Getting down to business!

"Search me, O God, and know my heart." (Psalm 139:23)

Packrats...do you know any? No, they are not little furry creatures that are often seen with suitcases, they are actually people just like you and me. Packrats are people who have the art of 'clutterization' down to a science. Their personal space has been taken over by a galaxy of untidiness. There are boxes of items that haven't been touched for ages, shoes that will never be worn again, repetitions of unread books, and a host of other things that would never be missed if they were gone.

Why do people allow a disarray of debris to pervade their personal space? Perhaps it is a lack of time, discipline, desire, or a combination of the three- but the results are the same. Household clutter occupies space, saps energy, and creates frustration.

Have you ever wondered if you might be a spiritual packrat? Remember, the very presence of Jesus Christ indwells (lives in) believers. In other words, your heart is Christ's home. In the physical realm, packrats muddle their homes with unneeded items. Sure, we're the ones who allowed the stuff in our house in the first place, but it's important to regularly 'dejunk' our space. Spiritual packrats are much the same—they allow Christ's home to get muddled by unneeded items. Unresolved conflicts pile up in the corner; unconfessed sins fill up all the closet space; and unspoken prayers litter our minds. It is crucial that we regularly 'dejunk' our spiritual lives.

If you are a spiritual packrat, maybe it's time to give Jesus a little more room in your heart. If you're a little rusty on how to 'declutter' your house, here's some speed cleaning advice from God's Word.

Unresolved conflicts:

"If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault." (Mt. 18:15).

"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift." (Mt. 5:23-24)

Either way you slice it, you are responsible for resolving conflict, regardless of whether or not you were the one offended. If you were hurt, go to the person; if you hurt someone else, go to the person.

Unconfessed sin:

"If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened" (Psa. 66:18)

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins" (1 Jn. 1:9)

When sin is left unconfessed, it's like a dirty pile of socks that makes the room smell worse with every passing hour. Keep short accounts with God.

Unspoken prayers:

"Let your requests be made known to God" (Phil. 4:6)

When we fail to go to the Father with our prayers, we fall prey to worry- which then fills our lives with unnecessary stress.

David's prayer in Psalm 139:23-24 can be a brilliant beginning to a clean spiritual home as we ask God to search us, point out our wicked ways, and lead us in His will. It's very tough for Christ to use you to reach your friends if He can't even find His way through your heart!

P.A.