Sunday, March 1, 2009
I recently read an article by Julie Morgenstern, the “guru of putting lives in order.” She suggests that if you crave a change in your life, you should start with your closet. Believing that your closet holds clues to your inner self, Morgenstern urges us to SHED and then we’ll be poised to change our whole life. She proclaims that shedding is more than just throwing things out.
SEPARATE the treasures – identify what’s worth keeping
HEAVE the trash – get rid of what’s weighing you down
EMBRACE your identity – connect to who you are without all the “stuff”
DRIVE yourself forward – move toward your genuine self
As I was reading the article just before the beginning of Lent, I thought how appropriate it is to SHED in our spiritual lives. Lent, the forty days between Ash Wednesday and Easter, is a time of soul-searching and repentance. It is a season of reflection and a time to take stock of our lives. During this season we imitate Jesus’ withdrawal into the wilderness for forty days when he was preparing for his ministry. Let’s see how to SHED during the Lenten season in an effort to move forward in our relationship with Christ.
SEPARATE the treasures – identify what’s worth keeping
What personal practices and habits are really worth keeping? Are we focusing enough time on the spiritual practices of prayer, meditation, study, worship, and service? Are we using enough of our resources to further ministries? Are we striving to incorporate the Fruits of the Spirit in our daily lives?
Because where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Luke 12:34
HEAVE the trash – get rid of what’s weighing you down
What practices and habits are keeping us from a closer relationship with Jesus? The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in 2007 that Americans spend an average of 15 minutes a day in Religious and Spiritual Activities and an average of 5 hours a day in Leisure Activities. (http://www.bls.gov/news.release/atus.t12.htm) I know I often get sidetracked by spending too much time watching TV and surfing the Internet. What worries weigh us down and keep us from really trusting God?
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6
EMBRACE your identity – connect to who you are without all the “stuff”
It is so easy to fall victim to what the world tells us about who we are. The world tell us…you are what you wear, what you drive, where you live, what gadgets you have, on and on. The world wants us to believe that “stuff’ gives us value and worth. “Stuff” makes us. However, scripture contradicts this worldview, “ It is he who hath made us and not we ourselves” Psalm 100:3. We find our real identity through Jesus Christ. When we strip away all the “stuff” in our lives, we see that we are bare before the throne – simply children of God. (1 John 3:2) What greater inheritance can there be than the one we get as children of the King?
We are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ. Romans 8:17
He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing. Ephesians 1:3
DRIVE yourself forward – move toward your genuine self
As Christians, our genuine self is found in a relationship with our Creator. “Driving forward” toward Christ is a daily process of choosing the “treasures” and “heaving the trash.” We daily must choose to embrace a relationship with Christ
…but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13 & 14
During this Lenten Season, let’s SHED and find out what’s really important. Then let’s move forward toward the real prize: a closer relationship with Jesus Christ.
SEPARATE the treasures – identify what’s worth keeping
HEAVE the trash – get rid of what’s weighing you down
EMBRACE your identity – connect to who you are without all the “stuff”
DRIVE yourself forward – move toward your genuine self
As I was reading the article just before the beginning of Lent, I thought how appropriate it is to SHED in our spiritual lives. Lent, the forty days between Ash Wednesday and Easter, is a time of soul-searching and repentance. It is a season of reflection and a time to take stock of our lives. During this season we imitate Jesus’ withdrawal into the wilderness for forty days when he was preparing for his ministry. Let’s see how to SHED during the Lenten season in an effort to move forward in our relationship with Christ.
SEPARATE the treasures – identify what’s worth keeping
What personal practices and habits are really worth keeping? Are we focusing enough time on the spiritual practices of prayer, meditation, study, worship, and service? Are we using enough of our resources to further ministries? Are we striving to incorporate the Fruits of the Spirit in our daily lives?
Because where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Luke 12:34
HEAVE the trash – get rid of what’s weighing you down
What practices and habits are keeping us from a closer relationship with Jesus? The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in 2007 that Americans spend an average of 15 minutes a day in Religious and Spiritual Activities and an average of 5 hours a day in Leisure Activities. (http://www.bls.gov/news.release/atus.t12.htm) I know I often get sidetracked by spending too much time watching TV and surfing the Internet. What worries weigh us down and keep us from really trusting God?
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6
EMBRACE your identity – connect to who you are without all the “stuff”
It is so easy to fall victim to what the world tells us about who we are. The world tell us…you are what you wear, what you drive, where you live, what gadgets you have, on and on. The world wants us to believe that “stuff’ gives us value and worth. “Stuff” makes us. However, scripture contradicts this worldview, “ It is he who hath made us and not we ourselves” Psalm 100:3. We find our real identity through Jesus Christ. When we strip away all the “stuff” in our lives, we see that we are bare before the throne – simply children of God. (1 John 3:2) What greater inheritance can there be than the one we get as children of the King?
We are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ. Romans 8:17
He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing. Ephesians 1:3
DRIVE yourself forward – move toward your genuine self
As Christians, our genuine self is found in a relationship with our Creator. “Driving forward” toward Christ is a daily process of choosing the “treasures” and “heaving the trash.” We daily must choose to embrace a relationship with Christ
…but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13 & 14
During this Lenten Season, let’s SHED and find out what’s really important. Then let’s move forward toward the real prize: a closer relationship with Jesus Christ.
1 comments:
I don't know if it is the anticipation of Spring, hope of warmer weather or just tired of being in the rut of winter, but I have been thinking about an extreme closet purge. Now I am doing it for sure! Thanks for sharing- what a wonderful way to look at the Lenten season. Love you!
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