The clutter in my house

I am in Georgia for a children/student ministry conference.  Throughout the day, we have time to worship with a live band.  As I was singing and praying during worship today, I feel like God showed me something.

Chris and I have been trying to sell our house for over 2 years now.  Whenever we get the call that someone would like to see our house, the panic begins.  We hurriedly rush around to de-clutter our rooms.  We light candles for the scent and spray febreeze.  We 'stage' the house to look good but isn't typically practical for our family.  We make sure all the dishes are put away and the kitchen doesn't look like it ever gets used.

Why do we do all of this?  The goal is to attract people.  We want people to be drawn to our house.  We want someone to fall in love with our home and want to make it their own.  We want it to be clean and inviting.  Our goal is to make people feel like they are 'home' when they walk in.

Isn't this exactly what God wants for us?  Have you ever thought that He wants to de-clutter our rooms (our thoughts, our behavior) in order for us to be inviting?  What about the stench (our attitude)?  How about making sure things are in their right place (our priorities)?  Maybe He wants to rearrange or 'stage' some things about us to be more attractive to those who don't know Him.  God wants to clean house.  I don't believe, however, that He desires for it to be a hurried, panicked event at the last minute.  He wants us to live in that constant state of being inviting, attractive to unbelievers, and making them feel like they are 'home'.  Home in His love through us.

Cleaning house takes a lot of work.  Keeping it clean is even more difficult.  Keeping it clean goes a long way when someone calls and wants to look at the house in an hour.  In the long run, the work we put in will pay off.  Someone will be attracted to our house.  Someone will be attracted to your spirit.  Someone will see the love of God through you.  Isn't that worth the sometimes monotonous work of cleaning?

While praying and praising God today, I got a picture in my mind of God de-cluttering my heart and my soul.  Oddly enough, I actually pictured a broom and dustpan.  I pictured God reaching into the smallest crevices and the highest point on the ceiling.  He was cleaning house.  Not just a quick run through before a visitor comes.  Unfortunately, I have racked up piles of clutter.  I'm sure some of you might be able to relate to hoarding some things.  Mistakes?  Guilt?  Resentment?  Money?  Hurt?  Pride?  God doesn't discriminate.  It all goes in the trash- without a second look.

Please do as I did today.  I asked God to clean house.  I begged him to forgive me for hoarding so many life cluttering things that don't leave room for Him.  I want my house to be spotless.  I want people to be knocking down my door to get what I have to offer.  My house will be clean!