I don’t enjoy cleaning my vacuum. In fact, I’m always tempted not to. All the yucky dust and dirt and hair. Ugh. Who wants to deal with that?

The trouble is, the longer I wait to clean the vacuum the less cleaning the vacuum actually does.

The roller can only wind up so much hair before it looks like an overwound spool of thread. The reservoir can only contain so much dirt before it’s only shooting filth and crumbs all over the place.

If I don’t start with a clean vacuum, I might as well not bother cleaning my house.

As I was cleaning the vacuum the other day, I thought, “God, it seems like there’s a message here.”

I didn’t get any major revelation, but it occurred to me that sometimes the order we do things in matters.

You’ve got to start with a clean vacuum if you want to get the most out of it.

And sometimes we have to do the yucky stuff first in order to prepare for the next step.

This might speak to each of us differently.

Maybe some of us want breakthrough in health, but we’re neglecting the foundational things and still hoping to achieve the same results.

Maybe some are wanting to experience greater financial security, but want to have it without first being financially disciplined.

Maybe some of us want stronger relationships with God and others, but aren’t willing to spend the time and emotional energy needed to see them grow.

There really aren’t any shortcuts in life.

If we want the vacuum to effectively clean the floors, we have to start with a clean vacuum.

Do you have any vacuums in your life that need cleaning?