously proclaim, “Yes”.  If you walk into my house, you will see it is neat and appears clean.

But under that refrigerator – don’t go there!

I did go there this morning, though, for the sake of the baby’s ball. You know what I found? Dirt, dust, and other things that I won’t mention. That spot was clean when we put that refrigerator in, but just look what living life has brought in!

And so began a morning of cleaning…

My heart is like that. 

I can clean up my actions on the outside and look pretty good, but life happens. Interactions occur. Problems arise. I rub up against attitudes and actions that bother me.

Thoughts, grievances, hurts, pride, you name it, lodge in my heart and leave it less than pristine. Dusty places that I have not allowed God’s light to shine on can make my heart a mess. 

Sometimes, a word or a look will land right in the middle of one of those dusty places, and that dirt will become evident in my response. 

I have a choice then.  Acknowledge the dirt and allow God to cleanse it or close my eyes and leave the dirt to continue collecting the dust bunnies of bad attitude.

The good news is that when I acknowledge my sin – my heart mess – to God, He is faithful and just to clean it up (I John 1:9).  He cleans from the inside out, so there is no worry about being surprised by a mess when God is in charge.

I think that ball rolled under my refrigerator for a reason. Today is probably a good day to allow God to do some cleaning in my heart.

Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

I John 1:⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Photo – Rain on the River, Beth Mims