One of the surreal things we experienced during our return to England was the receipt of a large, zinc-lozenge-like pill. And this pill was for swallowing, not one you could suck on, and definitely not one blessed with a light and pleasant citrus taste. You see, after a couple of months of trudging through impoverished and unsanitary Filipino barangays, we were advised to take a deworming pill.
As I dewormed physically, I thought about my spiritual journey. In the past I all too often let myself get into the mud puddles of life. They seemed fun and innocent, and a few were, but many contained things that would stick with me and begin to eat away at my insides. Because of that I’ve had to take a few doses of spiritual dewormers.
Whenever we trust in our own understanding we begin to set up idols in the high places of our hearts. These idols are like parasites, growing ever larger inside of us, desiring to consume us altogether. But we must tear down the high places, trusting in the Lord, tasting and seeing that He is good! Psalm 34:8. We must allow God to be the consuming fire that He is, through His Holy Spirit, devouring the things that would devour us so that we can drink the living water and produce good fruit that will last forever.
If you haven’t dewormed in a while, you might pray like David prayed:
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23-24)Blessed is he
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the man
whose sin the LORD does not count against him
and in whose spirit is no deceit.When I kept silent,
my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.For day and night
your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was sapped
as in the heat of summer.
SelahThen I acknowledged my sin to you
and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess
my transgressions to the LORD “—
and you forgave
the guilt of my sin.
SelahTherefore let everyone who is godly pray to you
while you may be found;
surely when the mighty waters rise,
they will not reach him.You are my hiding place;
you will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance.
SelahI will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you and watch over you.Do not be like the horse or the mule,
which have no understanding
but must be controlled by bit and bridle
or they will not come to you.Many are the woes of the wicked,
but the LORD’s unfailing love
surrounds the man who trusts in him.Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous;
sing, all you who are upright in heart! (Psalm 32)