I find that when my surroundings are out of order or a mess I can't concentrate. If there are stacks of paper, books out of place or clutter around I can't focus and I'm not motivated to work. Last night I attended a formal event, and in the process of getting dressed my room became a colossal mess. Which bag should I carry? After selecting one all the others were left on the floor. Where's my scarf? Scarfs went flying. These shoes are too high. These shoes are too low. Shoes were every where. You get the picture.
When I woke up this morning to pray. I looked around the room and, of course, there was no way I could concentrate on praying with the mess. I said to myself (or so I thought), "I can't pray in this mess." Then God spoke to me in middle of the mess. When our lives are chaotic, in shambles, or a colossal mess we feel the same way. I lied. I cheated. I stole. I gossiped. I fornicated. I was envious and jealous. God doesn't want to hear from me. I am a mess. I can't pray.
One of Satan's biggest deceptions is that we have to clean ourselves up before we come to God. Well, the truth is that God's specialty is cleaning up messes. The Bible is filled with messed up people that God cleaned up. My favorite messed up saint is Paul. He was so messed up he was killing Christians and thought he was doing God a favor! God put on his janitors uniform and appeared to Paul as he was on his way to slaughter some more Christians. God cleaned him up and he went on to write the majority of the New Testament.
God wants to clean up our messes, the chaos and confusion that's in our lives, the bad relationships, the financial crisis, the abuse. Whatever the mess is God wants to clean it up. You don't have to do it yourself. You don't have to wait until you've conquered that addiction. You can pray now in the middle of your mess. We've all sinned from Adam to Abraham, David, Peter and Paul. We have all sinned and fallen short of God's glory. If you want God to clean up your mess, I encourage to stop what you're doing and pray right now! It's really simple to talk to God. Just say, "Dear God, I'm tired of living in this mess. Please clean me up." And He'll do it. In fact, that's all He's been waiting to hear you say.
If you haven't been to church in a while don't let the mess stop you from going. You may think that you don't need to go to church, but you actually need it more than you think. The church is a body of believers who are ready and willing to love you in spite of the mess. I challenge you to go to church this morning. If you don't have a church home, you're more than welcomed to visit mine - A Place Called Hope 3761 NW 94th Avenue Cooper City, Florida. Our service times are Sundays at 10:30 am and 12:15 pm and Wednesdays at 7:30 pm. If you have a church home and haven't been there in a while, dust off your Sunday best and stop by.
Remember God wants to talk to you today, and despite what you may think or feel you can pray in your mess.
I love you, but God loves your more!
Kendy
