Cleanliness Really is Godly

"Cleanliness is next to godliness." These words are usually spoken to me when I am being neither clean nor godly. Usually by some parental figure. Usually when I am least responsive to hearing it. However, the other day as I cleaned house, I found myself thinking it through for the first time. And theologizing about the whole concept of cleaning.
I clean house on Fridays, my day off from the church. I have a routine. It's a discipline. And for me, when I don't keep to my discipline, I feel out of sorts and overwhelmed. I even clean house before I leave on vacation because I like to come home to a clean house. My friends and family find this rather OCD. I find it comforting.
You see, in this chaotic, helter-skelter world, it's nice to know that all the dust can be conquered, if only for a day. All the dog hair can be overcome, if only for a few hours. Everything can be in its place. And my little world can smell fresh and clean, feel safe and secure, and I find great comfort in that.
It's the same way in my spiritual disciplines. In my chaotic inner self, it's nice to know that all the cobwebs can be cleared out, if only while I focus on the Word. All the insanity can be stilled, if only while in prayer. And my interior world can feel renewed and clean, forgiven and reassured.
"Create in me a clean heart, oh God, and put a new and right spirit within me." Psalm 51:9-11, NLT. This Psalm reminds us that we need to clean our hearts on a regular basis, and we need God's help to do so. Our spirits get dingy and dirty, and we need help getting them "right" again. Only God can do this for us. He's the sacred Mr. Clean Magic Eraser! There's no heart-stain he can't remove, and no heart-pain he can't heal. But we have to be willing to submit ourselves to his discipline to receive this cleaned-up, healed-up heart. And that's when we find ourselves right next to God himself. And THAT'S how cleanliness IS next to Godliness!