The Need to Clean Things Up: A Fresh Start with God’s Grace

God gave me a message that I want to share with you. It’s about something important we often overlook—the need to clean things up. 

No, I’m not talking about cleaning your room or doing chores (although those are essential too). I’m referring to cleaning up the things that affect our hearts, minds, and emotions. 

The Biblical Basis

The book of Proverbs has some valuable insights on this topic. One particular verse that strikes a chord is Proverbs 24:30-34. It tells the story of a lazy man who allowed his fields to become overrun with thorns and weeds. The passage cautions, “A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest – and poverty will come on you like a thief” (Proverbs 24:33-34).

This passage is a powerful reminder that when we neglect our responsibilities and allow messes to accumulate, it ultimately leads to greater problems. Just as the lazy man’s fields became unproductive and suffered the consequences, our lives can bear the weight of the messes we leave unattended.

By encouraging action over complacency, this passage motivates us to address and clean up the messes in our lives. It is crucial to actively pursue a path of cleanliness and order, addressing physical clutter, emotional baggage, and spiritual neglect.

1. Cleaning Up our Hearts

You know that feeling when you tidy up your room and everything is in its place? Well, a clean heart is a lot like that—it brings peace and clarity to our lives. When negative thoughts, anger, or jealousy clutter our hearts, it can make us feel heavy and burdened. But when we let go of those things and allow God to clean us up, our hearts become light, and we can experience His joy and love. As Psalm 51:10 says, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

God wants to give us a fresh start! Just like we need to clean up our physical surroundings, we also need to invite God into our hearts for a thorough cleaning. He is in the business of generating within us fresh and pure hearts. Isn’t that amazing?

2. Cleaning Up Our Minds 

Our minds can sometimes feel like a messy attic filled with old and unnecessary thoughts. These thoughts can make us feel anxious, worried, or confused. However, just as God creates new hearts within us, He also can help us declutter our minds and bring clarity to our thoughts. He does this by reminding us of His truth and filling our minds with His Word. 

As Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brothers and sisters, 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.”

This verse reminds us to focus our thoughts on positive and uplifting things, filling our minds with goodness and God’s truth.

Just imagine your mind as a beautiful garden. You want to plant seeds of positivity, love, and gratitude while pulling out the weeds of negative thoughts. When you spend time in prayer and reading the Bible, you allow God to clean up your mind and plant good things that will bear fruit in your life. So, fill your thoughts with God’s truth, and watch as your mind becomes a place of peace and joy.

For your mind is a masterpiece – keep it cleaned up!

3. Cleaning Up our Emotions

Our emotions are like colours on a canvas, painting the picture of our lives. But just as an artist cleans their brushes before painting a new scene, we also need to clean up our emotions regularly. As Ephesians 4:31-32 reminds us,

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behaviour. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”

Unresolved anger, bitterness, or unforgiveness can stain our emotions and affect our relationships. However, God understands your emotions and wants to help you clean them up. When you let go of hurt and choose forgiveness, you allow God to heal your heart and bring restoration to your relationships.

Moreover, cleaning up your emotions means inviting God to be the artist of your life, painting a picture of love, joy, and peace. As you allow Him to work in your heart, you’ll experience the beauty of emotional healing and the transformation of your relationships. Let God’s love guide your emotions, and watch as His masterpiece unfolds in your life.

Recommended Articles for Inspiration: 
‣  Receive God’s Promise of Refreshing: Psalm 23 
‣  Tammuz: A Month of Reflection for a Brighter Future
‣  How to Wait Upon the Lord: Patience, Trust, and Faith
‣  From Pebbles to Diamonds: God’s Promise of Lasting Joy – Prophetic Word for July 2023
‣ Does God use Dreams and Visions Today? – Everything you need to Know

4. Cleaning Up our Relationships

Sometimes we might have disagreements or misunderstandings with our friends, family, co-workers. It happens to everyone, even the closest of buddies! But here’s the exciting part: when we take the time to address those conflicts and clear up misunderstandings, our relationships can become even better than before! It’s like giving them a fresh, new start.

So, how do we go about cleaning up our relationships? Well, one important step is to talk things out. It’s essential to express our feelings honestly and openly without holding back. By doing so, we create a safe space for understanding and healing. Communication is key!

Another important aspect of cleaning up relationships is forgiveness. We all make mistakes, and sometimes we might hurt others unintentionally. When we learn to forgive and let go of grudges, we make room for healing and reconciliation. It’s like wiping away the dust and making everything fresh and new again.

Cleaning up our relationships is not always easy. It takes patience, understanding, and a willingness to work things out. But trust me, the effort is worth it! When we take the time to tidy up our relationships, we foster healthier and more meaningful connections with the people we care about.

How to Know It’s Time to Clean Things Up: Seeing the Signs

After all, how do we know when it’s time to clean up? 

