Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical, South Pacific, had a delightful song, originally sung by Mary Martin, “I’m Going Wash that Man Right Outa’ my Hair.” This tune and lyrics went on to explain about her cleansing her heart by ridding herself of her feelings for the character, Emile de Becque.

Then we have God talking to Ezekiel saying, (Ezekiel 36:25-26) “For here’s what I’m going to do: I’m going to take you out of these countries, gather you from all over, and bring you back to your own land. I’ll pour pure water over you and scrub you clean. I’ll give you a new heart, put a new spirit in you. I’ll remove the stone heart from your body and replace it with a heart that’s God-willed, not self-willed. I’ll put my Spirit in you and make it possible for you to do what I tell you and live by my commands. You’ll once again live in the land I gave your ancestors. You’ll be my people! I’ll be your God!”

There are certainly many reasons for cleanliness and the need to feel “clean.”  Health benefits are number one. Cleansing your thoughts like Mary Martin’s song in the musical suggested is another way, but the most powerful is a good, thorough God cleansing! He loves us unconditionally, so appearing before God with negative thoughts, a cluttered mind, the dirt and smudges of an unclean life, makes you prime for His cleansing! Psalm 51:1-13 ( reading from The Message version of scriptures)

“Soak me in your laundry and I’ll come out clean,
    scrub me and I’ll have a snow-white life.
Tune me in to foot-tapping songs,
    set these once-broken bones to dancing.
Don’t look too close for blemishes,                     
    give me a clean bill of health.
God, make a fresh start in me,
    shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life.
Don’t throw me out with the trash,
    or fail to breathe holiness in me.”

Present yourself, to God daily, be open to cleansing, and allow Him to create in you a clean heart and renew a right spirit within you.

Jill