A Spiritual Spring Cleaning …
“Let us examine and probe our ways,
And let us return to the LORD.”
Lamentations 3:40 ❤ (Verse on Bible Hub)
Spring arrives each year with its sunshine and fresh air and we feel inspired to deeply clean the mess and the clutter in our homes. When we throw open our windows this Spring and begin the process of spring cleaning, let’s think about another area in our lives that could use a revival. Our Spirits. We can sure use a good Spiritual cleaning …
Reignite Our Hearts …
Have we abandoned our first Love? Have we been serving the Lord for years but our hearts have drifted from Him? I’ve heard scary stories of how the Holy Spirit’s presence would leave a church and the people don’t even notice He’s gone. I say that, but do I notice when the Holy Spirit has been quenched within me?
In a letter to the church in Ephesus, it was written: “Without growing weary, you have persevered and endured many things for the sake of My name. But I have this against you: You have abandoned your first love. Therefore, keep in mind how far you have fallen. Repent and perform the deeds you did at first. But if you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place …” Revelation 2:3-5 (Entire Chapter in BSB, Bible Gateway)
This Spring, I pray for Papa God to breathe His Spirit fresh on us, to give us divine CPR to awaken our hearts to beat for Him once more. May He strike that God sized match and set our hearts on fire for Him. Whatever is taking first place in your heart, if it is not the Lord, please remove it completely or knock it down a few pegs to its rightful place.
Renew Our Minds …
“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5 (Verse on Bible Hub)
As Christians, we KNOW we are in a very real battle and it’s vital we do our part to keep our minds renewed because we can’t change our actions until we change our minds. Our minds are literally the battlefield where Satan wages war with us. If we don’t give up our old ways of thinking and let God transform our minds, we will live a very defeated Christian life. Therefore, it’s important to spend time in God’s presence and do our best to ‘walk out’ what we read in His Word every day.
Lord Jesus, I pray for You to reveal to us today where we have failed to surrender the wrong thoughts to you. Where have we slipped and entertained something of demonic influence in our minds and now we are suffering? Have we unintentionally come into agreement with the enemie’s lies in any area of our lives? Please help us to check ourselves to think about the things we are thinking about.
Redeem our Words …
Our words have creative power. That’s a sobering thought, isn’t it? We can literally speak life (build up) or death (tear down) with our words.
This is an area I always have to ask God, my hubby and my friends to keep me accountable in. How about you?
God has shown me through the years that what is in my heart will ALWAYS rise up and out of my mouth, no matter my futile efforts to keep it checked. This is especially true when I’m tired or overwhelmed.
If something bitter keeps bubbling up from our hearts, we may need additional healing in some area. There is no condemenation in Christ. We just need to be honest with God so we can find healing.
That is why a good spiritual cleansing of our hearts and minds is so important and mentioned first before we address our words.
“From the fruit of his mouth a man’s belly is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied. The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences. Proverbs 18:20-21 (Passage on Bible Gateway)
Holy Spirit, our worlds are shaped by our words. Our words always bring a harvest, whether good or bad. Please give us the wisdom to slow down and think about what we are about to say. If we find ourselves in a heated moment, help us to remember to ask ourselves if we will be satisfied when we reap what we are about to sow with our words. As women of faith, please empower us to speak words of life over ourselves, our relationships and our circumstances. May the words of our mouths and the meditation of our hearts be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14.
Recover Our Spiritual Leaks …
Anyone who has had to pay an expensive water bill because of a small water pipe leak knows how costly it can be. Leaks can seem little and insignificant but end up being costly in the end. So it is with spiritual leaks.
Jesus called the Holy Spirit ‘Living Water’. As Believers, we are temples of His Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 6:19) Jesus said to the woman at the well: “… whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:14-15 (Passage on Bible Gateway)
But then we are admonished in 1 Thessalonians 5:19 to not quench the Holy Spirit. Different versions of the Bible use different words for “quench” such as ‘stifle, extinguish, turn away, and restrain.’ The HCSB version reads, “Do not put out the Spirit’s fire.”
