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Whenever I am cleaning out the fridge for trash day, there are always some things I know I need to throw away: vegetables that have started turning strange colors, taco meat that has been in the back of the fridge for way too long, or that little bit of tomato paste that I swore I would use even though I only need a tablespoon for a random recipe.
It’s easy to clean out the things that are present of mind or within immediate sight. But what inevitably happens is that after I clean out those things that are easily seen and the trash is picked up, I always find more I could have tossed. Likewise, when I am cleaning a junk drawer or even my closet, there are things that immediately stand out that I can get rid of.
But it’s not until a day or two after the purge when I am looking at that space with fresh eyes that I find I really could have dug even deeper and done more work.
So too is the space of our hearts.
If we are honest with ourselves, there is often immediate work that needs to be done, soul work, that especially as women, we ignore and put off in the name of helping others, getting work done, self-sacrificing (fill in whatever “good” excuse you have). But the truth is, we can’t get to the necessary work of our hearts until we are obedient in addressing the removal of that first layer.
Just like cleaning out the fridge, if we don’t remove the produce when it is just starting to spoil, we will end up with a mess of liquid that often trickles down into other drawers or even starts spoiling the fruit around it.
If we are not attentive to the cry of our own hearts, as well as the quiet voice of the Holy Spirit guiding us in how to live out God‘s purpose for our lives, we will soon find ourselves cleaning up an even bigger mess. It’s not that it’s not possible it’s just, you guessed it, messy.
Is there one thing that’s popped into your mind or heart as you’ve been reading this? Perhaps a nudge of something you’ve ignored for far too long? It could be something as simple as cleaning out the fridge or something that will take more soul searching, like reevaluating a relationship.
Whatever it is, my prayer for you today is that you no longer ignore that nudge and instead begin the work of clearing the clutter of your heart.
This is what the Lord says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is good for you and leads you along the paths you should follow.“
– Isaiah 48:17 NLT
Recommended Reading: “Reclaiming Your Heart: A Journey to Living Fully Alive” by Denise Hildreth Jones
