Spiritual Spring Cleaning
It’s that time of year again. Spring cleaning time! Whether you love it or hate it, spring has always been a time of rebirth and cleansing. That scrubbing, cleaning, dusting, and whatever else you find yourself doing can have a therapeutic quality while also being equally exhausting.
For me, spring cleaning took on a new meaning this year as I prepare to marry and move in with my future husband. On top of the normal dusting and scrubbing, my “spring cleaning” has turned into purging, sorting, and organizing so that my future husband has a place to put his stuff and feel like this is his home too. The largest and scariest task ahead of me is the dreaded closet. In this little apartment, there is a decent closet… that I possibly may be taking up the entire thing. My clothes, accessories, and bins of other stuff have been taking up space which was fine when I was living independent. Now that I found a man who loves me and puts up with me, the least I can do is give him some closet space, right?
As I started sorting out my closet and getting rid of stuff, I couldn’t help but remember the phrase “skeletons in my closet”. I’m pretty sure that the phrase isn’t talking about that embarrassing purse I refuse to get rid of or the shoes that are so worn a thrift store wouldn’t take them. Instead those skeletons are the secrets and sins I hide to myself in the hopes that no one will ever find out about them.
We may think of spring cleaning as a physical task for our homes, but what if we thought about it as a spiritual task. What is hiding in your closet? Is it a secret you hold onto that weighs on your heart or maybe it's a pet sin you just can’t seem to let go? Is there an unhealthy addiction like alcohol, or pornography hiding on the top shelf that you can’t let go of? Hanging in the back, is there that sin that fights for your heart like worry, pride, or even selfishness? Perhaps laziness, discontentment, gossip, and placing everything and everything before your relationship with your Savior are collecting dust somewhere in your closet?
My closet is convicting as I imagine your closet is too. Cleaning our hearts is not as easy as cleaning our houses. Where should we even begin to tackle the job of our spiritual spring cleaning?
Let go of the past. Just like I shouldn’t be holding on to clothes that don’t fit me, don’t hold onto things that don’t fit you as a redeemed child of God.
Ask for help. Just like how you may rope your friends, significant other or kids into spring cleaning, find someone who can help you clean out your heart. Find an accountability partner who can help you clean out your closet and keep it clean. Never underestimate the power and strength you get from your best and truest friend. God is always there to help.
Give yourself some grace. Just like you can’t deep clean the whole house in one day, understand that you can’t clean out your heart in a moment. It takes time, work, and faith that your Savior’s grace covers and forgives your sins.
Fill your closet up with things that are from God. Spend moments in God’s Word listening to what he tells you and filling up on his promises. Talk to God and put what weighs on you on him.
All this talk about spring cleaning may have put you in the mood for some cleaning, but my prayer for all you sisters is to be uplifted in the spring cleaning of your heart. May the Lord of all grace and mercy, strengthen you to the task at hand as you sort out, organize, and clean out your heart. Let the Lord cleanse you and heal you in the time of spring cleaning.