I have a corner in my home office where I retreat to spend time with God. It separates me from the distractions of work, which sit just a couple of feet away from my prayer corner. I often enjoy a cup of coffee while reading from Scripture or elsewhere as God directs me. When I began to pray this morning it was the empty coffee cup rather than thoughts of work that began to distract me. Why? Because I knew that the coffee cup needed to be soaking in the kitchen sink and it was bugging me. So I got up and relocated the coffee cup to the sink. And then I went back to my prayer corner to sit quietly and listen for God’s voice.

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I found God challenging me about the dirty coffee cup and about the other dirty coffee cups in my life. These are the things that distract me from Him, or get in the way of my relationship with God, and my journey as I seek to follow Him and grow in my faith. I think that is a challenge for all of us. What dirty coffee cups do you need to move so that you can focus on God?

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One other thought occurred to me. Having soaked the coffee cup in soapy water it is now shiny clean and on the drainer. In fact the coffee cup is so clean that I can see my reflection in it. It is only when we allow God to clean and refine us that He can be seen reflected in our lives. Surely that is His purpose for all of those who follow Him? To live lives that will make Jesus visible to those who haven’t set eyes on Him yet?

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So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.” (1 Peter 1: 13-16 NLT)