It’s time for some spring cleaning! This is the time of year to freshen up the house and put things back in order after a long winter. But did you know that our spiritual life also deserves a good spring cleaning? How do we even begin to spring clean our spiritual life? You can start with this easy checklist:
1. DECLUTTER AND TAKE OUT THE TRASH
Isn’t it amazing how much extra stuff we end up collecting over the years? The more stuff we have, the more burdensome it becomes. The same is true in our spiritual life. Too much distraction can put a damper on your own spiritual growth. Learning to set boundaries and knowing when to say “no” can bring you numerous benefits. Then, once you have started to box up those “extras,” be sure to take out the trash, rather than shifting them around inside your spiritual space.
2. SCRUB AND SANITIZE
Over time, our attitudes and behaviors can become sour from the environment that surrounds us. It’s important to be intentional about cleaning up our thoughts, words and actions. I like to do the P48 Test. Philippians 4:8 says, “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Always pause and consider your thoughts and motives before you act on them.
3. VACUUM
Have you ever tried to do a quick clean-up job before company comes over and find yourself stuffing things in the closet or sweeping loose items under the rug? This may work for a temporary fix, but the pile will continue to grow over time. This can also happen when we allow resentment, anger and bitterness to pile up in our heart. So get out the vacuum and suck up these things so your heart can be clean. Luke 6:45 says, “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”
4. DUST
It amazes me how quickly dust and dirt can build up. If left unattended, layers will start to form. The same is true of our past. Mistakes are meant to be learned from and let go of. If you find yourself dwelling on a past mistake, get out the dust cloth, show yourself some grace and wipe the layer clean before it begins to settle.
5. BUFF AND SHINE
Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Once our spiritual lives have a time of refreshment, we can once again enjoy the Fruit of the Spirit and become an encourager to someone else, demonstrating love and compassion to those around us.
6. ORGANIZE
Everyone has a junk drawer. When we organize spiritually, we allow the Holy Spirit to fill in the spaces and build our lives. When we allow God to help us prioritize the things that matter most, our lives become healthier and more productive for building the Kingdom of God.
This spring, as you clean your house, be willing to do a spiritual cleaning of your life as well! You will soon find yourself feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. Let the cleaning begin!