The little drip drip drip of a leaky faucet can seem harmless, and so can all the little unconfessed sins in our lives. Indulging in just a teeny tiny bit of unwholesome talk, anger, bitterness, slander and rage can’t hurt me right? Wrong. Ephesians 4:29-30 tells me these behaviors grieve the Holy Spirit of God. The Contemporary English Version says “Don’t make God’s Spirit sad.” With a spiritual leak, we can find ourselves leading weak and powerless Christian lives. It would not be an effective Spiritual Spring cleaning if we don’t assess where our leaks exist and do something about the little compromises in our lives.
Refresh Our boundaries …
Another thing that can contribute to a drained, ineffectual life are negative influences. A Spiritual Spring cleaning is a good time to access our friends list. Do we have someone in our life who is toxic? This person feels entitled and justified to dishonor, tear down and just plum wear us out repeatedly with their words and actions?
When nothing we say is helping, as sad as it may be, it may be time to put some distance between us and those who want to come between us and our walk with God.
Healthy biblical boundaries do not restrict us or punish others. They protect our God given freedom, peace and safety. Healthy boundaries need to be in place, like a firewall, to protect us from angry people who are out of control with their toxic words and actions. These established parameters actually help to protect them as much as it does us. We can love and pray for them from a safe distance.
“The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; You have made my lot secure. The lines of my boundary have fallen in pleasant places; surely my inheritance is delightful. I will bless the LORD who counsels me; even at night my conscience instructs me.” Psalm 16:5-7 (Passage on Bible Gateway)
Lord, please put distance between us and anyone who is determined to lead us away from the God we love. Keep us safe from those who desire to manipulate or bully us into doing things their way and not following Your instructions, Jesus. Help us to preserve our energy (and the grace You give us each day) by leaving them in Your hands. We claim Your promise that no weapon forged against us will ever prosper.
Happy Spring Sweet sister! Blessings …
A Spiritual Spring Cleaning @ freshgracefortoday.com
Related Post:
“12 Important Bible Verses About Cleaning Up Our Lives” @ Kingdom Bloggers
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I think there can always be a need for a spiritual cleaning. As we each work towards being refined, being transformed into the image of Christ. Donna, there is so much meat to take away from this post! “Please help us to check ourselves to think about the things we are thinking about.” That phrase struck my heart to remind me that I have to guard my thoughts! Thank you for sharing your heart in this!
Thank you so much April! I appreciate you … ❤
I’m reading this a couple of weeks after you posted it, Donna, but it’s perfect timing!
I have a relationship with a toxic person. God has brought me a long ways including seeing this person through His eyes and being more understanding than I was in the past. I see her as a child who NEEDS to be seen, who NEEDS to be right, who NEEDS to be better than everyone else, but her abuse through words kills me every time. I’m distancing myself for awhile again so God can do His work in both of our lives. 😔❤
Thank you for another great post and your friendship!!❤
Awee I love this Susan! Praying for you always … ❤
Spiritual spring cleaning! Love it. Thanks for a fresh perspective on life as always!
Jessie, thank you so much for your support always … ❤❤❤
What a great reminder this Spring for a spiritual cleaning and not just a physical one, although I still need to do that on too 😉 Thank you for sharing this!
Lol I still have so much to do myself to finish my physical spring cleaning. I will get there … 😂💕
Yes! I definitely need to get onto the spring cleaning! So many things I need to organize!
Me too Michelle! Thank you so much … ❤
I love the concept of spiritual spring cleaning. An excellent post that is making me take a good look at a few of my uh bad habitsz
Lol, God definitely uses my writing to hold me accountable most of all. But He is so good! ❤
I loved your take on this topic, and I think it’s necessary to do a regular spiritual Spring cleaning for all of the reasons you stated. I’m about due for one myself. Thanks, Donna.
Thank you Summer! ❤❤❤
I love how you related doing a spiritual cleaning to a physical cleaning. I will definitely remember the R’s, renew, recover, refresh and redeem. Great post Donna!
Thank you so much Brandi. Love you sweet sister! ❤
This is a really great reminder to refresh our Spirit and communion with the Lord in our current season. Thank you for sharing.
