Spiritual Window Cleaning: Learning to See with the Shades Off

Think about trying to look through a dirty window into an old house. Sometimes that was a spooky endeavor.

As a kid, I looked into abandoned houses scattered across the countryside. To catch even a faint glimpse inside those dusty, time-worn rooms, I had to cup my hands around my eyes, press my face against the glass, and stand on my tiptoes. Even with all that straining, I could only make out murky outlines. The grime caked on the windows, combined with the dim light inside, made it nearly impossible to see any detail.

It needed polishing.

This is a picture of what happens in our spiritual lives.

Our soul—the mind, will, and emotions—is like that dim glass. When our thinking is clouded and our affections are fixed on lesser things, we can’t see clearly. We strain to perceive truth, but everything remains blurred.

The Desire for Clarity

The psalmist captures this longing to see clearly and be close to God:

“Here’s the one thing I crave from God, the one thing I seek above all else:I want the privilege of living with him every moment in his house, finding the sweet loveliness of his face, filled with awe, delighting in his glory and grace. I want to live my life so close to him that he takes pleasure in my every prayer.”—Psalm 27:4 (TPT)

David’s desire is simple: an unclouded view—to be near God without barriers or distortions.

The Problem of Clouded Perception

Jesus explained why so many live in darkness: distraction.

“The eyes of your spirit allow revelation-light to enter into your being.If your heart is unclouded, the light floods in!But if your eyes are focused on money, the light cannot penetrate and darkness takes its place.How profound will be the darkness within you if the light of truth cannot enter!”—Matthew 6:22–23 (TPT)

Many believers are still pressing their faces against the dim glass of an unrenewed soul—trying to see the things of God through old patterns of thinking and natural perception.

The Role of the Senses

Hebrews 5:14 says:

“But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

The word senses refers to our natural sensory perception—what we touch, smell, hear, taste, and see.

We’ve relied on these our whole lives. But when we encounter the living God, everything gets challenged. We discover a deeper reality that isn’t always confirmed by our five senses.

The Process of Mind Renewal

This is why the Christian life involves mind renewal. This is discipleship—learning:

• to think differently

• to perceive differently

• to see as God sees

It is the ongoing work of bringing our soul under the cleansing, clarifying power of the Word and the Holy Spirit.

The Mirror of the Word

James described the Word of God as a mirror:

“If anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror;for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.”—James 1:23–24 (NKJV)

When you hear the Word, you’re being shown a clear image of who you are in Christ. But if you walk away and don’t keep looking into that mirror, you forget your identity.

Transformation by Beholding

Paul expands the idea:

“We can all draw close to Him with the veil removed from our faces.And with no veil we all become like mirrors who brightly reflect the glory of the Lord Jesus.We are being transfigured into His very image as we move from one brighter level of glory to another…”—2 Corinthians 3:18 (TPT)

The more you look steadily into the mirror of His truth, the more your soul is polished—and the more clearly you see both yourself and your God.

You aren’t just learning information. You are being transformed by what you behold.

Practical Application: How to Polish the Glass

1. Behold Jesus daily in the Word.

Make time to look into the mirror that shows you who you truly are.

2. Invite the Holy Spirit to renew your mind.

Allow Him to scrub away old thoughts, fears, and distortions.

3. Practice discernment.

Maturity grows as you exercise your spiritual senses. Ask yourself:“ Does this align with God’s character and truth?”

4. Keep coming back to the mirror.

Don’t walk away and forget. Stay in the place of reflection.

Reflection Questions

• What areas of your life still feel clouded or confusing?

• Are you consistently looking into the mirror of the Word to remember who you are?

• What practical steps can you take this week to let the Holy Spirit polish the glass of your soul?

Conclusion

Don’t keep pressing your face against the dirty window of an unrenewed soul—hoping to see more clearly by your own effort.

Let the light of God’s Word shine in. Let the Holy Spirit polish the glass.

As you behold Jesus and let His truth saturate you, your perception will clear—and you will reflect His glory from one degree to another.