This thought came to me recently as I was praying and going through a not so fun pruning moment. As I felt the dirt being painfully squeezed out of me I received the vision of a dirty, wet mop.

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I think we can all agree that it’s beneficially necessary to get wrung out sometimes…just like a dirty. wet. mop.

I’m going to be honest here and tell you that in this moment of pruning I was dealing with frustration toward my husband and God was revealing to me that I’m a dirty wet mop. He was showing me that although my husband in my eyes might need a wringing of his own LOL I also needed to be wrung out. So the focus was not my husband, but that I had to allow God to prune me. I realized I have more control in my relationship with God versus in what I can do on my own strength toward my husband. All I can do is pray for him and allow God to prune me. Oftentimes, a lot of these things happen so God can improve the areas within us that need growth and strengthening.

Maybe you’re a filthy mess, hiding in a closet for a very long time and are now in desperate need of a cleansing. Or maybe you’ve already been cleansed yet you’re in the process of accumulating dirt all over again. We’re all in a different stage in this process. So I ask you–what type of dirty, wet mop are you?

Below you will find a list of the different types.

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Clean on the outside and dirty on the inside.

This mop appears to be clean because that’s how it looks on the outside but when looking at the center of it on the inside, we’ll find a lot of dark nasty residue.

Sometimes we fool ourselves into thinking we are clean. On the outside, we do good acts but on the inside our hearts are in a bad place. What good is it to eat healthy, volunteer, work out, love on animals, care for nature but have jealousy, unforgiveness, and bitterness in our heart?

…We know very well that we are not set right with God by rule-keeping but only through personal faith in Jesus Christ. How do we know? We tried it—and we had the best system of rules the world has ever seen! Convinced that no human being can please God by self-improvement, we believed in Jesus as the Messiah so that we might be set right before God by trusting in the Messiah, not by trying to be good. (Galatians 2:16 MSG)

Even after we’re clean I believe there’s some dirt, deep down inside somewhere, hanging on for dear life. We are a constant work in progress. The good news is that it can be extracted by Jesus.

We must continuously perform a self check. Even when we feel clean, we can find dirt on the inside. We must submit it to Christ and let the wringing begin!

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends You, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. (Psalm 129:23-24 NLT)

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Doesn’t use the proper soap.

This mop is probably using extremely diluted soap, if any at all. It’s constantly attempting to get clean but it never really achieves its full pristine potential.

Maybe it’s starting to become daunting for you to attempt to get clean to no avail. It’s possible you’re using some watered down methods such as; following false idols (because Kim Kardashian tweeted a great scripture that one week and Joel Osteen on Facebook is your daily bread), applying some bible verses but ignoring others, and fasting without leaning on the Lord and His word.

The only way to wipe our slate clean is through Christ.

Through repentance and the acceptance of Jesus Christ we can attain the Holy Spirit and He will then do the proper cleansing in us.

Our soap is Jesus.

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Using dirty water.

After many attempts, this mop fails at cleansing due to it constantly trying to get clean in dirty water. It never cleans out the water, recycles the filth, and as a result leaves a mess behind.

I think of two scenarios, both involving good intentions. First, we expect to get somewhere by partaking in the very mess we’re trying to get out of. And second, we lack to take the time out from our days to refresh our spirit (change the dirty water for some clean water!).

Sometimes we desperately want our circumstance or environment to change without us making any changes. We’re constantly surrounded by the wrong things and the wrong people bet never stop to think that maybe we need to take a step back from those people and those things in order that we may create a change.

After we take that step toward creating change we must never forget that we are beginning something new, something fresh. When the dirty water is swapped out for some clean water, the mop isn’t in a rush to go back to the dirty water. Neither should we. From then on, it should be a continuity of changing out the old for the new.

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! (2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT)

What are you reading, watching, and listening to?

Not only must we exchange our life for a new one but while here on Earth we have to keep watch. While being in the world, we must be careful we don’t become of the world. Constantly relying on the world to get us from day to day leaves us with a pile of garbage. The world takes more than it can give while God gives us more than we could ever imagine.

When we don’t swap out the dirty for the clean, we spread the garbage. We spread our bad attitude and fruitless habits.

Be sure your renewal comes from God and allow Him to change your water daily.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2 NIV)

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Lets the dirt fester.

This mop is never wrung out and allows the dirt to fester. It’s the epitome of a dirty, wet mop–just add stinky to the list. The stench will follow anywhere it goes and even linger for some time after.

Yuck. Some of us have let our dirt fester for far too long and yet we attempt to enter into relationships and situations only to leave behind an unpleasing aroma. This is how one person can cause damage to a family, a relationship, or a group of people. I’m sorry, but have you ever been on a NYC subway where someone who excreted on themselves entered the cart for all of 2 minutes yet leaves behind an unbreathable atmosphere? Exactly.

