The Junk Drawer
"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me."
Psalm 51:10
Over time, I've accumulated items that at one point had value and was of some use. It may have been an extra button, just in case one of the buttons on my favorite shirt disappeared. Or it may have been an old cell phone I no longer used because I received an upgrade. To make sure that I kept those items in a safe place, along with other items that I may need at some point in life, I threw them in to what has become commonly known as the "junk drawer". Now when stashing these "important" items away, there was always a purposeful intent behind the action. But as the days, months, and even years go by the need for a lot of those items became minimal.
There are times when I open the drawer, get overwhelmed , and convince myself that now is the time to get rid of all that what was now useless. I have found myself at this point a number of times, but for some odd reason, at the end of the attempt to clean out the drawer, the drawer seemed to be just as full as it was when I started. This was because, while going through the "cleaning" process, I convinced myself that I still needed some of those items. Note: there were items in the drawer that hadn't been used for months. Some of which I forgot were even there. I remember having the same conversation about cleaning the drawer out with myself about 3 months ago. After making the same attempt for about the 3rd time in the last 6 months or so, I came out with the same result, a drawer full of junk.
For many of us this can be use as an analogy for the state of our heart and spiritual life. Over the years we may have accumulated quite a bit junk . It may have been hurt or disappointment from past relationships or consequences for bad decisions. We could have been exposed to bad experiences or developed wayward think because of bad information. This list can go on. We may get to the point were "enough is enough" and become overwhelmed with the weight of the junk that we have accumulated. We cry out to God for relief. In response, the Holy Spirit prompts us to take action… rid your self of unforgiveness, stop having sex with your boyfriend, leave that friendship that is not healthy for you, eat better, give up your pride, repent of your sin… the list could go on.
It is easy and good to think about it taking action, but the execution is what brings freedom. Until we stop finding reasons as to why the junk has value and allow God to do a complete overhaul in heart and life we will keep coming out with the same result, "a heart and life full of junk"
Prayer
Lord, your word says that if I continue in your word and if I am true disciple then I will know the truth, and the truth will set me free. Today, I choose you. Help me rid myself of all of the junk in my heart and my life, and see the value of relationship with you and your word. Create in me a clean heart and renew in my the right spirit. In Jesus Name, Amen
