Spring 2009
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Guide to Spiritual Spring Cleaning
As you clean out your closets and dust away the cobwebs this spring, take a little time to do some spiritual cleaning as well. A good house cleaning will only last for a little while, but an in-depth cleansing of your spirit can have an eternal influence.
Week One : Clean Your Mind
Our thoughts can quickly become our actions so it is important to start our spiritual cleaning with a clean and pure mind. The garbage that we are regularly presented by the world can take hold in our minds and cause us to become more like the world.
Passages to Study:
Philippians 4:8
Romans 12
Week Two: Clean Your Heart
David prayed that God would create in him a clean heart, and we would do well to offer the same prayer on this week of our spiritual cleaning. A clean heart draws us closer to God, which is necessary if we want to be truly clean.
Passages to Study:
Psalm 51:10
Hebrews 10:22
Week Three: Clean Your Mouth
Once your heart is clean, your language should follow. The way we speak shows others what is in our hearts. A clean mouth does not use bad language or engage in negative conversation about others. A clean mouth does not give voice to complaints, but instead offers praise to God and encouragement to those around us.
Passages to Study:
Luke 6
James 3
Week Four: Clean Your Spiritual Closets
Sins that we hide deep inside can destroy us and our relationship with God and others. Make this the week you clean out your spiritual closets and confess your sins and receive forgiveness.
Passages to Study:
Psalm 32
James 5:16
Week Five: Throw Out Last Year’s Clutter
We all sin (Romans 3:23) and sometimes the sins of others are directed towards us. But the Bible teaches that we should have a forgiving attitude. Make this the week you throw out the clutter that bitterness leaves inside. Offer forgiveness to those who have sinned against you.
Passages to Study:
Colossians 3:13
Ephesians 4
Week Six: Let some “Son” Light In
After a good cleaning, it’s always nice to throw open the windows and let in the fresh air and sunlight. On this final week of spiritual cleaning, we need to let the light of God’s only son, Jesus, shine into our lives. We have been called into fellowship with Jesus Christ our Lord. When we have “son” light in our lives, we can let our lights shine before others so they too can glorify God.
Passages to Study:
Matthew 5:16
1 Corinthians 1
By Valerie Enoch
Orginally printed in the Spring 2009 issue,
A Christian’s Beauty Box – De-clutter Your Heart
Today is the day to become a beautiful woman for God. Now is the time to prepare our “beauty Box”…our hearts. Usually we add something to our box, instead we are going to clean out our beauty box. We will keep only things that will help us serve our Lord.
De-clutter Your Heart
“Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Remove the evil of your deeds from my sight. Cease to do evil.” Isaiah 1:16
“Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of GOD.” 2 Corinthians 7:1
Contributed by Amy Ellis
Poems Written At Different Times In My Life After Spiritual “Spring Cleaning”
Hopefully, we have all learned to self-evaluate and set things right every day. But with our busy lives, it’s so easy to let that time get lost in the shuffle. Here are three
poems written at different times in my life after spiritual “spring cleaning” and self evaluation, realizing I had gotten off the path and needed forgiveness of God as well as my spiritual family. May they touch your heart in their reading as they touched mine in the writing.
Today’s A New Day!
Sometimes I stumble and feel that I’ll fall.
It’s like I’m not really a Christian at all.
I act the part, and wear the name,
Say all the right words, like playing a game.
The love is there, but it’s buried so deep.
It has to be there! Right now it’s asleep.
I know there’s a God. That he’s in control.
But now I’m weary and out of touch with my soul.
I’ve walked away. I’ve put God aside,
Though I know I must with Him abide.
All I can do now is get down on my knees
And fervently ask, yes beg, God to please,
Please help my heart be refreshed and new.
For I want to be loyal, and faithful and true.
But sometimes I slow down in working for God.
So slow I do get, that my walk is a plod.
But life is much more than plodding along.
As a child of God, my life is a song!
So why do I stumble? Why do I fall?
Because I’m mere mortal and on God I must call.
For He is my strength , THAT I believe
And His love and power I can truly receive.
But now I must ask that God will forgive,
And help me be stronger and for Him live.
For again I stumbled and lost my way,
But God’s leading me back…
Today’s A New Day!
Awakened!
Awakened! Renewed! I’m alive again!
I’m back in God’s way, forgiven of sin.
To those around me, I did not appear wrong,
But deep in my heart I’ve known for so long,
That my heart’s not been right.
Sometimes I do that, I simply lose sight
And try to run on, yes, ahead of God.
But then running is hard and turns to a plod
And life becomes weary, the pathway rough,
Whatever I do, it’s never enough.
But now I’m renewed, awakened, alive
To be stronger for God and in hope revive
Those promises given to me by God.
I’ll lean on his arms ‘till I rest ‘neath the sod.
Cleanse My Heart, O God.
Cleanse My Heart, O God.
Make me clean and pure,
That I might make my calling and election sure.
“Grant me the joy of Thy salvation”,
Grant me a heart of peace.
Grant me strength to live through life’s trials
And know that someday they’ll cease.
Turn my eyes ever upward, Lord;
That Heaven be always my goal,
That someday I’ll walk and talk with my Lord,
In that beautiful Home of soul.