For The Messy Heart

Does anyone else actually enjoy cleaning their house or is it just me?

When my mother was still working, my absolute favorite chore was laundry. (It may have taken me seven business days to put away my clothes, but I lived for washing, drying, and folding everything.)

Adulting is never easy and keeping the rooms of your house clean can be quite overwhelming---especially for those who have everything going on all at once. It does seem as if there's never enough time in the day, doesn't it?

Have you ever wanted to take on a "deep cleaning" project only to find that you are completely lost on where to start first?

Maybe you've said "oh, I'll do it another day" because you couldn't find the courage or the confidence to face it all head-on. 

As the clutter continues to build up and around you, the mess only brings about stress, anxiety, and darkening depression.

Living in the midst of a mess will never bring you joy. 

This analogy brings us right into the heart of my message today: living in a messy house will never give you joy and walking around with a messy heart won't either. 

Could there possibly be something in your heart that isn't quite right---maybe you know that your attitude isn't what it should be. Maybe you're backslidden in sin and away from the Lord. Perhaps you are burdened by heartache that currently eats away at you. 

Living in the midst of a mess will never bring you joy. 

What if I were to tell you that it would be possible to start cleaning up the rooms of your heart by doing a little bit every day? 

That way the thought of taking it on isn't so overwhelming and it's easier to maintain a healthy and peaceful environment in the long run.

Never think that Christ expects you to deal with the mess in your life all at once. Take it one day at a time and don't be shy about giving it all over to the Lord. He loves you more than you will ever know. 

Come back to Him and let Him restore the joy of your salvation. 

"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit." (Psalm 51:10-12 KJV)

Things To Remember When You Feel Like Quitting On God

Having the opportunity to serve the Lord through writing faith-based short stories and devotionals will forever be my greatest joy. 

I have traveled along on the writing journey for about ten years now, yet it would be untruthful to tell you that I've never felt like quitting. 

I know I have. 

Have you ever felt that way?

Are you in a season of distraction or discouragement? 

The Lord placed this thought and those questions on my heart because I know that many others who remain faithful in serving the Lord in their own respective way are met with same opposition from Satan. 

Sometimes it's difficult for you not to feel distracted and discouraged---as if the joy that you once held in your heart is somehow nowhere to be found.

The good news is that while opposition will never go away on this side of Heaven, there are things to remember and tools that we can use to fight off those fiery darts and keep on keepin' on! (One of my all time favorite phrases)

Today, I want to walk along the practical path and share some tips that I have learned along the way as well as some passages of Scripture serve as encouragers in the midst of those "not so easy" seasons of service to the Lord. 

I have used my writing journey as an example but this applies to anyone and everyone who is doing something for Christ. 

Let's start things off by discussing Satan's tactic of distraction. Have you ever felt spurned because someone wasn't receptive when you shared the Gospel with them? 

I wrote this example out and labeled is as distraction because it IS easy for us to become consumed by one person's negative response.

Sometimes its easy to feel like it's our responsibility to save them. 

But it's not. Only Jesus can do that.

Our job is to simply plant the seed. 

"I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building." (1 Corinthians 3:6-9 KJV)

Let us continue with the discussion about discouragement. This is a hugely popular tactic that Satan loves to use and one that I know most battle every single day. 

Have you ever felt like what you do for the Lord is small and unimportant? Those days happen sometimes and honestly, the best thing to keep in mind is that you may be the only exposure to Christ that someone has. You have the ability to reach someone in a way that others may not. Not everyone knows who you know. Remember that little is much when God is in it and that you are a precious and invaluable resource to them. 

"But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." (2 Corinthians 4:3-4 KJV)

Ultimately, Satan's mission is to destroy by stealing your joy in what you are doing for the Lord; he wants to make you feel as if you aren't doing enough or that God wouldn't want to use you anymore because you mess up all the time. (I wrote these out because I have personally dealt with these in the past) 

None of that is true, my friend. And it's important to remember that while we could never do enough to repay Christ for all that He did for us, we are given the opportunity to serve Him with a heart of abundant joy. We aren't forced to, and there shouldn't be any pressure felt because of your mistakes. We all fall short of His glory and none of us are perfect. In my eyes, that's where the true joy in serving Jesus lies, being yourself and sharing your experiences while teaching and encouraging others. 

"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." (John 10:10 KJV)

I hope and pray that these reminders would serve as an encouragement for the heart that needs it today. Remember to keep on keepin on' for the cause of Christ! ❤️