Time to Clean Out the Junk

 

“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”

Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)

 

The drawer on the left side of my sink had become a junk magnet. I don’t know when it happened. It seemed like a perfect place for pens and pads of paper. But in the blink of an eye it had morphed into a mismatched collection of “stuff” so massive that I struggled to close it without pushing and shoving the contents back in.

 

One morning I had had enough and decided to empty the drawer to see exactly what was in there. I found waded up gum wrappers, a fork and spoon with different patterns, 7 sticky pennies (I have no idea how they got that way and probably don’t want to know), 8 car keys (I have one vehicle), a nail file, 14 ink pens (half didn’t work) and 22 pads of paper from Phil’s Place (never been there – wherever it is).

 

As I dug deeper, I discovered an ash tray (I don’t smoke), scissors, a hammer, toothpicks, a mouse sticky trap (not used), a “genuine” 2 carat diamond ring (well, maybe not the “genuine” part), double-sided tape (stuck to everything around it), matches, a toothbrush, one puzzle piece, an old half-eaten bag of M&M’s (before there were colors), a phone charger (haven’t had the phone for 3 years), and the warranty to a refrigerator I owned 22 years ago. Mercy!

 

Here’s the thing: I did not intend for any of that junk to be there. I planned for only pens and paper to fill that space. Instead, every time I opened it, hundreds of other items got shoved in until there was no room for the only thing I wanted to be in the drawer in the first place.

 

Proverbs 4:23 is a reminder that “junk” can happen to my heart, too. Instead of keeping it free from anything except the presence of the Holy Spirit and God’s Word, I allow worldly “items” to creep in. Who am I kidding? I invite them in! Just a tiny dab of gossip – doesn’t take up much space. And then I’ll toss in just a few pads of judgment and a pen or two of anger. Jealousy shouldn’t take up too much space along with an old half-empty bag of regrets . . . get the picture?

 

Before long God’s Word has been squeezed out by Satan’s lies and I no longer hear the Holy Spirit over everything else vying for my attention. Proverbs 4:23 is a warning to us all. We have to intentionally guard our hearts from all the junk in this world. If we don’t, we will soon find that “the wellspring of life” will be dried up and replaced with worldly things that only do harm to our relationship with Jesus.  

 

I need to continually clean out the junk in my kitchen drawer. But more importantly, I need to do a daily deep cleaning of the junk in my heart.

 

Father, please reveal to me all the junk in my heart that I need to throw away. Help me to be more like you every day. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

 

 

R.A.P. it up . . .

 

Reflect

• Have you ever noticed that you are struggling with hearing the Holy Spirit speak to you during prayer time?

 

• What worldly “junk” can you identify in your heart that is smothering God’s direction for your life?

 

Apply

• Journal conversations that you have had in the last week that might have allowed “junk” to find a place in your heart.

 

• Beside each journal entry, put the date that you threw it out of your heart and ask the Lord to replace it with His Word.

 

Power

• Proverbs 4:23 (NIV) “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”

 

• Psalm 119:11 (NIV) “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”

 

• Philippians 4: 7 (NIV) “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Everywhere You Walk

 

“Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.”

I John 2:6 (NIV)

 

 As we walked into the gym, I whispered to my husband “There’s Brian,” and pointed to the tall dark haired young man on the basketball court. “He is terrific,” I continued as we sat down to watch the game. “His Christian faith is very important to him and he is such a great role model to talk to younger kids about making good choices. He lives what he believes and everybody knows it.” My husband responded “That’s a big responsibility for a boy in high school.”

 

Not five seconds later Brian and an opponent began jockeying for position during a play but the intensity quickly escalated to bumping and shoving – hard – and then a whistle from the referee and a double foul call. My husband glanced at me with eyebrows raised but before I could say one word, Brian reached over, patted his opponent on the rear and said “Sorry about that.”

 

He could have huffed and puffed and stomped around but he didn’t. He could have scowled at the referee as many ball players do when they don’t agree with a call. But to Brian, it was not a question of whether or not he had fouled; it was a matter of respecting the referee who made the call because to him, it was vital that he be a Christian example no matter where he was or what he was doing.

 

I cannot help but think of him when I read I John 2:6. Not only did Brian claim Jesus as his Lord but he desired to walk with Him every day in every part of his life. Not just when he “walked” into church on Sunday or into the school on Tuesday or when he “walked” to Wednesday night youth group but every single day and – yes – even during basketball games.

 

I have always said that more than anything I want Jesus in control of my life and for others to know Him because I am trying to live as He did. But in all honesty, I don’t always “walk the walk” everywhere I go. I’ve been to movies where I would be embarrassed if the Lord was sitting next to me. And I have had conversations that Jesus would not want to be a part of because they did not resemble the attitude Christians should have at all.

 

If I am going to claim Him as my Lord, it has to be a full-time, 100% relationship. He has to be welcome everywhere I go as I look to Him as my example. Period. I thank the Lord for Brian’s willingness to walk as Jesus did no matter where he was. Even in a basketball game.

 

Father, I long to walk as you did so that others see you through me. May you be a part of my life every day. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

 

R.A.P. it up . . .

 

 

Reflect

·         Do you have any places that you do not “take” Jesus with you during the day or week?

 

·         If so, why are you not including Him in every minute of your day?