Maryann thank you for stopping by and also for your kind words … ❤
This has been a season for cleaning out and clearing our hearts of the things which are not His best. Thank you for writing!
It sure has! Thank you so much Merry! Blessings … ❤
Thanks for this gentle push to do the work of spiritual spring cleaning! I definitely need to set an intention for checking my margins and making sure my words are not self-serving or detracting in anyway from God’s goodness. Love this post so much!
Thank you so much Rachel! I have to do the same constantly, making sure my words bring God the glory. ❤
Spring is a great time for some cleaning. When often think of our physical space, but not our spiritual spaces. I like how you talked about the power of our words.
Thank you so much Rachael! ❤
I could use a revival like this, every day if not every week. If we let ourselves go too long between repentance, it’s almost as if we forget we need to! Psalm 51 always speaks to me, especially verse 10: “create in me a pure heart”.
So true Barbara! I know I need it ALOT for myself, lolol. And I love Psalm 51! ❤
Donna, I really enjoyed this post and the concept of a cleanse! I am in the process of identifying some boundary issues. Boundary crossing people can draw so much of our energy that we must address the problem. Thanks for your thoughts!
Yes I completely agree! God is teaching us to put up healthy boundaries. To love and pray for certain people from a distance for our own safety and mental health. Thank you so much Mary! ❤
Love the idea of spiritual spring cleaning! I have been praying often about filling my soul with “living water,” so the idea of fixing spiritual leaks was really powerful!
Thank you Carla! When God had me add the verse from the woman at the well, the part that kept leaping out at me was when Jesus said, “Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” I googled the meaning of “welling up” and it says ” To gradually or steadily flow upwards or outwards so as to begin to fill or overflow something, literally or figuratively.” But my behavior can cause the opposite effect and cause a drain. I love how God keeps revealing more and more of His heart to us, don’t you? We serve a good GOD! ❤
Truth be told, I think most of us could use a Spiritual Spring Cleaning every new season! I know it was a good reminder to me. One of these verses is going to make its way to be my next memory verse!
Awee thank you Teresa! Blessings to you … ❤
Some really good thoughts. I remember going through the emotional decluttering in my own series and thinking…why do l hold on to things when clearly God wants me to let go. Thanks Donna. Good points!
I am like you as I question God why I hold on to things way beyond its season. Thank you Ava for taking time to read and respond. Many blessings to you today … ❤
I loved the insight on spiritual spring cleaning on the leaks. And your verse for the spiritual spring cleaning of your mind is one of my favorites! When I get on a negative mental path, I ask the Lord to take them thoughts captive!
I remember as a new Christian hearing how I needed to take my thoughts captive. It didn’t make sense to me at the time, but as the years have gone by, it has helped me immensely to hold my peace in different situations. Thank you Cindy. I appreciate you! ❤
Donna I needed this! It has really opened my eyes – especially the spiritual leaks part. Those little sins that we all have can cause tremendous pain and issues! A spiritual spring cleaning is exactly what I need!
Me too! God is still working on me cleaning up my leaks and compromises. One of the biggest things is He is purging me of people pleasing. I have never seen the danger of people pleasing (for my heart, mind, words, boundaries and compromises) as much as I have these past few months. Thank you Stacey for your kind words. Blessings sweet friend … ❤
This post on spring spiritual cleaning is really timely. The exist of the Holy Spirit from a ma a life without them is sad, I pray that God in his infinite mercy help us not grieve the Holy Spirit by our actions. Self examination and decluttering vital. Great post
Thank you Hannah! I join you in your prayer … ❤
Thanks Donna, I meant Exit not exist 😀 auto correct. I will appreciate your prayers 🙏❤
Hannah, lol I knew what you meant. Those auto corrects drive me bonkers sometimes … ❤❤❤
regenerate our mouths is something I haven’t read before. how did you come up with that?
Hi Sophia. I was asking God to give me words that mean to bring back to life from the way something previously was. Between the heart and mouth, I was trying to listen for what words He wanted me to use, such as ‘renew’, ‘redeem’ or ‘regenerate’. Thank you for stopping by. Blessings to you … ❤