Spring Cleaning…God’s Way

Spring has sprung! With its advent comes spring cleaning for many.

Honestly, I’ve never been one for all-day deep cleaning (painful confession). I’d rather be hunting spring peepers and traipsing through new growth.

However, when the clothes start spilling out of drawers and corner cobwebs begin to look like bird’s nests, it’s time to tidy up a bit.

The same can be said for our spiritual lives.

Our hearts and minds get so cluttered with “to dos,” “should haves,” “I needs,” and “no fairs,” that a good cleaning is in order.

Our hearts and minds get so cluttered with 'to dos,' 'should haves,' 'I needs,'... that a good cleaning is in order. Click To Tweet

Perhaps my most dreaded spring-cleaning task is dusting. It has nothing to do with its degree of difficulty.

But no sooner than my final swipe is made with that fluffy green duster, dust particles settle gently back to the just-brushed surface, without even allowing me the pretense of cleanliness.

It’s not so different than the dusting of my mind or the polishing of my heart. God isn’t even halfway finished wiping off the filth when a “no fair” floats back in. He just barely begins to see His reflection in the mirror of my heart when “envy” mars its surface.

I always get smeared with “me.” As the layers build, room for God slowly disappears.

That makes deep heart, mind, and soul cleansing essential, not only in April, but daily throughout the year—to brush out the cobwebs of me, opening up space for the Spirit to dwell.

Just as spring cleaning in our homes is time-consuming, labor-intensive, and generally not fun; spiritual cleaning can be painful, requiring sacrifice. It often leaves us emotionally drained.

To get the deep-down clean, to be effective disciples for God’s kingdom, we must open ourselves to examination, revealing our deepest desires and most guarded secrets. 

We must allow the Holy Spirit to clean hous. We need to empty ourselves of the messiness of “us” & filling up with Him.

We must allow the Holy Spirit to clean house, emptying ourselves of the messiness of 'us' & filling up with Him. Click To Tweet

So as important as spring cleaning is to some of you obsessive-compulsive types, make way for the true cleaning of the inner you!

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10).

Reflections: What part of spring cleaning do you dread, in your house and spiritually?