Have you started any spring cleaning? What is it about the spring time that makes us want to clean and declutter?
The nicer weather must inspire us. We watch the birds build nests and we are consumed with a desire to straighten out our own “nests.”
Perhaps this is why May 10 is National Clean Up Your Room Day and May 17 is National Pack Rat Day. Ever hear of those holidays before?
I have been on a rampage decluttering, organizing, and cleaning. I follow Lisa Wooddruff at organize365.com and love her hints and creativity in tackling my house, my nest. Check out her blog and podcast.
Spiritual Spring Cleaning
We can pause and consider spiritual spring cleaning too. This is an opportunity to take some time to look at our life and determine if we have things we don’t need. I wrote about this topic on this blog post you may want to check out.
I know the dirt and grime in my heart and soul contaminate my life and draw me away from God. Here are five spiritual spring cleaning tips I am going to work on:
- Get rid of clutter – Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Ephesians 4:31. Ok, time to dispose of my judgmental and sarcastic attitude. Help me to let go of old habits and sinful ways, Lord. I have been writing a lot about my poor attitude in my journal. Periodically I review what I write there, highlighting what I have learned and what I think God is showing me – I call it harvesting my journal. Time to conduct a spring clean up/pruning and ask God to show me the next step in this chipping away of what does not belong and transforming my heart more like His.
- Take off the winter blankets and put away the heavy wool afghans. Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us– Hebrew 12: 1. I will spend more time in prayer listening than rambling on with my needs. Lord, open my heart to hear your word anew. Only in You do I find freedom.
- Dust those cobwebs out of the corners of my mind. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly Colossians 3:16a. I want to pay closer attention to God’s word by finding a new Bible study to dig into this spring. Lord, awaken me when I read your word and give me new eyes like I am hearing it for the first time.
- Dig up the dead weeds and replant. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 1 Corinthians 3:6. I choose You, Lord, rather than my self-destructive habits of discouragement and self-pity. May seeds of hope, faith, and love be nurtured in my heart this season, Lord.
- Throw open the windows, welcoming fresh air. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” Psalms 126:2. I breathe in the refreshing breezes of gratitude. You have done great things for me, Lord, thank you. My heart leaps with joy and I count the many ways You have blessed me. Your Spirit fills my heart and guides my path.
Have you begun your spring cleaning yet? What do you need to get rid of now? How will you renew yourself spiritual this season?