Purging....

So we are on a mission at our house right now.  We are putting our house up for sell and moving into the city.  With that said, we are having to do some work in our house before it is ready to go on the market.  Besides the obvious repainting and things like that, our biggest job is purging.  That's right....PURGING.  And it is no fun task in this household!!!

We have only lived here a little over 6 years, but we have accumulated enough stuff that it looks like we have been here for 20.  I don't even know where it all came from.  But whatever little fairie dropped it off at my doorstep and left it, I sure wish she would just come pick it right back up and save me from the daunting task of clearing it all away!

One thing I have discovered while on this mission...when I have gotten an area in my house cleaned out good and thrown all the unneccessary stuff away, it feels GREAT.  It feels cleaner, it feels open, it feels free.  And it makes the room or area that I purged much more usable because I have cleared out SPACE.  Space that was filled with mindless little things.  Things that really should've been thrown in the trash a long time ago.  Things that are really of no value to me anymore.  Just "things" that needed to be discarded so that the area could be useful once again and not crammed full of that stuff.

You know, I think it's the same way in our lives when God begins purging us.  Is it fun when He begins the process in us?  No way.  Sometimes it just flat out hurts like the devil.  Is it necessary?  Absolutely.  It's necessary because if He doesn't purge away all the useless garbage in our lives, then we can't be very useful for His kingdom.

The dictionary defines purging as "To free from impurities; purify....To rid of sin, guilt, or defilement..."  We all have things in our lives that defile us spiritually.  It may be that unforgiveness we are holding on to, it may be an uncontrolled temper, it could be a tongue that speaks evil....   God tells us through His Word clearly what things we are to do and what needs to be purged from our life.

Ephesians 4:21-32 tells us....
21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, ²² throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. ²³ Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. ²⁴ Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.
 ²⁵ So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. ²⁶ And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.”^[d] Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, ²⁷ for anger gives a foothold to the devil.
 ²⁸ If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. ²⁹ Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
 ³⁰ And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own,^[e] guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.
 ³¹ Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. ³² Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

So, after reading that, see anything that might need a little purging in your life?   I read it and think to myself, "OUCH!"  God wants to rid us of all the impurities that keep us from living a victorious life for Him.  Yes, it may hurt when He is in the purging process in our lives, but when He is done and we allow Him to rid our hearts of all the garbage, there is a glorious beauty that surrounds our hearts when we are full of HIM.  When we allow Him to purge us, the end result will be a heart that is full of Him and made useful for His kingdom.  And isn't that what we want in our heart of hearts???? I know I do.  I want His kingdom at work and active in my life.  And if there is anything in my heart that keeps Him from working in me, I want it gone!

Cleaning out and purging is never fun.  It takes time.  It takes work.  And when the Spirit of God is doing the purging, it takes submission to the Potters hands.  Allow Him to do that work in your life.  You'll like the end result....I promise.

Stacy