A FRESH SPRING | Northstar Church

“Oh sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth! …tell of his salvation from day to day.” – Psalm 96:1-2 (ESV).

Spring arrives in mid-March every year, although it seems someone forgot to tell the weathermen. But even if the weather is not cooperating, it’s spring. It’s time to open up the house and let the fresh air in. It’s time to put away the winter clothes and start some spring projects, waiting until the weather turns. It’s time for some spring cleaning.

Spring cleaning is a time to let go of the clutter that has accumulated over the winter. It gives you a sense of accomplishment and a fresh start. Nothing is better than walking into a sparkling clean, polished, and organized home.

Spring is an opportunity to clean and declutter our physical space, but it also is an excellent time to do a little spring cleaning of our hearts and let go of the things that separate us from God. What are we holding onto that is separating us from God? Are there habits or worries we can hand over to Christ so that our hearts can be free to focus on sharing God’s love?

When sunshine peaks through the clouds, and warm breezes bounce off the skin, it is the perfect time to do just that. It is a matter of scrubbing away the dirt and making space for new life and growth to happen. Cleaning out any jealousy, ungratefulness, and general pessimism built up over the winter needs to go. We may not completely understand how or why our lives got so cluttered, but at least we know how to clean it up. It may never be finished, but as God continues perfecting the work He started, we can be part of it.

We do not have to go about the spiritual cleaning process alone. When we bring our burdens to the Lord, He walks alongside us. In addition, reading His Word can help us to become stronger in our faith. According to Psalm 119:105, the Word acts as a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. Ultimately, spending time with the Lord and reading His Word are the only tools we need in spiritual spring cleaning. Through self-evaluation and prayer, God can reveal the areas of our lives where we need improvement.

Like spring cleaning, it becomes a matter of upkeep. Jesus must receive our undivided attention. We must watch for cluttering thoughts that do not align with God’s truth. We must focus on to whom we belong and sweep away any thought that tries to tell us otherwise.

This spring, let’s meet God amid our mopping, sweeping, dusting, and decluttering. Let’s invite Him to show us what needs to be cleaned up in our lives to be more like Him.

Discussion Questions:

Is there a part of your life that needs some spring cleaning?
What can you do this week to start that spring cleaning?