Cleaning Closets

What is the one household cleaning job that you despise more than any other? Hands down, mine is cleaning my closet, but like it or not, twice a year, I have to hunker down, pull everything out, and evaluate whether it goes back in again.

There are numerous reasons why I dislike this job. It’s takes time (sometimes three days), it’s tedious, and I’m allergic to dust mites, so I am always sick after I finish. However, the end product makes it worthwhile, as I can once again walk in my closet without tripping over something, and know where everything is.

Before I began this mammoth task yesterday, I prayed that God would help me do it, because organizing a closet is not my natural tendency. I can now see the floor, which is good progress going into day two.

Sometimes, it’s also wise to clean out our spiritual closet. It makes sense. We clean our homes where we reside. Meanwhile, our bodies are the temple of God, so why wouldn’t we occasionally do an internal reorganizing to make them more desirable to live in?

Without attention, our spiritual closets can get cluttered, and full of activities that need reevaluating. Lay everything in your life on the table, and ask God “Am I where you want me?” “Is there anything you want to take out of my life?” Then it’s important to ask the more difficult questions: “What about me personally? LORD, how do you want me to change? Are my ways pleasing to you, or is there something that needs reviewing and revising?”

Cleaning a closet can be a worship experience. I play praise music while I am tossing clothes and shoes out the door. I also spend the time praying for others, and for guidance in situations I don’t know how to handle.

When I’m done, I don’t just want my closet to be clean, I want my heart clean. When I tidy up my closet, I go into the corners where dust has gathered, then sweep and mop it away. Sometimes we lock things away so deep in our hearts that it takes an intentional cleaning to find what’s not right in us.

We should pray Psalm 51:10, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” but when we ask God to clean our spiritual closet, go a step further and ask, “What in my heart is not pure? Where am I not steadfast?” He’ll usually show us.

We should want our service to the Lord to be in the center of his will. When there is opposition in ministry, ask God, “Is this the enemy, are you moving me, or is there something I need to change about myself?” I personally have a desire to be a righteous woman, and I know God will not bless my path, if it isn’t totally surrendered to him.

With the holidays upon us, you may be in cleaning mode as well. However, this year consider multi-tasking by doing a spiritual cleaning at the same time. Then as you feel better about the work you’ve done in your home, you’ll also be pleased with the cleaning that’s taken place in God’s holy temple, YOU! (LBW)