Is it Time to do Some Spiritual Plumbing?

Something very gross, yet insightful happened at our house this past week. Something having to do with a sewer backup. Now before you get completely disgusted and click elsewhere, bear with me because I promise you I found some spiritual relevance and life lessons amongst the muck. I know…leave it to me to find an analogy in something so revolting. However, maybe it took something so despicable to open my eyes to some of my own undesirable behaviors and attitudes…my own need for some spiritual plumbing! 😉

A sickening experience

Our house sits on a very wooded piece of property. I love my trees, but there are a few disadvantages. One of those drawbacks is tree roots finding their way into our sewer lines on occasion. Unfortunately, that was the case this past week. We noticed the line was starting to back up…I will spare you the details.

You’re welcome.

As Eric and I went outside to the drain cleanout location, we knew that tree roots invading the line were the likely culprit because we’ve dealt with this before. Eric removed the cap to the drain cleanout. As soon as he did a gush of putrid filth emerged up and out onto the ground (and nearly on us). Needless to say, I quickly got sick to my stomach and had to fight my gag reflex. Again, I will spare you the gory details. Ultimately, we located the blockage, which was indeed roots, and we were able to clear the line and cut out the roots with a drain auger.

I was in need of some plumbing help too…some spiritual plumbing

A couple of days later, as I was thinking about the incident a thought came to mind. We can sometimes get spiritual blockages like my blocked drains. Like those tree roots, we can let things creep in and if left to grow they can cause an obstruction to the spiritual flow in our lives.

Then, a backup of nasty crap (sorry for the tacky pun) can start to emerge and come out, spilling onto our surroundings and contaminating the environment around us. 

As I was sitting there thinking about it, I started to realize that I had been letting some irritations and anger start to fester in my own life. I had been stewing on some things that had been bothering me for the past few months. If I’m being completely honest and transparent, I wasn’t handling my feelings about some things in the best way…fretting in anger, growing bitter, complaining, even a little bit of malice surfaced. I was beginning to let some “tree roots” grow.

As I started to do some self-appraisal, I pictured that drain cleanout spewing stuff out. Then, I had the thought, “That’s what you’re doing. You’ve let some things cause a blockage in your life, and now filth is beginning to overflow.” Immediately, I realized that I had let some negative feelings, bad attitudes, and complaining start to surface. God was showing me that these things were like a foul sewage stench to His nostrils.

“…For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.” Luke 6:45b (BSB)

“…These people are a stench in my nostrils, an acrid smell that never goes away.” Isaiah 65:5b (NLT)

Take Some Practical Steps to do Some of Your Own Spiritual Plumbing:

• First, conduct an appraisal of your heart. Do you have any potential blockages or obstructions to the flow of God in your life?

To do that, you need to see what’s coming out of your mouth (Luke 6:45). What has been overflowing or spewing out of you lately? Have you been complaining a lot? Any gossip going on? What does your communication with others look like? Have you been stewing in anger about anything, letting anger control you, or acting out on your anger? Are you starting to get, or have you become, bitter about anything?

These are merely a FEW things to check for that can cause blockages, especially if you continue to let them grow. Remember that blockages can cause a backup to where a lot of nasty stuff will start spilling out that is smelly and offensive to God and to others, in addition to contaminating your surroundings and relationships!

“Do everything without complaining and arguing.” Philippians 2:14 (NLT) 

“Cease from anger and forsake wrath; Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing.” Psalm 37:8 (NASB)

“Be angry and do not sin…” Ephesians 4:26 (ESV) “Don’t sin by letting anger control you…” Ephesians 4:26 (NLT)

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.” Ephesians 4:31 (NLT)

“But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.” Colossians 3:8 (NIV)

“So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech.” 1 Peter 2:1 (NLT)

• Next, if some potential obstructions exist you might need to do some spiritual plumbing to get rid of them before they cause a lot of damage.

Blockages need to be cleaned and removed to prevent the backup and overflow of the yucky stuff. Sometimes a simple plunger won’t do the trick. It might take some deep cleaning and cutting some things out to remove the blockage/obstruction. It might even require some special equipment or a professional to come in.

• Contact the plumber, aka the Holy Spirit.

When you do a heart check the Holy Spirit will convict you of areas that might need some cleaning. He’ll detect and show you your blockages. This is very similar to what we spoke about a couple of weeks ago with spiritual laundry (to discover a blockage, follow the same steps as “stain removal”).

“And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.” John 16:8 (NLT)

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” Psalm 139:23-24 (NLT)

• Use a drain auger, aka confession, repentance, and speaking the Word of God.

By confession, repentance, and the Word of God (learning it and speaking it over yourself), any blockages will be cleaned and cut out because of what Jesus did for us on the cross.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 (ESV)

“Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.” Acts 3:19 (NLT)

“You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.” John 15:3 (NKJV)

“to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.” Ephesians 5:26 (NLT)

“Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” John 17:17 (NIV)

• Conduct regular maintenance by staying in God’s Word and doing frequent heart appraisals to prevent blockages and to keep a steady, spiritual flow.

To keep tree roots out of our lines, we have to occasionally add some things to the drain (i.e. copper sulfate or sodium chloride). We also need to pay attention to the flow of our drains (see if it’s slower than usual, listen for funny sounds, etc.). Similarly, having a regular quiet time will help keep you clean with the Word of God (see scriptures previously mentioned). Staying in close and constant relationship with God will help you. Consistent heart checks and self-assessments will allow the Holy Spirit to reveal some things to you that might need to change or improve.

“I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:11 (NLT)

Have you had to do any spiritual plumbing lately? Tell us about it by leaving a comment below!

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If you know anyone that could benefit from this, please pay it forward!  Share this post via the sharing links below.  “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)