Spring Cleaning

Recently, and with great caution, I opened the door to my storage closet with the best intentions of doing some spring cleaning. I took one look inside at the cardboard boxes, bags of who-knows-what, a plethora of abandoned "tchotchkes" - you know, the things we haven't even seen in a couple years, all that stuff we couldn't possibly live without. 

"Sigh," overwhelmed by the task, I promptly declared, "This is not happening today!"

Closing the door, I declared my spring cleaning officially finished. Out of site, out of mind.

We tend to stuff things away, thinking we need to hold on to them just in case. We essentially become bogged down with weighty, old inventory. We stuff it all in there until alas, the door can finally close it all off to the world.

Our minds are so much like those over-stuffed, messy closets. What are we clinging to that is holding us back from a life of victory?

There is so much abandoned, but not forgotten junk we need to rid ourselves of. We are often overflowing with pain, deep hurt, unforgiveness, and bitterness. Or perhaps our closet is lined with approval addiction, fear of punishment, fear of failure, self-disqualification, trauma, grief, and loss.

Pain is the place where we can always meet authentically with God. He knows where you are, who or what has hurt you, and why. He is never surprised by what's in your closet. We cannot hide anything from God.

It is time to clean house and let everything go. It is time to make God our priority over our pain. God wants to meet you right there, in your closet. God wants to be the light in the darkness and restore you on every level.

For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6 NLT

What have you endured for the sake of peace? What have you stuffed down because the process of letting go can be so painful?

Pain brings up what's really at the core of who we are. It pushes us past faking things for the sake of avoiding conflict. When we are face-to-face with the pain, which bin will we finally place it in?

It's time to ditch the obligation of pretending everything is OK. It's time to banish fear of disappointment. God is in charge! He wants us to be spotless, wiped clean, empty vessels, ready to be filled with His glorious power and purpose for life.

Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. 2 Timothy 2:21 ESV

Seek Him first, "God where are you in this?"

He's is never not where we are.

Even through the pain, God is always good. He is always working out a testimony in us that ultimately brings us confidence in who He is. Being in the war with God (bringing Him into our mess) gives us a clear path to His faithfulness and promise of restoration. This makes it abundantly clear to us that our victory will ultimately glorify God.

Go into your closet, meet God there! It's time for some spring cleaning! God is waiting for you!

But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret. Matthew 6:6 KJV