Hebrews 4:7b – Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts. (ESV)

Towing a caravan in the remote parts of the Welsh countryside, combined with fans blowing onto the windscreen, resulted in a distinct film of the outside dust attached to the inside of the windscreen — not that it is that noticeable in the recent autumnal cloud and mirk.

As I took Sophia to school on a clear day in September, during a reprieve from the damp and mirk, the sun was still low in the sky, which shone into the eyes of those in the queue of cars facing the sun going into town.

As I sat waiting for the cars in front of us to move, I found that the accumulated dust had become more imposing, as it became difficult to see past the refracted light from the dust that the sun had lit up like a searchlight.

Squinting at the car in front of me, it became obvious it was now past the time to clear the dust off the glass. So, as we sat there awaiting our turn, I got a handful of tissues and wiped the glass until there were no more smears or dust left to catch the light. I could focus on the queue once more without squinting.

Maybe God was dropping me a hint: Was this a reflection of my busy life? Was I blithely going along in the busyness, allowing the fine dust of this world to accumulate on my spiritual being and subsequently influencing my thoughts and actions because I was not giving Jesus my time?

Having cleaned the car window, subsequently I have been asking Jesus to inspect my life and attitudes. I have given Jesus permission to shine His light on me to highlight any grime. I have asked for His forgiveness and for Him to remove anything that I may have allowed to adhere which affects my vision of, and attitudes for, the kingdom of Jesus.

Fortunately, if we let Him, Jesus is only a prayer away from cleaning us up, when we ask Him in, and give Him permission to clean house.

When we have been cleaned up, we can see more clearly where we are going, and we are more able to discern what the God promptings are, rather than just acting on the desires of the world's normality impinging on our judgement.

Prayer: Lord, we rejoice in the beauty of the autumnal sunshine, Your creation, and the changing colours of the leaves and bushes. Forgive us for our failings as we give You permission today to clean us and remove the smears of life. By the power of the Holy Spirit, grant us 20/20 vision to see the things of importance to You and Your kingdom in the world about us and in the people and situations that we find ourselves in today. This we pray in, through, and for the love of Jesus. Amen.

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About the author:

Rod Marshall <roderickhenrymarshall@gmail.com>
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England
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