Cleaning Out the "Stuff"

There is something rewarding and refreshing about cleaning. I'm talking about cleaning out the over stuffed and crowded drawers, closets and storage areas in our homes and offices.

This Christmas we had a family who God brought into our lives with needs. One of those needs was furniture. Jon being the generous man he is quickly thought of a desk and shelf we had that was in his inner office. He immediately threw the things off the shelves and out of the desk to deliver hope to this family. He then settled back into his life with the mess still all around him. Yesterday I sought to meet one of his needs by going and cleaning up the mess and organizing his stuff. He even let me organize some of his desk drawers. He was thankful for the gift and for the feeling of being relieved it was in order finally. I was also thrilled and felt tremendously rewarded even though it was work. At first you look at the mess and feel overwhelmed and don't know where to begin or if you dare to begin. After the first step there came an inner strength to continue till the job was done.

Our spiritual lives can be like this as well. We have so much "stuff" where it does not belong that it crowds out our effectiveness and usefulness. Mess can be distracting and overwhelming. What needs to be cleaned out, given up or put in it's proper place? We must fight the moods to put if off another day and dig in with the knowledge that we will be rewarded and refreshed. If we work to clear our lives of all the unnecessary we will be able to live the abundant life more effectively. Prepare your lives for the Lord.