‣ Through Dreams

Well, sometimes God gives us little signs, like dreams, to show us that it’s time to tidy up our hearts and minds. They can be puzzling, but they can also have meaning. These signs can be God’s way of gently nudging us to address areas in our lives that need cleaning. By paying attention and seeking His guidance, we can discover the important messages God wants to tell us.

For instance, have you been dreaming about rats lately? A common interpretation of dreams about rats is that they symbolise the need to address clutter and dirt in your home and life. Rats represent impurity and lack of order. But these dreams could also point to a deeper spiritual issue – like an infestation of unclean, negative influences that have crept into your life.

Rats are often tied to themes of impurity, deceit, and corruption in the Bible. They also represent pestilence, destruction, and demonic activity.

Therefore, if rats are overrunning your dreams, it may signify that your spiritual life and space have become polluted and infested by negative forces. 

In response, God may be calling you to clean the house – both physically and spiritually. Clutter can create footholds for the enemy. But through prayer, asking for God’s guidance, and seeking deliverance and protection, you can remove unholy influences and dedicate your space entirely to God’s purposes and glory. 

So, don’t ignore those ‘pesky rat’ dreams; let them serve as a reminder and motivation for positive change in cleaning up your life, both inwardly and outwardly.

‣ Through The Word of God

God speaks to us not only through dreams but also through His timeless Scriptures. As we read His Word and come across verses that speak directly to our hearts, prompting us to reflect, seek forgiveness, or make changes, it’s a clear indication that God is calling us to clean up and draw closer to Him. 

By attentively listening to both the signs in our dreams and the messages within His Word, we gain divine guidance and wisdom. This helps us navigate the journey of cleaning up our lives with purpose and meaning.

So, ask God to show you any areas of spiritual attack because He knows how to get His message specifically to YOU! Through prayer, seek cleansing, deliverance, and protection, allowing Him to guide you in cleaning up your physical and spiritual space. 

As you intentionally remove anything that offers the enemy a foothold, dedicate your newfound space entirely to God’s purposes and glory. Keep in mind, your journey is about experiencing His transformative power and living a life aligned with His divine plan.

Cleaning Up Your Spiritual Space: 4 Steps to Remove the Clutter

1) Recognise

Identifying and addressing spiritual clutter is essential for a thorough clean-up. Such clutter may include unconfessed sins, unforgiveness, negative thought patterns, unhealthy relationships, worldly distractions, and anything that hinders our relationship with God. Recognising these areas is the first step toward a spiritual renewal.

2) Seek God’s Cleansing

After identifying the spiritual junk in our lives, we must seek God’s cleansing and restoration. Through prayer, confession, and acknowledging our shortcomings, we can ask for forgiveness. In fact, God promises in 1 John 1:9 that He will forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousness, ready to restore us and guide us toward renewed spiritual health.

3) Let Go

Removing spiritual junk requires letting go of old patterns, attitudes, and habits that hinder our spiritual growth. We must surrender these burdens to God and invite Him to transform us from the inside out. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, God can renew our minds, replace lies with truth, and lead us on a path of righteousness. As we allow Him to work in us, we experience a true restoration of our hearts, minds, and souls.

4) Enjoy Freedom

When we remove spiritual junk and experience God’s cleansing, we open ourselves up to a life of freedom and abundant living. We release the burdens that hold us back and enjoy the peace and joy that come from a restored relationship with God. Furthermore, we gain clarity of mind and a renewed sense of purpose, enabling us to live in alignment with God’s will and experience His blessings.

Ask God to sweep out sin, replace lies with truth, and wash you clean with the blood of Jesus. His Word promises that if we confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive and purify us (1 John 1:9). For God’s grace is greater than any mess! His strength is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). What a blessing!

Closing Message & Prayer

Cleaning things up isn’t just about tidying up our physical surroundings. It’s about inviting God to clean our hearts, minds, and emotions. 

As we allow God to do His work within us, we experience His love, joy, and peace. Moreover, God wants to give us a fresh start, just like when we clean up a messy room.

So, I hope this word gives you the motivation you need! Don’t let clutter weigh you down. Instead, wholeheartedly take on the need to clean things up and allow God to transform you from the inside out. His love and grace will guide you every step of the way. 💕 

To make space for the Holy Spirit, start by removing distractions and disorder from your life. Allow Jesus to wash away sin and clutter, purifying your heart and mind. Even when you feel overwhelmed by the task, God’s grace is greater than any mess, and His strength empowers you to overcome it! 💪

God is by your side, ready to lead you to a life of cleanliness, order, and abundant blessings!

Let’s pray 🙏: “Dear God, thank you for caring about every part of my life. Help me recognise the areas that need cleaning up and give me the courage to surrender them to You. Create in me a clean heart, renewed mind, and emotions filled with Your love. In Jesus’ name, amen.” 

Now it’s your turn. How will you take on cleaning and decluttering 🛁✨? Share your thoughts below! 👇🏻 And if these tips encouraged you, give this article a like! 👍🏼