Spring Cleaning

This week I received word from my doctor's office that there were some lab values in my blood work that are way out of whack.  I was actually glad to hear it.  It explained and validated how I've been feeling.  Confirmed what I knew but couldn't explain, that something was just not right.  The good news is that it is all treatable and will soon be resolved and get me back to my usual vim and vigor.  

But it got me thinking about this concept of how our bodies, our souls and our spirits are all related.  And, that it doesn't do the complete job when we just focus on one area and not the others.  This week has been our spring break.  I'd like to say that I used this time to do some spring clean of my house, but alas, I was feeling out of order, so I decided to do some spring cleaning of myself.  What good would it do me if I started repairing my body but left my soul burdened by unforgiveness or discontent?  What good would it do to explore my creativity, if my spirit is far from God, the author of my freedom?

 I think this kind of maintenance is good for all of us.  Spring is such a good time to do this.  We are in a season of looking to the cross and ultimately the resurrection.  It puts us in a mind to take stock and evaluate our goals that we set at the new year.  

So if we desire to freshen up, shine up and clear up ourselves, we need to look at the following areas:

Body:  How am I doing with the stewardship of my health?  Do I give my body clean healthy fuel? Do I exercise and care for my posture, hygiene, and stress?  Am I sleeping well?  Am I utilizing leisure to refuel?

Soul:  Am I bringing my mind, will, emotions, creativity, intuition, wisdom, inspiration, humor, and intellect under the authority of scripture?  Am I saturating these areas with truth?  Am I expressing myself in these areas through the fruit of the Spirit?  

Spirit:  Am I walking in intimacy with Christ?  Is my prayer life a two-way line of communication?  Is my worship vibrant?  Is there unconfessed sin or a broken relationship?  Am I being fully obedient in every area?  

Vision and life purpose:  Am I passionately pursuing my dreams?  Am I taking a risk on my future?  Am I making a difference for God in this world?  Am I leveraging my advantages for the Kingdom? Am I walking in freedom from strongholds?  Am I being intentional in my lifestyle or just existing and reacting? 

Now is the perfect time to take stock.  Beat the rugs, wipe the baseboards, air out the stuffy rooms of your life.  Open up the windows and let a fresh breeze blow, let a soft spring rain wash away the grit of life.  Listen to the music of the birds and smell the fragrance of blossoms and fresh cut grass.  A clean life will put a song in your heart and a lilt in your step. A ray of warmth in your eyes.  

I'm so glad that my life is not just the sum of a lab test.  I'm glad God is concerned with my health but He's also committed to making me like Jesus.  Sometimes He scrubs me so hard it hurts.  But I love the result.  It brings Him glory.  Let the freshness of a renewed spirit usher in the new victory in His Name.  

 

Psalm 51:10  Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

 

Comments

[Becky]

Love this. Such a great reminder!!!

[Sandra Boetticher]

Perfect timing for this! Thank you once again! I love you!

[Joy]

THIS IS AMAZING!!! I pray that everyone that reads these words from you applies them to their life. May we all work at becoming more and more like Jesus every single day!!! God bless you!!!... every single day!!!
Also, I have to share this with you: God recently revealed something to me and it is amazing!!! He wants us to be as excited about Him as we are when we greet a friend or anyone we are excited to see. We give them a huge smile, a huge hug, and thankfulness. God revealed to me that He wants us to greet Him in the same way, to start the day giving Him a huge smile, a huge embrace, complete thankfulness and be so excited that HE is with us ALL THE TIME!!! Let us all be the most excited we have ever been about our day with God!!!... Every single moment!!! Love to you all!!!