Many things, I’d say; pollen, cool air, rain, bees, red eyes, runny noses, creepy insects, chocolates, green plants, spiced buns filled with currants, dried fruits and cinnamon, codfish cakes, grilled snapper with plenty of yam dishes, colored eggs hidden on beaches, kite flying, lent, broad fancy church hats, colorful attires, and cleaning – SPRING CLEANING!
When I was younger, I used to think my guardian coined the concept of spring cleaning. I thought they used it as the perfect excuse to have us work on useless projects – Pffff.
What does spring cleaning mean to you?
In Judeo-Christian traditions, spring cleaning means celebrating liberation from Egypt; celebrated as Passover. For the Thai people, spring cleaning involves the pouring of water over each other to wash away bad thoughts and behaviors. In Persian culture, spring cleaning is sweeping up dust and removing clutter from one’s home to prevent ill-fortune in the upcoming year. In the Yogic tradition, spring cleaning means purity in thought, word, environment, body, and deed.
From my research, it appears spring cleaning is worthwhile- regardless of the culture.
Today I want to encourage you to spring clean away…BUT- focus on the right areas in your “house”. Jesus, in the book of Matthew, chastised some people for shining the wrong vessel. “First clean the inside of the cup”, He admonished, “so that the outside of the cup will be clean too.” (Matthew 23:26)
Have you been focused on the wrong things?
I like David’s spring cleaning focus. My praying ‘sistas’ and I are reading one of the most inspirational books (Daring to Live By His Every Word by Melody Mason), and we have been praying David’s prayer for weeks. We are reminded all through the pages of Mason’s book, that it is not our actions that God is most concerned about, but our hearts, our attitudes and our motivations.
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”
Psalm 51:10
For David, his spring cleaning was all about the inside, and I want yours and mind to be as his.
So rather than focusing on mere externals this spring, take the time to give Jesus every crevice of your heart.
Whether your faith life needs a fresh coat of paint or total renovation of the heart, there’s no better time to jump in than now. Start with one thing at a time—maybe it’s alone time with God, spending time in the Bible or treating others as He would.
Wherever you begin, remember you’re not spring cleaning alone. God Himself can help you cut through the spiritual clutter in each area of your life.
Spring has sprung, and it brought God’s grace and mercy along!
Happy Spring Cleaning!
Merry Melodious Melody
Amen. . .In addition, Spring cleaning is not only to get rid of stuffs, but it is getting rid of unwanted stuffs to make room for something better. David asked for his heart to be cleansed so that he could have a right spirit… (replacing bad with good). It is not about emptying and stay empty. (that can be dangerous). “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it EMPTY, SWEPT, AND PUT IN ORDER. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.”
Matthew 12:43-45 NKJV
Let’s ask for a clean heart/house today to make room for the infilling of the Holy Spirit. Let’s not stay empty. We should be clean but not empty…
Bro Daniel, that’s a great point you make; clean and restore! Thanks for sharing such thought. Cleaning is important, but what enters the empty space is most important. I pray we all clean and welcome all that the Holy Spirit can restore, and input into the main hub of the house.
Beautiful. We can clean the pollen in our lives and let Jah comes in and restore and inhale fresh air.
I like that Lesrine.
Melody- great inspirational thoughts!my prayer is ,as I clean my house ( my heart)may God fill up all the empty space and abide in me. May the beauty of Spring motivates me to spring forward in the loving arms of Jesus.and stay there. I know I am safe in His Arms.
Amen! Spring ahead, cause summer is right around the corner and it’s going to be “hot” for us christians
Thanks Mel
good food for thought
I really believe in cleaning so don’t really wait until spring and so it should be with our relationship with God we should always try our best to have cleaned hearts at all times.
I will join with the song writer which says
There is spring time in my soul today
For when the Lord is near
The dove of peace sing in my heart
The flowers of grace appears
O there’s sunshine blessed sunshine
When peaceful happy moments roll
When Jesus shows his smiling face
There is springtime in my soul
May God help us all to keep our hearts clean
Amen.
Yes, David asked ‘that the Lord to blot out his transgressions..’ that Spring Cleaning from the inside out. I want to ask God the same. The cleaning gurus usually say when we declutter we should make 3 piles- ‘ keep’ , ‘give away’ and ‘discard’. I want to keep Christ near, give away/ share his goodness with others and discard my sinful nature.