The annual chore of unclogging the gutters was something that I did not enjoy. However, climbing the ladder and removing the accumulated debris that had gotten stuck in the gutters was necessary. Leaves, dirt, maple seed propellers and sticks mingled with dirt made for a thick mortar that had to be removed by hand. The flow of rain off the roof would be hindered without careful attention to cleaning and unclogging the gutters.
Our relationship with God is something that needs careful maintenance as well. Like rain from heaven God desires to nourish us with His abundant blessings and His life-giving Word. He tells us in Isa. 55:10,11: “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud…so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth…” Our times of devotion and our seasons of prayer can ensure that our spiritual life gets the watering that is greatly needed. I don’t know about you but sometimes my gutters get clogged. There are times that my relationship with God is not what it should be.
Unclogging our gutters may require identifying some unconfessed sin and then asking God for His forgiveness and strength to overcome it. Distractions can clog our gutters. Our time on our phones, watching television, and checking our social media can distract us from the time we need with the Lord. Perhaps we need to do a media fast that may help us to unclog our gutters. Another thing that can clog the gutters is an undisciplined mind. Often our prayers and time spent in God’s Word gets sidelined because our mind wanders all over the place. We can help this problem by having a specific prayer list. We can also start praying scripture. As we pray God’s Word back to Him our mind will come in line with our Lord and His will for us.
With regret, I remember failing to clean my gutters to the point little maple trees began to sprout in the debris I had neglected. What is hindering the free-flowing relationship with God we so desperately need? Don’t you think it is time to start unclogging the gutters?