Housecleaning: Cleanse and Renew with God’s Help

We downsized and moved into a new home, and I thought that the days of items piling up in closets and drawers were over. We had given away, sold, and thrown away so much stuff. Now everything had its own place.  

Fast forward a few years and here we are cleaning out closets and drawers where once again stuff has accumulated. Unbelievable.

Little things. Like flashlights and masks left over from Covid. Items collected on vacations. Lip balm (who knew lip balm could reproduce) and extra medications. Clothing that has not been worn since we moved into the house. Stuff. Taking up space. Collecting dust.

Things can be crammed back and forgotten to pile up easily. Like Scarlett in “Gone with the Wind”, we like to “think about that tomorrow”.

Unfortunately, the same thing can happen in our hearts. When Paul wrote to the Colossian church, he encouraged some housecleaning of the heart. Even though the believers there had trusted Christ, there were still things tucked away that needed to be thrown out, destroyed. Bad things.

As we read through the list in Colossians 3:5 – 8, we see sins that run the gamut. While we may not have a problem with all of them, if we allow the Holy Spirit to peruse our hearts, He will find some cleaning that needs to be done. Left over bits of anger that crop up when we see certain people. We may not use swear words, but gossip has a way of slipping through our lips. And that broad term ‘idolatry’. We are prone to allow things, people, careers, passions to become more important in our lives than our Lord. We are also inclined to look longingly at what others have and wonder why God has not blessed us in just that way. This, too, is idolatry.

Sigh. Those closets in the heart do need cleaning, just like Paul said.

God has much better use for that space. Check out verses twelve through fourteen and you will find that Paul lists forgiveness, humility, compassion, kindness, quiet strength, longsuffering, and above all, love. When our hearts are filled with these characteristics, God’s peace can rule in our hearts. Allowing God to clean out the bad stuff makes room for the Holy Spirit to grow the good fruit in us.

Housecleaning is not fun, but it is productive, whether we are working on our closets in the house or in the heart. We can probably complete the house closets on our own, but we will need God’s help and grace to take care of the heart business.

The good news is that He is ready and willing to help when we ask.

Father, search my heart and cleanse me from any fault or sin that has taken up residence in my heart. Shine Your light of mercy so that I can see and repent of things not pleasing to You. Sweep away the dust of doubt and gather up the debris that have collected there. Make room for all that You are in my heart. Make it a place where You are at home. In Jesus’ sweet name I pray.

“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Colossians 3:17, KJV).

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