Emptying Out Your Spiritual Clutter

Have you ever gone shopping for a couple of things you need, only to discover you came home with two to three bags of stuff you didn’t need. We justify these items by saying, “They were on sale” or “I got such a great deal”! When I look to put them some where. I hardly have a place to store these items.

I recently went to a home show and a roofing company gives out those 5 gallon plastic buckets. Consumers walk around filling up those buckets with all kinds of pieces of clutter from pens, writing pads, candy, brochures, and so many unnecessary things. When we get home with that full bucket we discover after a few days of digging out the bucket, we didn’t need at least 80% of the stuff. We ended up holding on to all this clutter.

Our spritual walk with God can get so easily cluttered with junk. You begin to wonder whatever happened to the passion and devotion you had with the Lord. The fervency has faded because our lives are consumed with spiritual clutter and religious junk.

Paul admonishes us “to be filled with the Spirit of God”. Ephesians 5:18 He is writing to the believers/followers in Jesus. Why was he saying this? First of all, walking with the Lord is notvjust a Sunday thing and just go to a church service for an hour or two for the week. Our walk with Christ is a daily experience. But we need God’s help by the work of the Holy Spirit to live in and through us, so we may take on the attitude of Christ love, compassion, the fruit of the Spirit, caring, and grace. The original greek word for “be filled” is “to be filled continously”. This is not a one time shot.

God desires to lavish His presence and gifts of the Spirit into our lives.

When we are not experiencing the Lord and all that He has for us it’s because of all the clutter clogging up our spiritual lives. We are called to walk as children of Light.

Ephesians 5:8-11 NIV
“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.”

If we are going to experience the goodness of God, and His righteousness, and truth, we must empty ourselves of all the clutter and stuff, even everyday problems, and give it to the Lord. Note, when the bucket is full of stuff, more stuff and junk just overflows the bucket. God’s Spirit is grieved when we are consumed by all the excess stuff

Ephesians 4:30-32 NIV
“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

What kind of clutter and stuff has prevented you from experiencing God’s presence? Are you willing to empty your bucket, your clutter. to allow the Lord to have His way in your life today? Ask the Lord to show what clutter needs to be removed in order to experience all the fulness He has for you today. Write that list down and give it to God today. His Word promises that He will fill us to an overflowing of the Spirit of God which is abundant living.

Jesus said. “I have come that you may have life and have it more abundantly” John 10:10b

Enjoy your day and coming week my friend. May you be healthy. safe, and blessed by God’s love.