Clutter

A couple of men were taking their lunch break on the construction site, and as the  younger man opened his lunch, he declared “Oh, no, bologna sandwich again!”  After this scene was repeated for about 3 days in a row, the older man said “Hey, if you don’t like bologna sandwiches ask your wife to fix you something else.”  “Oh, but I fix my own lunch.”

If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, then I’m in big trouble!  Where did all this “stuff” come from?  I put it there !

Some times we have clutter thrust upon us.  But truth be known, we tend to gather it around us for various reasons.  Sometimes we think getting “stuff” is what makes our lives better.  More of this, more of that, the latest technology, a faster computer, a bigger house, a newer car, a bigger TV…. the list goes on.  And honestly, this “stuff” is usually okay as long as we don’t let it own us and make us be or act like we shouldn’t.

Sometimes we have “spiritual clutter.”  We’re swayed by something someone said or did, good intentions or not, and we gather it up and find a place for another piece of “stuff” to carry around with us in our spiritual wallet or handbag thinking it will help us in the future or remind us of something we should be or can’t be or want to be… and that is the wrong reason!

We need to remove the clutter in our spirit that obstructs and hinders our walk with Jesus, and God has provided the way to do that!

The Worthy Brief devotion this morning said this:

Isaiah 57:  ¹⁵ For this is what the high and exalted One says—he who lives forever, whose name is holy:
“I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly  and to revive the heart of the contrite.”

I’ve heard so many believers ask, “How can I get more of the Holy Spirit?” As if the Holy Spirit is some kind of power or force that we can control or wield. What we should really be asking is, “How can the Holy Spirit have more of me?”

We cannot control this power from on high. If we could, then we could be led to pride and strut around as if we’re some kind of “Super Believer”.

But if we recognize that the Holy Spirit is a Divine Person — and that this Person is actually willing to live in us, we’d greatly be humbled! We must be very honored that the Spirit of God would inhabit these corrupt vessels of ours and more importantly that He would even consider using us!

It’s only when we empty ourselves that we truly become filled! Let’s empty ourselves of our selfish ambitions and desires today and allow ourselves to become broken before the Lord. We need to be truly filled with God’s Power if we’re going to impact the world for Him! Be blessed and Shabbat Shalom!

During World War II, in 1944 Ruth Caye Jones, thinking on 2 Timothy 3:1,  took a pad and pencil out of her apron and penned the words to the hymn “In Times Like These” and they remained the same since:

In times like these you need a Savior,
In times like these you need an anchor;
Be very sure, be very sure,
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

This Rock is Jesus, Yes He’s the One,
This Rock is Jesus, the only One;
Be very sure, be very sure,
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

In times like these you need the Bible,
In times like these, O be not idle;
Be very sure, be very sure,
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

This Rock is Jesus, Yes He’s the One,
This Rock is Jesus, the only One;
Be very sure, be very sure,
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

In times like these I have a Savior,
In times like these I have an anchor;
I’m very sure, I’m very sure
My anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

This Rock is Jesus, Yes He’s the One,
This Rock is Jesus, the only One;
Be very sure, be very sure,
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”  Acts 4:12