Day 5
Deep Cleaning Unforgiveness
The process of deep cleaning is long and painful. You not only have to pick up the clutter but also have to address the hidden dirt that collects in the baseboards, the corners, and the places you don’t often look. In the process, it starts to look and feel even messier than you started, and you’re tempted to walk away and give up.
The process of deep cleaning our souls works the same way. It’s painful to unpack a lifetime of emotional baggage. But if we keep going, we will find healing.
One of the hardest things to purge is unforgiveness. We’re tempted to think that unforgiveness gives us power, when in reality, it keeps us a victim.
Yet we keep clinging to our unforgiveness, convinced that doing so is fair.
But as Jesus followers, we don’t focus on what’s fair. We focus on being faithful. And
one of the most faithful things we can do is offer forgiveness, especially when it’s undeserved.
Just look at how Scripture describes forgiveness in these two passages:
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:31-32 NIV But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. … Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and … Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:8, 12-13 NIVWe’ve got to deep clean our bitterness, rage, and anger, and replace it with compassion, kindness, and humility. Why? Because we’ve been forgiven of much.
It’s not easy to forgive. But when we follow Jesus, the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives in us. And His Spirit is strong enough to help us forgive those who have hurt us, even in the most horrendous ways.
So, when you’re struggling to offer forgiveness, consider this question: Do you want to be right, or do you want to be healed?
You can choose to keep holding on to hurt, convinced that keeping score keeps you ahead. Or you can choose to forgive anyway, knowing that you’re never more like Your Father than when You forgive one of His kids.
This kind of deep work requires humility, honesty, and compassion for both yourself and the other person. And while forgiveness is not a magic solution that will fix all your problems, it does help you fix your eyes on your Father, who is guiding you, helping you, and cheering for you in the process.
Pray: God, thank You for Your forgiveness through Jesus. I’m really struggling to forgive _______ for ________. But I know that forgiveness means freedom, and I want to be free. Help me completely surrender my hurt to You, and help me receive Your kindness, comfort, and compassion. I want to choose to forgive others today and every day. Help me release resentment and choose kindness, trusting You in the whole process. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Day 6
Deep Cleaning Your Past
It’s hard to ask the Holy Spirit to cleanse us, because it means admitting our brokenness. Often, we’d rather hide our mistakes or try to self-help our way to Jesus. But the Gospel isn’t about pulling ourselves up to God’s level. It’s about God sending His Son down to ours.
Your past doesn’t have to paralyze you. Your mistakes do not define you. Your brokenness is not too big for the God who set the stars into motion.
Sometimes, the most faith-filled thing we can do is come to God in the middle of our mess, acknowledging that it’s too big for us to clean up.
We see a powerful example of this in Matthew 9. A woman who had been bleeding for 12 years approaches Jesus, knowing that if she can only touch the hem of his garment, she’ll be healed, whole, and restored.
This woman would have been considered ceremonially unclean, meaning that she had been rejected for more than a decade. Can you imagine the faith required to push past a crowd who says you’re unworthy to get to the Savior?
This woman recognizes she needs help, and she sees her Helper. And what happens next is a powerful reminder for us all:
Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment. Matthew 9:22 NIVHer faith healed her. Not her efforts, good works, achievements, or brilliance. Her faith.
The truth is none of us can deep clean ourselves. Our mess is a reminder that we need a Savior, and His name is Jesus.
Pray: God, I come to You today feeling the weight of my mistakes. Remove my guilt and shame, and remind me of Your love, forgiveness, and mercy. Help me overcome any unbelief in my heart and strengthen my faith so that I can serve You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
