It’s That Time of Year Again
This is the time of year when many people engage in what is commonly called “spring cleaning.” Garages are swept out, decks are power washed, and windows get cleaned. The longer hours of daylight allow for us to freshen up flower beds, removing the leaves and debris that accumulated in them over the winter, getting them ready for the planting of new flowers. We had our lawn reseeded last fall and on Saturday I raked up some of the remaining straw that did not biodegrade during the winter months. Believe it or not, I enjoy doing (most) yard work.
Dandelions are sprayed with weed killer, but tomorrow ten more appear. Did you know that technically dandelions are not weeds, they are part of the aster family of flowering plants (think zinnias, sunflowers, marigolds). And did you also know that dandelions produce seeds without pollination, thus the offspring plant is genetically identical to its parent plant; a process known as apomixis. So, how many dandelions does it take to eventually cover your entire yard? The answer: just one.
We don’t just spring clean outside; we also do the same inside our homes. Winter clothes are replaced in closets by warm weather clothes, windows are cleaned, and the boxed-up Christmas decorations that have been sitting in the spare bedroom are finally put away in the attic. You might even have a garage sale or donate items to a local charity.
And not only do we need to do spring cleaning to our homes and yards, it is a good idea to look in the mirror and spring clean those areas in our lives that have gotten neglected, cluttered, avoided, abused, unbalanced, or put in a box but never really put away. What I am saying is that life for most of us is hectic and occasionally out of control. We are in seemingly always in survival mode, frequently causing us to fail taking care of the things that are important, both our inside and outside our home as well within ourselves. This is a good time to take inventory of your life and make changes where they might be needed. Some of those changes will be easy and quick, other might take longer periods of time, maybe even being painful.
The Bible gives us a roadmap to a better tomorrow. That roadmap begins and ends with asking God to make you more like Him. Psalm 139 begins with David acknowledging that God has examined his heart, and that He knows everything about David. In fact, nothing about David or his life is hidden from God. We read in Psalm 139:1-4 – “You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue, you Lord, know it completely.”
The psalm ends with David’s prayer for God to examine him and point out what needs spring cleaned. In verses 23-24 we see these words – “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
What areas do you need “spring cleaned” or maybe totally jettisoned like the solid rocket boosters from a spaceship after liftoff? God is ready to help you spring clean your life. Ask Him today to not only examine your life, but also your soul, and then with His help get to work on spring cleaning.