10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
Psalm 51:10–13
I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.
Charles Dickens
Coffee Pots and Cell Towers
What do coffee pots and cell towers have in common? They both can get slow and need a reset. This morning I had already planned to run some vinegar through the coffee pot to clean out the insides so that it would run smoother and faster. I was in the starting the vinegar solution in the coffee pot when the security technician arrived to do a mandatory upgrade on my system. He told me the cell carrier was running slowly today because they were working on the old towers, so a 3-minute upgrade might take an hour to set up.
Both the towers and my coffee pot were in need of a little cleaning up. This time of year I try to do a deep clean of my house to get ready for the holiday season so that everything is fresh and I can enjoy the time without stressing about cleaning. Every once in a while, maybe more often, our spirits need a deep cleaning for some of the same reasons.
Clean Heart
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Jeremiah 17:9
Our hearts can get as clogged as my coffee pot, which has become coated with coffee dregs and hard water deposits from repeated use. Our hearts can become coated with sin and deposits from living in a harsh world. It’s a gradual process that often goes unnoticed until one day we realize that it’s not working like it should. We are slow to love and quick to anger, or we have just lost our zeal for life. We need the cleaning power of confession and forgiveness to rid our hearts of the dregs of sin.
Renewed Spirit
22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Ephesians 4:22-24
While I did clean my coffee pot with vinegar, I was forced to use the same water that causes hard water deposits. The cleaning has limited effectiveness because I can’t completely get rid of the problem. However, our spirits are a different story. When we accept Jesus Christ as Lord, we become new creatures in Christ. Still, we live in a sinful world so we still struggle with keeping our spirits right. Once in a while we need to renew our spirits by putting off the old man and putting on the new.
Restored Joy
4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.
Philippians 4:4
Once my coffee pot is clean and sparkling there is a simple joy in making a cup of coffee first thing in the morning. We can start out each day rejoicing in the simple blessings that God has given us, not the least of these is the gift of His Son on that first Christmas. For that we can always be joyful.
Upheld by Free Spirit
If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
John 8:36
Because of the gift of Christ we can all be free of sin. After His death and resurrection, He sent us the gift of the Holy Spirit to be our comforter. The Holy Spirit upholds us, strengthens us, leads us, and guides us. Because the Holy Spirit lives within us, we have access to continual cleansing and renewal. We don’t have to wait for a special occasion to spruce up our hearts. We can have it every day of the year.
As the Christmas season approaches, many people talk about Christmas Spirit as if it is something that comes once a year. However, we know that the true Spirit of Christmas is always present in the heart of every Christian. We only need to tap into its power. So, as we prepare our homes for friends and family, let’s prepare our hearts as well.
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LOOOOOVE this analogy!
I’m not a coffee drinker, but I know my insides need a good cleaning periodically. Only time with our Lord will do the job. Enjoyed your inspiring message.