Recently one of the beloved sisters at my church sent out an e-mail asking for prayer regarding a mouse in her house.  I thought that was pretty cool that she asked for prayer for that…I certainly would have as well!  However, she said something that intrigued me…something about wanting to get rid of it and “…what it represents in my life…”  It made me think of the mouse that got caught in a trap in my kitchen just yesterday.  Ewww…how disgusting and stinky!!  And then the Holy Spirit took my thoughts a bit deeper.

I thought about how there, in my kitchen, was this stinky, dead mouse…in the midst of what I see as a clean and neat home.  You see, for those of you who know me well, you know that I am a little “O.C.” (obsessive-compulsive) and can be a bit “Martha”-like about keeping my house relatively neat and tidy.  However, frequent cleaning and straightening up did not stop that disgusting vermin from entering in and trying to make himself at home…much like the sin in my heart. 

While the outside can look neat and together…while I can do the “necessary” things that may look right (e.g. daily prayer, reading the Word, fasting, etc.), how much ugliness and “stink” am I still allowing have its way inside?  I was convicted ever so sweetly and gently by the Holy Spirit.

How many of us are allowing the “vermin” of sneaky, disgusting sins to run around the rooms of our heart?  Only the Pharisees were concerned about making the “outside of the cup” clean while not taking care to ensure the inside was pleasing to the Father (Matt 23:25).  I pray God continues to show me the “vermin” (2 Cor 13:5).  After all, I did say I want to go deeper with Him in intimacy just today to another sister.  And with depth comes more revelation of sin.  But, aaaahh…He’s so good and gracious!!  His Spirit allows such godly sorrow to bring forth repentance (2 Cor 7:10).  Thank you, Lord!  And, thanks to my beloved sister for sharing that prayer request.  Vermin be gone…in Jesus’ name!!