Spring Cleaning

Spring is here and I have been enjoying the beautiful weather, the flowers in bloom, and the promise of summer as we wrap up another semester here at Tulane University. Something that tends to happen during the spring is the urge to mine through your house and purge unnecessary items, reorganize, and clean up.

I think that the same urge we have to clean up the house, we could definitely apply to our lives with Jesus. Sometimes it can be easy to get stuck in routine and become dry in our relationship with God. So, if you are wanting to clear some things out and refocus on Jesus this season, try some of these tips:

• Purge - Take some time to look through your life and ask Jesus what are some areas of growth and "letting go" that needs to happen. Really allow the Holy Spirit to reveal different blind spots that you may have.

Psalm 139:23-24

23 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

• Reorganize - Ask the Lord to teach you new ways of thinking. Now that He has revealed what needs attention, ask Him what He would have to say to reorganize your thinking to align with His.

Romans 12:2

2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

• Clean Up - Take ACTION! Now that you know what needs to go and how you need to switch up your thinking in order to please the Lord, start making steps towards living life anew. Change up or "clean up" your habits and thoughts, in ways that, now more clearly reflects Jesus.

Psalm 51:10

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.