Spring cleaning is upon us. It’s the time of year we take inventory of everything we have and begin to purge. What about spiritually? Have you taken an inventory of your heart lately? What are some things that you may have stored in your heart that need examining? After all, [1]the heart, according to the Bible, is part of an individual's spiritual makeup. It is the place where emotions and desires begin; it is that which drives the will of a person towards action. The heart of a person as described in the Bible is primarily a spiritual organ that drives a person’s behavior.
45 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.
- Luke 6:45
According to the [2]Oxford dictionary here is the definition of purge - rid (someone) of an unwanted feeling, memory, or condition, physically remove (something) completely. With the help of the internet and television networks, there are many tips that help us purge our homes of unnecessary things. Now when it comes to purging our hearts, we need to look no further than our ultimate authority, the Word of God.
23 Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
- Psalm 139:23-24
The first step for us to begin to purge our heart is to ask the Holy Spirit to examine it and to reveal to us things that do not belong in it. We need to allow Him to test us and get to the root of any anxious thoughts that we may have. The Holy Spirit is trustworthy and faithful, He will show us things that may be offensive and is more than able to lead us in its removal. The process is not easy, but if we submit to the Holy Spirit and trust Him, He will give us the strength and the ability to let go of these things and replace them with blessings that come from His fruit.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
- Galatians 5:22-25
PRAYER
Holy Spirit,
Search my heart, for You know it. Reveal to me anything that may be in my heart that is not rooted in Your fruit. Bring to light any anxious thoughts and their origin. I submit to You and ask that You help me uproot anything offensive and lead me in the freedom that You provide. In place of the things purged from my heart, I ask that You plant the seeds of Your fruit that I may produce love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. AMEN!
Your servant in Christ,
Pastor Nathan
