Most often I work listening

to the radio, wanting to escape,

wanting not to work

too hard, wanting to relax.

 

Today I will set my mind

on listening to the Lord,

listening to what He would

teach me.

 

I’m stripping wallpaper today.

That’s one of the things I do.

 

Instantly I see the lesson!

The wallpaper is our

hypocrisy—the facade

we often use;

our public image;

our outward show;

what we use to

cover what we don’t

like about ourselves.

 

Sometimes the paper comes

off easy, and the paste too.

That one is ready to be free!

To show his real self.

 

Today the paper is tuff.

There is a real stronghold here!

Often there are many layers—

many strongholds.

Whatever the case,

it must all come off.

 

He cuts it off with His sharp

scraper.

And it hurts!

Then He washes off

all the old paste—

the lust, the pride.

Many times The walls

are found to have mold

and mildew, threatening

to ruin a life.

 

But He knows how to

take care of that too.

His cleaning bleach makes

our wall as white as snow.

 

Now will our wall be bare?

To attract an embarrassing stare?

Oh no my friend;

this is not the end.

He covers us with

a beautiful coat—

the paint of his glory

and righteousness.

 

 

Isaiah 61:10

I delight greatly in the Lord;

my soul rejoices in my God.

For he has clothed me with garments of salvation

and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness.