From The Inside Out

We all go through a season in our life when we spring clean everything.

We paint, scrub, decorate, redecorate again and again. The exterior of our homes and the interior of our designs are always needing to be in style. What if we think about it as if we are spring cleaning our self, our spirit if you will. We constantly make the exterior “perfect” and cleanse it till it shines, but forgetting about the interior design. How nice would the house be inside if we did this to our home? Would it be impressive, or would it feel homely? Psalms 51:10, Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

As a new season approaches our life we need to refresh our self not neglecting what’s inside of us. I used to collect all my shoe boxes, but I have so many shoes that it started to clutter and collect dust, so I got rid of it all. Think of all the shame, guilt, and sin as if they were the boxes. Sometimes we collect so much of it all that it starts to collect more, and we harbor more of it than we indented, and it hides away in secret places of our heart or spirit. All it takes is a simple purge, a repentance. 1 John 1:9 states, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

I know the feeling of getting rid of stuff and feeling as if you won‘t have much left for yourself. Sometimes our flesh doesn’t want to get rid of these insecurities or past mistakes, because we feel like they either; define us, or we may feel like we cant live without them because we won’t have that crutch anymore. After getting rid of some things, you will feel refreshed and renewed. Our minds will be clear to what the will of God will be for our lives. Romans 12:2, And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Next, you may want to add a fresh coat of paint or some new decorations. Let’s start adding a fresh coat of faith, there’s no better time then now. Let our faith cover any bitterness or unforgiveness that has painted our heart. Becoming familiar with these two will affect the outside of your spirit and it will push away the good. Let’s add faith so it can take over and make us shine again.

Now is the new decorations, what is lacking? Fruits of the spirit are a great way to start redecorating our spirit and heart. The fruits are: love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. Scripture says in Matthew 22:37-39 what the greatest commandment is, Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. We can’t love others if we don’t first love God, and love ourself. Above all, love.

Spending our time in prayer and God's word will allow us to align our heart with God and live in the will he has created for us. Let him walk alongside of you. Let this encourage you to do some spring cleaning in you and turn the inside to be as bright as the outside!