The first day of Spring has arrived. With it comes the tradition of putting the things of winter away. One of my passions is working in my flower garden. I let the dead leaves collect for the past two years. The new growth rose over the top so I took a long vacation from raking them. My excuse being that the leaves provided cover for my perennial plants during our harsh winters. We have not had a normal winter this season. So the task began.
Raking through the old, moldy, damp leaves of winters past can be quite revealing. Stirring up what has been, the “what was” of yesterday. When we rake through our life with Jesus we get the same result. He moves the old, moldy, parts; the sins, regrets, the fears and bitterness, the sorrow and grief out of the way. He uncovers our heart to see the new growth that has lain dormant for a wilderness season. We breathe the fresh air and feel the warmth of sunshine that only the Son can bring to broken hearts and messed up lives with walls of protection built around them.
Life…A different life, than yesterday. An uncovered life; a forgiven life, a new beginning.
With the past out of the way, we begin anew. We water, fertilize and let the sun’s nourishing rays flood over it. We wait and watch for a new season of beauty to unfold. In the garden of our heart we say, “Speak Lord” then we water and make fertile the hearts ground by reading God’s word, and listening for His voice. We wait. He always comes, He always lifts, He yearns to hear the voice of His children crying from the wilderness. We cannot do this deep cleaning without the rays of the “Son” shining on our life. I know, because I tried that for a season.
The enemy desires that Spiritual Spring Cleaning never comes. That the moldy, damp darkness covers any potential joy and peace of a life with Christ as our Master Gardener. The devourer wants to distract us with every excuse to stay away from the One he himself is afraid of…Jesus.
Cleaning on the level of a good Spring cleaning isn’t easy. There will be weariness with the task ahead and there will be sore joints and a very tired body when it is done. The same thing happens with a Spiritual Spring Cleaning.” There will be weariness, tears, soul searching on a level that may never have been approached before. But, like the garden that blooms anew in the Spring…Your life will open with the beauty of Christ in your soul, your heart and on your face. You will feel the presence of God singing over you like never before. We are never waived of difficult days, sorrow and grief, worries and fears. The garden event of all time asssured us of that. But those days are so much easier to walk through when we know that Jesus walks through them with us.
Have you some Spring Cleaning? Some Spiritual Spring Cleaning to do? Think of all that may lay buried and the peace, joy and hope that will flood over the heart that takes time for Jesus and pulls back the cover of winter.
~Scripture For Today~
Psalm 51:10
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. (NIV)
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (KJV)
~Prayer For Today~
Hello Father! Thank You for the renewal that Spring brings. We ask that you search our hearts and reveal to us those things we need to cultivate in our relationship with Your Son. We pray that all who seek will find Him as Savior. Forgive us our sins. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
©2017 Kathy Ledbetter. All Rights Reserved.