Good morning to you; and this is Karen with Hope in Today Ministries, Inc. Do you ever hear a voice tell you something that is so cool and awesome that you just want to write it down? Do you ever have a conversation with that voice and ask it if you should get up and write it down? Then, if you have heard this voice and know it is Jesus, do you still want to ask this voice, “Is this really you Holy Spirit, gift of Jesus?” Well, I remembered the child in the Bible, and the next time he heard that voice, he was instructed to say, “Yes, Lord, I am listening!”
“Yes, Lord, I am listening!”
We can justify just about everything according to how it makes us feel. If we are we too tired, we can blow this voice off as imaginary? Or, if we don’t feel like it, we can choose to do as we please. However, what will happen when we simply say, “Yes Lord, I am listening?”
Yes, Lord, I am listening, so I got up to write what he says to me. The Holy Spirit of the Lord said to me, write about dirty laundry and compare that do a dirty soul. Write about a washing machine and compare how it cleans to how Jesus purifies our soul and makes us free. Write about the settings on the machine and compare those to the personalities of all who will read. Write about the additives, like detergent and fabric softener and compare those to the reading of God’s Word and abiding in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Now, the Lord said to me, yes, believe and get up and write, so I did. Now, the Lord says that our life is like the process of the wearing of clothes. At some point, our clothes are made new, so we too must be believe in Christ Crucified, that Jesus died for our sins; and rose for our life; and for the Salvation of the Lord to come to us and make us new. Then, there is a process we all go through in this life continually, the crucifying of our flesh, which is like washing our dirty laundry. The process of making Afresh!
“let’s start afresh”
We wouldn’t dare wear dirty laundry –unless we are a teenage boy (no pun against boys intended; I love my boy! Still yet, I have seen him pull dirty laundry out of the laundry basket to get his favorite socks when he was about nine or ten), but the point is, we all like to be dressed clean, even our teenage boys. How much more important is it, and to our benefit, to dress our heart, soul and spirit afresh in the Lord, making our perspective in line with God’s will anew with a new every day?
Repentance means more than sorry. Repentance means to turn around and go back to God’s Grace. We wash our cars when we see the need, but maybe that is just it? To see God’s view, we need to be reading God’s Word on a personal level and view of our personal life to be born again by believing on Jesus Christ; and also to be made afresh in Him each and every day.
God’s Word helps us see
Perhaps you are thinking, that this started off simple enough, but what is all this spiritual talk now? Well, if I might address that, I am sure that you are not the only one. The truth is, that is why the Spirit of the Lord woke me up to write about the comparison to a washing machine and the truth about what it does. Then, if you want to grow in your knowledge, you can pray in Jesus Name and pick up your Bible and the Lord Himself will help you understand what this all means in a practical way that will apply to your life.
Wash a load of clothes and think on these things. What is it about the tub of the washing machine that is comparing to a need in your life that is of God? I will think for me and allow you to think for you. And, you can say, Thank you Jesus! :)
And, you can say, Thank you Jesus! :)
And, as the Spirit of the Lord continues to guide my words to write to you, What is the power of the washing? What if there were no water? What if there was no tub to hold the clothes? How about that laundry detergent –what is it that cleans with the water in our spiritual life and walk with God?
Isn’t it nothing but the blood of Jesus and the power of the living and written word!
Isn’t it nothing but the blood of Jesus and the power of the living and written word! How about that additive of the fabric softener? I have a million thoughts of how sweet my life gets, the more and more time I spend with God! And, I believe it is best left to each of us to grasp this for ourselves to ask God, seek understanding and knock for the door to be opened to grasp what God will do for our benefit; and also for the benefit of those around us; as we are each transforming into the image of His precious Son!
What does Afresh mean?
I believe that is good enough for today. I hope that this is a blessing to you so much so that you will never just do laundry again! I hope that every time you see dirty laundry, you will praise God for providing all you need to make everything clean and like new. Sure, as our bodies grow older, like clothes, they get older too, but what happens in the water that makes everything on the inside afresh and anew!
In closing, you can take this revelation and apply it to exercise; as well as sleeping and eating habits and all those good habits we, sometimes, love to give up, and those bad habits we, sometimes, love to fall prey to, because we get bored, or tired; or feel emotional at times. Yet, what happens when we lean more into Jesus and less and less into ourselves?
Yet, what happens when we lean more into Jesus and less and less into ourselves?
Romans 12:2King James Version (KJV)
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Read God’s Word like you need air to breathe!
How? Read God’s Word like you need air to breathe! And, pray God’s Mind, like a river needs to flow …
- Definition of afresh. : from a fresh beginning : anew, again.
Hebrews 6:6 “to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh…”
Word UP Today: AFRESH!
Word UP Today: AFRESH! I had no idea how perfectly that word, “Afresh” fit in this Title, until I just looked it up! Going back to the top of this article, I actually questioned the voice that I heard tell me to write Afresh; and looked it up just before I posted this letter to you … to see if it fit. Oh, how much better we will be, when we simply learn to seek the voice of God; and then also trust the voice we hear from God; to obey! To God be the glory forever and ever. Amen!
Oh, how much better we will be, when we simply learn to seek the voice of God; and then, also trust the voice we hear from God to obey!
In Jesus Name, Holy Spirit you are welcome here!
And, pray God’s Mind, like a river needs to flow …
Thank you Jesus!
Love,
Karen Rowe