By Alyssa Stacks
“Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” (2 Corinthians 7:1)
Taking Inventory and Purging
I’ve recently discovered the joy of decluttering. It’s not so much about the empty spaces or the feeling of living more minimally, but rather the ease of accessing the good, beautiful, and useful items in my home.
I spent a lot of years shuffling boxes around instead of what I should have been doing all along: grabbing a trash bag without looking back.
When it comes to our hearts, I think we all have some serious, Marie Kondo-level decluttering to do. As believers, we’re called to take inventory of our lives and purge the clutter that’s acting as a barrier to all God wants to do in and through us. It turns out that it’s a lot harder to make the most of the real gifts you’ve been given until you’ve pulled each and every box of expired saltines from the pantry.
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“Renewal comes when we declutter (purify) the harmful habits that contaminate our hearts and lives.”
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Stripping Away the Bad
Have you ever found yourself feeling like no matter how consistent you are with prayer, Scripture, and quiet time, you’re still falling flat?
Personally, I’ve realized that when my heart is hardened by stale crackers — or rather a critical attitude and propensity for judgment — I don’t get a lot out of my time with God. It’s not just a matter of trying to add more “good” but stripping away the bad that keeps getting in the way of what God has already planted within me.
To put it simply, sin separates us from God and makes it hard to be in close relationship with Him. Renewal comes when we declutter (purify) the harmful habits that contaminate our hearts and lives, not out of a desire to simply be a better Christian, but because it’s that very sin that is holding us back from experiencing the fullness of God.
Nothing will “spark joy” as much as being in God’s presence with a purified and surrendered heart.
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Alyssa Stacks is the communications director and lead pastor assistant for The Arbor Church in Spring Arbor, Michigan. She is an alumna of Central Michigan University where she earned a Bachelor of Applied Arts degree in integrative public relations.
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