Spiritual Car Wash

By: Kelly Russell

Wednesday, November 19, 2025

Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. Psalm 51:2

The other day, I went to the automatic car wash. A young man guided my tires into the tracks that pull you through the cleaning system. As I moved through each stage of the wash, I had a very clear vision of how God wants to take us through a similar cleansing process.

The equipment in a car wash has one purpose: to make things clean. The attendant pre-sprays the windshield, presses a button, and the car starts moving forward. There are even unlimited passes available for daily use. Many of us operate in an “automatic life zone.” Breakfast, kids, work, lunch, work, dinner, sleep. We go through the motions without fully connecting to the moments or the people we love.

Because God is holy, we are to be holy. This starts with salvation, setting us apart from our sin. So, we receive positional holiness, yet we still must choose practical holiness (2 Corinthians 7:1). Every day the world, the flesh, and the devil influence us to return to our sinful ways (1 John 2:16). If our behaviors don’t align with Scripture, we find ourselves dirty again, in need of cleansing.

Looking at the stages of the car wash, we see how each one represents God’s spiritual renewal process:

Payment. Without a receipt, you can’t move past the gate. His sacrificial death is our payment. We were bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:20, 1 Peter 1:18-19).

Soap. There is a nozzle that sprays a cleansing solution onto the car. The blood of Jesus washes us white as snow (Isaiah 1:18, 1 John 1:9).

Scrubbing. A brush makes contact with the car to remove the dirt. God’s Word is a mirror that reveals our sin—the areas we’ve ignored or justified (James 1:22-25). It may feel abrasive, but it's part of our sanctification (Hebrews 4:12).

Rinsing. High-pressure jets spray water to wash off the soap and dirt. God’s grace leaves us spotless and flawless. Repentance leads to refreshing (Psalm 103:12, Acts 3:19).

Drying. Blowers blast air to evaporate moisture. In the same way, the Holy Spirit renews and strengthens us, changing us from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18). The breath of the Almighty gives us life (Job 33:4).

Waxing. A solution is added to the car for a protective layer and shine. The Holy Spirit seals us with supernatural protection and beauty that helps us shine (Psalm 149:4, Ephesians 1:13).

Don’t just live on “automatic.” Be intentional about moving through God’s daily cleansing process. Then, your inner being will be revived, allowing you to be His radiant reflection to the world.