Take Stock - Spiritual Spring Cleaning
Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! Psalm 139:23-24
Springtime has arrived, bringing warmer weather, Easter celebrations, The Masters tournament, Spring Break, and the pending end of the school year. Spring also marks a time in the calendar when we dedicate ourselves to spring cleaning and early-season gardening. Before diving into these yearly tasks, I like to take stock, making an inventory list of the things we have and the things we no longer want to make room for future growth and improvement.
In the same way, it is important to occasionally conduct spiritual spring cleaning in order to understand our overall spiritual health. In this week’s reflection, we will take stock of five key areas in our lives that will help us improve our spiritual health and prepare us for the growth the Lord has in store for us in this season and beyond.
*I encourage you to reflect on these areas in your life, writing your answers in a journal and meditating on the bible verses below.
I. Take stock of your priorities.
What are you dedicating your thoughts, time, and effort toward? Is there anything that you are prioritizing over your walk with the Lord? Are there any idols in your life?
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“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33 ESV
“37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Matthew 22:37 ESV
II. Take stock of your consumption.
What are you consuming on a daily basis? Make a list of the things you read, the shows you watch, the music you listen to, and the conversations you have. Do they reflect your core beliefs as a follower of Christ? Are you spending time in the Word? How can you dedicate more time to consume Godly content?
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“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2
“7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7
III. Take stock of your relationships.
Are there any broken relationships? Are there opportunities for reconciliation? If so, pray for the Lord to give you the courage, humility, and grace to seek out ways to mend the broken relationship.
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“39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:39 ESV
“23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24. leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” Matthew 5:23-24 ESV
“Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,” Ephesians 5:19 ESV
IV. Take stock of your prayer life.
Are you dedicating time to prayer? Are you taking time to talk with God and time to just listen to Him? Who else would benefit if all your prayers were answered today?
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5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” Matthew 6:5-8 ESV
14 “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him”. 1 John 5:14-15 ESV
6 “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 ESV
V. Take stock of the sin in your life
Are there unaddressed sin patterns in your life? These are often areas in your life that you deliberately keep hidden, make excuses for or justify.
What can you do about it? Ask the Holy Spirit to identify and convict you of the sin in your life. Give it to God. Repent of your sin and ask the Lord for forgiveness.
“19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,” Acts 3:19
“10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:10
9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
51
Have mercy on me,[a] O God,
according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
blot out my transgressions.
2
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin!
Psalm 51:1-2
Take stock of God’s work in your life and give thanks!
Finally, I encourage you to pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal the many ways, both seen and unseen, that the Lord has been working in your life. Are there prayers that have been answered or areas in which He has blessed you and your family? Write them down and give thanks. If you feel led, share God’s work in your life with others. God blesses us so that we may bless others.
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4 And you will say in that day:
“Give thanks to the Lord,
call upon his name,
make known his deeds among the peoples,
proclaim that his name is exalted.
5
“Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously;
let this be made known[a] in all the earth.
Isaiah 12:4-5
Prayer and Blessing
“Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23
Amen,
Brad