 

Apply

·         Journal your schedule for a week and see if there are times that you do not “walk as Jesus did.”

 

·     Write today’s Power Scriptures on note cards, put them in your purse and pull them out wherever needed to remind you to follow the example of Jesus.  

 

Power

·         I John 2:6 (NIV) “Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.”

 

·         I Corinthians 11:1 (NIV) “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”

 

·         Matthew 5:16 (NIV) “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

 

 

Finish the Race

 

“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.” Acts 20:24 (NIV)

 

The day after my granddaughter Lola celebrated her 5^th birthday, she ran in a 5K race with her father. She had been training for months, she told me, but I was more than a little doubtful that she would actually be able to run the entire race and fully expected to see her just a few minutes after the race began lofted high on her dad’s shoulders. But I was wrong.

 

Fifty-eight minutes after she took off with her father, those of us who were non-runners stood at the finish line waiting. Suddenly I heard someone yell “Hey, is that the little girl who started this race?” It was! It was Lola! Although she was still quite a distance away, we could see her pig tails flopping up and down as she and her dad slowly jogged toward us.

 

We all began yelling “Lola, come on, you can do it!” and watched in amazement as this tiny little 5 year old somehow managed to streak the last several yards with her father at her side and run across the finish line with a huge smile.

 

Later Doug, her dad, told us “Lola was just about to give up because she was exhausted when she heard all of you calling. She turned to me and said “Daddy, I think they are yelling my name! They are yelling ‘Lola!’” And with that encouragement she continued on to not only finish but to receive a medal as the youngest person to ever complete the 5K race.

 

Finish the race. That’s what we all strive for, every minute of every day. Some days you may be the runner and other days the encourager. No matter where you are in this race called life, never give up! Just as Lola gained her second wind and was able to continue on to the finish line because of people encouraging her, so it is with us as we lift up each other and share the gospel with everyone around us.

 

So come on, everybody! Just a little further! You’re almost there! You can do it!

 

Father, forgive me when I get discouraged and am tempted to quit running the race for you. Help me to keep my faith strong as I focus on the finish. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

 

 

R.A.P. it up . . .

 

Reflect

• Are there days when you feel that running the race of life for the Lord is simply more than you can handle?

 

• Do you have someone that you can talk to who will be your encourager to help you finish strong?

 

Apply

• Journal one week in your “race of life” and write down roadblocks that you encountered along the way.

 

• Share those roadblocks with a prayer warrior friend and ask her to hold you accountable on that race and to be your encourager as you share the gospel with people you meet.

 

Power

• Acts 20:24 (NIV) “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.”

 

• 2 Timothy 4:7 (NIV) “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

 

• Romans 12:1 (NIV) “Therefore, since we re surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

 

Who Is Really on the Throne?

 

“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.”

Jeremiah 17:9-10 (NIV)

 

When my daughter began teaching school, she wanted more than anything for each of her students to know how precious they were to her so she had her dad build a throne to place in her classroom – and not just any throne. This one was huge, with a high ornate back and padded arms plus a soft maroon pillow to sit on. When one of her first grade students did something especially kind or funny or read more books than assigned or simply was polite, that student was selected to sit on the throne.

 

Since all her students were extraordinary to her, she said it was easy to find something special about each one so that they all got a turn sitting on the “Throne of the Room” at least once during the school year. I can only imagine the delight of each first grade student at being selected to sit on the throne because of something that he or she did.

 

As much as I love my daughter’s way of honoring her students, I cannot help thinking about another throne: the throne of my heart. And, honestly, I don’t believe that anyone has to select me to sit there – because I do that all by myself. I sit on the throne of my heart when I am selfish, prideful, or more concerned with me and mine than with you and yours.

 

I plant my will right on that maroon pillow when I get my ugly on and do not care how you are feeling or whether or not my words and actions will hurt you. I call myself king when I feel the need to always be in control and have the last word instead of allowing Jesus to have it all.

 

Jesus should be the only King on my heart’s throne. Period. I need to step down with my wants and desires – in other words my SELF – and invite Jesus to sit there instead. There is room for only one. One King. One will. One focus. And it should not be me.

 

One died for me. Only one. One came out of the grave three days later. Only one. One today sits on the throne in heaven. Only one. And that One, that King, should be the only one to sit on the throne of my heart. Only Jesus.

 

Where are you sitting today, my friends? Have you settled in on the throne of your heart and refused to allow Jesus in? Please take a moment to examine who is in charge of your life and if it is not Jesus, decide today to make a big change on the “Throne of the Room” in your heart.

 

Father, for the times that I try to put myself on the throne instead of Jesus, forgive me. Help me to clean out my heart to make room for you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

 

 

R.A.P. it up . . .

 

Reflect

• Do you ever feel that things in your life push in and crowd out Jesus from your heart?

 

• Why do you think you have allowed some of those replacements for Jesus on the throne of your heart?

 

Apply

• Journal a list of all the things in your life that battle to take control of your heart’s throne as king.
• Beside each one write a Scripture that encourages you to give Jesus the only throne seat of your life.

 

Power

• Jeremiah 17:9-10 (NIV) “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.”

 

• Matthew 6:24 (NIV) “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”

 

• Psalm 84:1-2 (NIV) “How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty! My soul years, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.”