10 Questions for Spiritual Spring Cleaning
Spiritual House Cleaning
Lately, I've been doing a lot of reading on Spiritual Spring Cleaning. As one chapter in my life closes and another begins, I feel the need to have a time of reconsecration and rededication to the things of the Lord. Today, I ran across a great article about King Hezekiah and how he cleaned and reconsecrated the Temple to the Lord's purposes. Here's the link to that article:
http://www.navpress.com/magazines/archives/article.aspx?id=1.107.9
In a side bar, there was a list of 10 Questions for Spiritual Spring Cleaning. I want to share that here. You can also access it by going to:
http://www.navpress.com/magazines/archives/article.aspx?id=1.107.9.1
10 Questions for Spiritual Spring Cleaning
1. What am I grumbling about?
"Those who are wayward in spirit will gain understanding; those who complain will accept instruction". (Isaiah 29:24)
"Do everything without complaining or arguing" (Philippians 2:14)
2. Do I have habits that irritate others?
"Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom" (Song of Solomon 2:15)
"We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves" (Romans 15:1)
3. Do I justify certain indulgences?
"The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries,riches and pleasures, and they do not mature" (Luke 8:14)
"Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love" (Revelations 2:4)
4. Am I too busy to read God's Word daily?
"I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word. My eyes stay open through the watches of the nights, that I may meditate on your promises"(Psalm 119:147-148)
"For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes"(Acts 28:27)
5. Have I wrongly offended someone?
"But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment....First go and be reconciled to your brother" (Matthew 5:22-24)
"I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord"(Philippians 4:2)
6. What am I selfish about?
"Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others" (I Corinthians 10:24)
"[Love] is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs" (I Corinthians 13:5)
7. Does my conversation always honor God?
"The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just" (Psalm 37:30)
"Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in Him mouth" (I Peter 2:21-22)
8. Do my media choices always honor God?
"I will walk in my house with blameless heart. I will set before my eyes no vile things"(Psalm 101:2-3)
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things" (Philippians 4:8)
9. Do I procrastinate?
"Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you"(I Chronicles 28:20)
"The sluggard says, 'There is a lion outside!' or, 'I will be murdered in the streets!'" (Proverbs 22:13)
10. In what area am I most undisciplined?
"Every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful" (John 15:2)
"No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize" (I Corinthians 9:27)
After typing all of these, I'm feeling the sting of the questions and the scriptures. These are good questions to ask periodically. Good standards of measure to see where I am in my walk with the Lord. There were definitely a few "Ouches" as I read through these. May the Lord continue to work on my heart and make me more like Him.
Lately, I've been doing a lot of reading on Spiritual Spring Cleaning. As one chapter in my life closes and another begins, I feel the need to have a time of reconsecration and rededication to the things of the Lord. Today, I ran across a great article about King Hezekiah and how he cleaned and reconsecrated the Temple to the Lord's purposes. Here's the link to that article:
http://www.navpress.com/magazines/archives/article.aspx?id=1.107.9
In a side bar, there was a list of 10 Questions for Spiritual Spring Cleaning. I want to share that here. You can also access it by going to:
http://www.navpress.com/magazines/archives/article.aspx?id=1.107.9.1
10 Questions for Spiritual Spring Cleaning
1. What am I grumbling about?
"Those who are wayward in spirit will gain understanding; those who complain will accept instruction". (Isaiah 29:24)
"Do everything without complaining or arguing" (Philippians 2:14)
2. Do I have habits that irritate others?
"Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom" (Song of Solomon 2:15)
"We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves" (Romans 15:1)
3. Do I justify certain indulgences?
"The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries,riches and pleasures, and they do not mature" (Luke 8:14)
"Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love" (Revelations 2:4)
4. Am I too busy to read God's Word daily?
"I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word. My eyes stay open through the watches of the nights, that I may meditate on your promises"(Psalm 119:147-148)
"For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes"(Acts 28:27)
5. Have I wrongly offended someone?
"But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment....First go and be reconciled to your brother" (Matthew 5:22-24)
"I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord"(Philippians 4:2)
6. What am I selfish about?
"Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others" (I Corinthians 10:24)
"[Love] is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs" (I Corinthians 13:5)
7. Does my conversation always honor God?
"The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just" (Psalm 37:30)
"Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in Him mouth" (I Peter 2:21-22)
8. Do my media choices always honor God?
"I will walk in my house with blameless heart. I will set before my eyes no vile things"(Psalm 101:2-3)
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things" (Philippians 4:8)
9. Do I procrastinate?
"Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you"(I Chronicles 28:20)
"The sluggard says, 'There is a lion outside!' or, 'I will be murdered in the streets!'" (Proverbs 22:13)
10. In what area am I most undisciplined?
"Every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful" (John 15:2)
"No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize" (I Corinthians 9:27)
After typing all of these, I'm feeling the sting of the questions and the scriptures. These are good questions to ask periodically. Good standards of measure to see where I am in my walk with the Lord. There were definitely a few "Ouches" as I read through these. May the Lord continue to work on my heart and make me more like Him.
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