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“Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” Colossians 3:12
This time of year is when all the ads feature storage solutions for our cluttered lives, but what about a spiritual cleanup?
When was the last time I took out my kindness shirt, shook it out, and put it on? Do I even have a gentleness shirt in there anymore? I know I have several selfish shirts and a few anger sweatpants in my spiritual closet. Those are well-worn.
The choices I make each day determine what I’m putting on: more me or more Jesus.
I love a good cleanout session. Going through closets, discovering things anew, putting things back in better order than I found them, and getting rid of the excess. Sign me up! I don’t need it to be January or any special time of the year. You can find me cleaning closets and drawers year-round.
Lately, I’ve been trying to declutter and get rid of things. This is especially important for me in two areas: clothes and books. Can I get an amen? My rule is that if I bring one in, one has to go.
Sometimes this is easy enough. Other times? Anguish.
This verse in Colossians got me thinking about the intentionality of our faith walk. It shares how Paul is telling the church at Colossae to intentionally put on the clothing of these spiritual fruits as if we don’t walk around with them all the time. I know I don’t. So, just like we have to be intentional about what comes in (and out of) our homes, we have to be intentional about the fruit displayed in our lives.
One of the best ways to do a little soul-closet cleanout is to practice using our Holy Spirit fruit. It can feel like it’s not genuine, but if we wait around until we feel like being godly, well, it’s gonna be a while. Instead, let’s be intentional.
Even better, we can combine the joy of cleaning out a closet with reaching out to someone and practicing our spiritual fruit simultaneously. How? As you unearth that candle, you never used or that coat with the tags still on it, ask God who you can bless with any items. Set it aside until he gives you an idea. Then print out this card and take it over with the item that needs a new home.
Maybe they won’t want it. No problem! Perhaps they won’t be home. That’s okay. Our job is simply to obey and be intentional with our walk. We’d love to hear about how God may have used this in your life. Tell us at [email protected].[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]