Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord!
(Lamentations 3:20 ESV)
Series: “Cleaning House”
No matter how you attack it, cleaning your house is a messy job. In every room, corner, and nook and cranny, we are bound to find something to straighten, scrub, donate or toss away. Over the past three months, we’ve been tackling one job at a time in our homes. In doing this, we hope to make them feel cleaner, fresher, less cluttered, while providing a cozy place to invite others. How did you do? Have you started? If you haven’t, I assure you, the feeling you receive, once you’ve completed these tasks, will be incredible. Your load lifted! (No laundry pun intended.)
Though tidying up our homes has been one focus of this series, we hope you have leaned even more deeply into how to spruce up your “spiritual house.” Are you taking time to examine what you think about, read about, or watch (mind)? Do you consider what you eat, plan your exercise, and serve others (body)? Do you nourish your faith life by reading scripture, praying, or listening to worship music (soul)? How about considering the words you speak and the tone you deliver (attitude)? There are so many other influences this world throws at you. Are you growing closer to your Savior? Or are the surrounding things cluttering up your ability to have time with Him at all? These are important questions to reflect upon. Spend time TODAY dwelling on them—with Jesus—and ask Him, just as David did in Psalm 51:10:
Create in me a clean heart, God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. (NASB)
Let’s remember a few big ideas as this series, “Cleaning House,” comes to a close. God created us in His image. As we surrender our lives to Him, He transforms us, perfects us, and shines through us. He keeps us in perfect peace as we keep our mind set on Him. We pray that the scriptures we have shared with you will resound in your hearts above any other words written. May His Word remind you of His steadfast love, mercy, and grace each time you open your Bible to seek Him. As we strive to clean up our outsides, God works in us to clean up what is inside! May what flows from us be life giving and grow His Kingdom. Please hear this: you do not need to “clean” yourself up before receiving the gift of Salvation that Jesus offers. It is His finished work on the cross that cleanses us and makes us new. Be encouraged to meditate on the following scriptures from our previous weeks’ messages so you will know the depth of His love for you!
Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4 ESV)
I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6 HCSB)
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. (Colossians 3:2 ESV)
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. (Psalm 19:14 NLT)
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. (Romans 10:17)
Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. (Proverbs 4:23 NLT)
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? (1 Corinthians 3:16 NASB)
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16 NIV)
Here are some final thoughts as you walk into a new week of to-do lists and chores staring you in the face: pray over your home and family before you run the vacuum or dust; feed your soul with God’s Truth to strengthen your body and mind; give yourself permission to rest in His presence, where your soul will be refreshed. And above all, as we ask Jesus into our hearts to be our Savior, we can rejoice that He provided our true cleansing at the cross! Hallelujah!
Holding Fast to Hope,
Jen
Scriptures: Lamentations 3:20; Psalm 16:11, 19;14, 37:4, 51:10; Philippians 1:6; Colossians 3:2; Romans 10:17; Proverbs 4:23; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Matthew 5:14-16