Spring Cleaning

The daffodils blooming in my front yard are my first indication that spring is coming.   

Seeing their bright smiling faces as I leave in the morning make me smile and then I start thinking, "It's time to open all the windows in the house and air it out.  Need to do some deep cleaning and get rid of stuff I don't use or want anymore."  Ahh the joy of spring cleaning!  Beautiful.

With the idea of spring cleaning our homes comes the idea of spring cleaning our hearts.  Granted, we should check our hearts everyday but sometimes the hurts we carry need some extra attention.  Spring is a great time to do this.

               Search me, O God, and know my anxious thoughts.  See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

                              Psalm 139:23-24 NIV

Jesus is the perfect person to share our hearts with.  He will show us things about ourselves that we did not see before.  He can help us deal with the hurts and habits that we are holding on to so we can grow past them into full maturity. 

If your first thought to this is, "I don't need this."  Then I beg to differ.  I have known Jesus for 20 years and I have had to some type of "spring cleaning" hundreds of times.  Not because it didn't work the last time I did it but because life has brought new hurts, grudges, or resentments.

Holding on to these negative things adversely impacts your life.

When we don't deal with the issues in our heart and we hold on to grudges and resentments, the Bible says God does not hear our prayers.  It also says in Matthew Chapter 6 that if we hold on to unforgiveness that God will not forgive us. 

I love Jesus and my life depends on His mercy and grace.  I need forgiveness.  I need Jesus.  Without His help, I cannot do what I do.  Knowing this caused me to make the decision to keep my relationship with Him healthy and strong no matter what the cost and that means dealing with my hurts and any unforgiveness I may be harboring.

Make a date with Jesus to go over what you are carrying in your heart.  Ask Him to help you with anything in it that is preventing you from growing.  Let Him heal your hurts and repair any brokenness.

Find some time to spring clean your heart.  I promise you'll be glad you did.

Heidirn