Maybe that person is you. OK, you didn’t excrete yourself but what type of trail are you leaving behind? You don’t understand why you have so many haters and you don’t understand why everywhere you go drama follows. It might very well be from storing tons of filth and it shows in your attitude as well as body language.

That filth you are festering can either be guilt, anger, hurts, or past baggage. The saying hurt people hurt people is very true. All that pent up dirt eventually boils up, implodes, and begins to spill out.

But if we confess our sins to him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. (1 John 1:9 NLT)

We must make the daily decision to be cleansed before we engage. This is especially important when dealing with children and in trying to find a spouse (read my post 10 Simple Steps to Finding a Husband) because if not, it becomes a painful partnership.

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Refuses the wringing.

So let’s pretend a mop could talk and move. This mop would fight back and refuse to allow the wringing. It wants to continue on it’s way, meanwhile leaving a trail of grime behind.

The wringing, although painful and uncomfortable, is necessary. We have to stop being stubborn!

This type of mop is applicable in two type of people.

The first is when we do things that aren’t very pleasing to God. He tries to wring us time and time again but we refuse. The reason we need to be wrung out is because we need to make room for growth, strength, and expansion. He wants to prune us so we can get out of our system everything that isn’t beneficial for us.

The second is when we’re busy accomplishing God’s work but we don’t take a moment to step back. God is calling us to renewal, we know it, but we refuse to take the time out to do so. He wants to prune us and refresh us so we can get back out there and continue to be His light.

How foolish can you be? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort? (Galatians 3:3 NLT)

Both are equally disobedient. Both need to submit to God so He may work in their heart. But without relinquishing control and surrendering to Him it won’t happen. We must first come to Him.

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Repeat wringer.

This mop has to be repeatedly wrung out. 

Normally I would say no matter how many wringings it takes, DON’T GIVE UP!

There are seasons when we’re not getting the lesson the first time around. Everything becomes redundant and eventually frustrating. Sometimes we either learn the hard way or we’re too late. Enough is enough and we know it. We’re exhausted from going over the same issues, problems, and battles no matter who it’s with. Sadly, WE are often the common factor.

For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror.  You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. (James 1:23-24 NLT)

At this point it isn’t because we have to, it’s because we choose to. We refuse to let go of the dirt. Instead, we momentarily endure the wringing for a day or two but then go right back to attaining filth as if we never had an intimate super-natural experience with God.

Because we don’t fully repent or renounce from what we’re battling, we’re always having to face it and repeat the same process.

Reminds me of the Israelites in the desert.

For forty years I was angry with them, and I said, ‘They are a people whose hearts turn away from me. They refuse to do what I tell them.’ (Psalm 95:10 NLT)

Stop going through the wringer already. Stop repeating bad habits and start submitting to Christ.

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Without a mop bucket.

This mop rolls solo and is without the help of the handy mop bucket.

Have you ever tried wringing a dirty wet mop with one hand? Have you ever had the help of a squeezing mop bucket?

Basically, two is better than one. It’s easier to have help rather than doing it alone. Especially while pruning, it’s best to go along in the process with others. It can be with a good friend, a mentor, or a praying partner.

I remember when I lost my home, my car, and my income all at once. I had to heavily rely on friends and family, something that used to be very uncomfortable for me. I didn’t like to rely on others and I hated to be vulnerable. God made it very evident to me that in this process I was going to have to let all that go, lean on Him, and allow others to help me.

I always look back and express gratitude to God for using them to bless me. We all need a little support to help us in the pruning process. Put your pride to the side and allow someone to be a blessing in your life (for more on this topic check out my post Bare Trees Bear Fruit).

Two are better off than one, because together they can work more effectively. If one of them falls down, the other can help him up. But if someone is alone and falls, it’s just too bad, because there is no one to help him. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 GNT)

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Dry and Dusty.

Lastly, this mop isn’t wet. It’s just very dirty. It hasn’t been of use in a long time and as a result is very stiff, stale, and rigid.

There are times when we become tired of the pruning and we give up. We can no longer bare to endure the pain required to produce the fruit so we sit out on life. This isn’t how we reflect being God’s ambassador. If we aren’t bearing fruit we’re in a sense denying the purposeful life He created us for.

On the bright side, just like this mop being drenched in water so it may soften up, we can be drenched in God’s spirit so our heart may soften and open up. This will begin the process toward bearing fruit and honoring God.

Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can’t bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can’t bear fruit unless you are joined with me. (John 15:4 MSG)

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At one point or another, we will find ourselves relating to one of these type of mops. Ask yourself and ask God, what do I need to wring out? What is this situation or these attitudes so painfully trying to press out of me?

Short term sacrifice for long term success!

let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:22 NLT)

Thank you for taking the time out to read this post and I pray it all makes sense to you because I know it’s a lot to take in. If you have a personal experience you’d like to share or you simply need prayer please comment below or send me an email to swankycyn@gmail.com.

Enjoy and God bless!

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