There is a dog in my space. He knows no boundaries – only-dog syndrome. Subsequently, there is dog hair found everywhere. To combat this fluster of fur, I vacuum. I have a really good vacuum. It even has the word, “Powerful” in its name.

Today the fur was winning. I could not understand. I had this ‘powerful’ instrument designed to clean and remove dirt, fur, and anything that should not be in my carpet, yet the nuisance remained. I saw a piece of trash, big and white, juxtaposed with the brown carpet fibers. Going through the usual motions, ran the vacuum over it. It remained – stubborn. I wanted it gone. I tried again. It rolled across the carpet fibers in defiance. How is it that this powerful vacuum was not removing the trash I wanted out of my life?

I unplugged the device and started examining the hose. Nothing there. I turned on the light and peered into the hole the hose was joined to. There was a clog of dog hair and dirt. I tried to remove it with my hand and could only scratch the surface. I got a screw driver and began to dig out the clog bit by bit. I realized the problem was much deeper than the hole. The clog was all the way to the upper canister. I took the vacuum outside and pulled, dug, and shook that dirt/fur/dust clog until all was clear. I then put the pieces back together.

Isaiah 59:1-2 says,

1. Behold, the Lord‘s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 2. But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. 

You can go to church (or not), read your bible, and be a generally good person and lack the power to remove the trash the enemy drops in your life. Is there contention, strife, trouble on the job, your health, your kids and family? Could it be that their is some trash of your own blocking your power source?

Let me tell you – prayer is powerful. I have been on this prayer kick ever since being introduced to the book, “Fervent,” by Priscilla Shirer. You can, through the power of prayer, influence your environment.To get this, you must believe the premise that there are two worlds – the natural and the spiritual. There is a constant battle of good versus evil. As a believer, your life is meant to be vibrant and abundant bringing glory to God our father. The sinner sees your life and wants that joy, inner-peace, and abundance that your life reflects. The enemy’s job is to make your life unproductive and dull; a life that is riddled with failures and sins. A sinner sees your life and thinks, what’s so different between him/her and me?

Satan is after our witness. He has lost your soul to Christ.In comes the lure of sin. It stuffs you with debris. It keeps you powerless. Like that big, ‘powerful’ vacuum unable to suck up flimsy dog hair, sin separates you from fully realizing the power of God. So, review your life. Is there a clog somewhere? Is someone, something, or some behavior keeping you from walking fully into what God has for you. If you are not sure, start with prayer. Like that plug of fur and dirt deep into the canister of my vacuum, God will reveal it. Then get rid of it. You may have to pull it out bit by bit but the result is power to transform your life.