We are familiar with nasty smells in our home or car, but what happens when the stench is coming from our very soul? Kerryn encourages us to seek the perfect solution.
“As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor” (Ecclesiastes 10:1).
Have you ever had a really bad stench in your home that you can’t get rid of?
We have a waterbed that was purchased over 30 years ago to relieve my back pain from scoliosis. It’s been wonderful.
Unfortunately, a cat with sharp claws and a waterbed are not a good mix, requiring us to replace the bed’s ‘bladder.’ Multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS) and a new rubber bladder are not a good mix either. So, I’ve been unable to go into our bedroom for over five months.
We’ve used all of the tricks imaginable to try to remove the ghastly smell that escapes from our bedroom whenever the door is opened. Airing the new bladder outside and washing and wiping it with all sorts of concoctions have helped–but not enough.
After praying about it, I felt it needed the water emptied and vinegar placed inside to rinse it out from the inside instead. Then one would remove the vinegar that’s been polluted by the stench, and refill it with clean water. I tried this and it was a huge help.
As I shared about this with another devotional writer she quickly responded with the following spiritual analogy, which I’ve pondered since.
“Sometimes the messes and ‘stench’ in our lives need the Lord to clean it from the inside out!”
Our heart, mind, and soul sometimes needs a good clean, as we take our unforgiveness, bitterness, anger, frustration and folly to Him.
I sure don’t want to be a bad smell, as it’s disgusting and offends people, who are reviled by it.
We don’t need to stay in that state!
There’s only one way to cleanse us from the inside out. Let’s come before Jesus now, so that He can wash us of all of our stench, for He makes us “whiter than snow” (Psalm 51:7).
Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for dying on the cross for our sins that are a filthy stench. Thank You that Your resurrection is the victory for us all, as we surrender to You. Praise You, Jesus! Amen.
About the Author:
Kerryn Wright lives with her family among the gum trees in South Australia. She was a special education teacher prior to chronic illnesses. Her husband is carer for three of their family, who have chronic illnesses and disabilities. God has always guided them through life’s challenges, often in surprising ways.
Have you allowed a filthy stench to gradually take over your life? Don’t worry! Jesus has the victory through His death and resurrection. Will you come before Him now, so that He can be Lord of your life? It’s simple–all you need to do is share your heart with Him, ask for His forgiveness, and let Him enter your life with His beautiful aroma.
This is “By Your Side” with Tenth Avenue North. Kerryn is right about how easily we can forget to ask God for forgiveness for those “little” sins that can really build up. Sometimes we are putting all our energy and efforts into things for God that don’t really even matter–what He really wants is our heart and our desire to be more like Him. This song is a beautiful reminder that God is by our side no matter what we’ve done. He is there, holding us, waiting for us to come to Him. Hugs, -Lisa
Kerryn, I know how you have struggled with getting that “waterbed’ back to being useful for you. What a great analogy your friend gave that became the message for this devotional. It is so true. I know that within “me”, it is the internal battles in my mind and thoughts that EVEN I HATE. The stench of them is awful and I know God wants me thinking on the “good, true, beautiful”. Yes, there are times a lot has to be processed before it can LEAVE and that is part of casting our cares onto Him along with asking forgiveness if sin has crept it, as well.
Right before I read this devotional of yours, I finished my morning time with the Lord among which was reading in “Jesus Calling” and what that message was this day truly fit as “hand in glove” with your message. Here are some excerpts:
Jesus Calling ( Sarah Young )
“Wear my robe of righteousness with ease. I custom made it for you, to cover you from head to toe. . .Sometimes you forget that My righteousness is a gift, and you feel ill at ease in your regal robe. . .I want you to trust me enough to realize your privileged position in My kingdom. Relax in the luxuriant folds of your magnificent robe. Keep your eyes on Me as you practice walking in this garment of righteousness. When your behavior is unfitting for one in My kingdom, do not try to throw off your royal robe. Instead, throw off the unrighteous behavior. Then you will be able to feel at ease in this glorious garment, enjoying the gift I fashioned for you before the foundation of the world.”
xo Lynn
Thanks Lynn! 🙂
It was Vicki that said that to me & it kept going over & over in my mind & God convicted me through it.
LOVED the reading you put there. It’s excellent. Thanks dear friend. Go bless. Lotsoluv Kerryn
Kerryn, OK so I think you have been following me around these last few days! Thank you for the reminder, I have deff found that correlation between those ‘little” infractions and seperation from myself and my Savior. Plus the fact that anything that does that, is NOT little, it is in fact as wide the grand canyon!!!
I pray that I can be reminded that my desire is to be a sweet smelling fragrance, not a “stench” before Him.
So happy you shared with us. Praying for rest for you. Di
Thanks Di! 🙂
I chuckled about me following you around!! I so often think that with what others write too!
Soooo true that “anything that does that, is NOT little, it is in fact as wide as the grand canyon!!!” It really brought me back to the foot of the cross. God bless. Lotsoluv Kerryn
Kerryn, will try this again as it didn’t post!
Knowing what you’ve been going through with this waterbed, wasn’t surprised this title was yours 😉
Thanks for sharing once again, how God uses our “everyday” experiences, challenges and actions, to get our attention and bring us closer to where He wants us to be – so personal and I’m sure it sticks in our memory better too.
Blessings,
Fiona
Great parallel reading from Jesus Calling you shared Lynn!
Thanks Fiona! 🙂
Yep…. this bed saga sure has gone on & on & the stench has affected others too! 😉 The aim is to be back in my bedroom before the end of the month. Sure hope so with the bed that we’re able to borrow from friends. Just gotta get that stench out of our bedroom. Thank goodness that God’s washing of our souls happens in an instant! God bless. Lotsoluv Kerryn
Well said Kerryn. We often worry about our outward ‘scent’ when it is something within that needs cleansing.
Blessings.
Thanks Karlton! 🙂
I love the way that you write things so succinctly! God bless. Lotsoluv Kerryn