Trash Day

After Christmas – when all the red and green is put away – I’m compelled to clean. Actually, clean isn’t the right word. December 26 is my day to purge – to gather large amounts of this stuff that fills my house and throw/give it away.

My target this year: the master bedroom closet. Erik and I pulled everything out one by one. Within minutes my bedroom looked like a large suitcase packed too full, to the point of exploding. And so the cleaning out began. Each article was inspected before it was allowed to go back in. 1. Does it fit still? (Sadly, I lost a bunch in round one.) 2. Should I still be wearing this? (The old college sorority sweatshirts had to go in this round. Tear.)

That’s when God reminded me of a lesson He’s been teaching me – a foundational part of the Bible study He had me write down. I love how God is so practical – how He uses real life things (like cleaning out my closet) to remind us of His Truths. He’s not afraid to bend low, meet us right where we are – in the dirty depths of our closets – and take advantage of a teachable moment.

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24

As I pulled clothes off hangers and threw them in bags labeled “trash”, I thought a lot about my old self, the pre-Jesus me. How much of her am I still holding on to? Are there things associated with my old man that I have yet to throw away – parts of me that just down right feel too comfortable to throw away quite yet?

God loves me (and you) far to much to allow us to stay just the way we are. He wants for us to be made new and to step into this new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. The question is: are we really willing to trash the old and confidently embrace the new?

Today’s challenge: Do I dare ask HIM to expose the old self that has become comfort wear to me … and when it’s exposed, do I have the courage to throw it away? Do you?