Spring Cleaning

Let me approach a subject that we may not like very much: Spring Cleaning.

Spring means many things to us. But one of the most notable things that comes with spring is spring cleaning, when we go through our houses and take care of all the messes that have built up over the months.

I heard about an interesting custom in Italy for New Year's Eve. At midnight, the windows of every house open and everyone pitches out whatever they absolutely hate-furniture, clothes, dishes-they all come crashing to the ground. Now I would call that serious housecleaning.

I don't know about you, but I am not the tidiest person on the face of the earth. Right now my garage needs spring cleaning so badly! My office tends to get cluttered with various projects I'm working on. Some of you know how that works. Stuff just kind of adds up. You work on something and instead of cleaning up the mess you just move on to the next project.

Then there are people like my wife who is always doing a little here and a little there and keeping the place in great shape.

Unfortunately, the same thing tends to happen in our spiritual lives. There are some of us who allow problems to develop. We allow things to get really out of control. And when we reap the inevitable results of sin or when some crisis hits, we turn to God and say, "Lord, I need Your help to get me out of this mess."

And then there are others who live their spiritual lives the same way that my wife cleans house. They are always maintaining their relationship with the Lord, little by little, day by day, always cultivating it, and constantly keeping their hearts in a right relationship with God. That is the way to live.

You might think, "Yeah, well, I may not be the tidiest person in the world, but I get the job done." Perhaps, but think of all the time you would save if you maintained things regularly and didn't have to do a major cleaning overhaul every so often!

Again, let me apply this spiritually. If we will maintain our daily walk with God we can avoid most of the pitfalls that crop up when we don't. 1 John 1:9 tells us, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just toforgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Need a little spiritual spring cleaning? Go to God. He'll listen, and if you ask Him He'll forgive. Then, focus on that day to day walk with God......that day to day cleaning. It's much more satisfactory, friend, I promise!

I encourage you this week, work on whatever spiritual spring cleaning might be necessary. And then, maintain on a day by day basis and enjoy the blessings of God!