How to Get Clean: Lather, Rinse, Repeat

I haven’t looked at my shampoo bottle lately, but in the “old” days, the directions used to say, “lather, rinse, repeat.” We don’t really need those directions for how to wash our hair, do we? I mean, it’s hair. That doesn’t take too much to figure out. In fact, there have been many modern shampoo companies that have even made fun of those directions and added funny comments on the back of their bottles. Here is an old article from the Washington Post several years ago that still makes me smile: https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/magazine/1979/12/30/double-bubble/5708142c-d880-48fa-b4d5-bcc88125ab2f/

No, we don’t need directions on how to clean our hair. But maybe those directions might be good to remember in our spiritual lives.

From Dirty to Clean Every Day

One of my favorite Bible verses is Lamentations 3:22-23: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness.”  If you’ve read my previous posts, I’m sure you’ve seen it mentioned several times. It’s  such a wonderful promise that God gives us a “do-over” and makes us clean every morning.

I don’t know about you, but I mess up every single day. I don’t like it when I do. I feel so disappointed in myself. I’ve let Him down again. Why can’t I get it right?  I wish I could just stop those worldly behaviors and become more like my Savior. And stay that way! 

Our Savior Makes Us Clean

That passage in Lamentations reminds me that he understands and forgives my weaknesses. So he lathers me clean and rinses away all those sins. I sure love that fresh forgiven feeling!  But then, oops, I do it again. He just shakes His head and smiles, “I’ve got you, my child.” Thank you, dear Father for the “repeat” again tomorrow.

There’s even better news to go with this promise. He not only forgives our sins, but he also FORGETS them. I know it’s not easy for me to let go of my mess-ups. Sometimes I forget that I’m clean and forgiven. I remember those mistakes and start to feel dirty all over again. Can you relate? He tells us to “stop it!” If He can forget those mistakes, he certainly doesn’t want us to rehash them.

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for your gift of salvation. It is only because of Jesus, that we are washed clean every day. Our sins are forgiven and forgotten, and we are so grateful. Help us to treat others the way you treat us — always with love and forgiveness. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.