Flipping Your Spiritual Home

Christianity

Popular television reality shows that “flip” old houses and give them a more modern, updated look are all the rage.

While it might be as easy as hiring a handyman that can paint and change light fixtures to give it a cosmetic upgrade, sometimes it requires something more drastic. The hashtag, #demoday denotes a certain euphoria that’s associated with getting rid of the old so it can be replaced with the new.

Let me just say here for those who don’t know me well, I am a “pitcher”.  I just might be the kind of person that tends to toss things out at opportune moments… like when certain people aren’t home. 🙂   If I haven’t seen it/used it for a year, then I probably don’t need it and it is either donated, shared or pitched.  I am sentimental about my old quilts and some family heirlooms, but I don’t value storing things, “just in case.”  I’d rather someone else have them that could use them, and so I purge about every 6 months.  (When you do this regularly it’s really not a big ordeal!)

BUT. there is something to be said about the benefits of a renovation.  It’s only my opinion, but when I do rejuvenate something rather than throw it away, it always seems to add to my sense of accomplishment.  I have old pieces of furniture that I have repurposed and saved a ton of money.

Recognizing the value of and bringing out the best in something that has been worn out or damaged is a beautiful picture of what God does when He sees us in our brokenness.

While you might think you’re looking pretty good by the world’s standards, the truth is we all have ugly rooms in our heart that have been marred by sin and hurt and pain. Sin separates from a Holy God, and so we come to Him with more than just a need for a little spiritual power washing.  Not a mansion that just needs a little cleaning up, we are more like a run-down shack that He rescues by paying the highest price for.

Ancient Door,
Jerusalem, Israel

When we invite Jesus in, we are opening the door to His mercy and His grace. He moves in and starts the process of transforming us into the kind of spiritual home that is full of more than our mere earthly trinkets–He takes those empty, worn-out and broken spaces and fills them with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5)

A house is built by wisdom, and it is established by understanding; by knowledge the rooms are filled with every precious and beautiful treasure.”  Proverbs 24:3-4

As painful as the process of repentance and restoration might seem sometimes, it is freeing to know that forgiveness is not illusive.  It is not hidden behind a secret door that few can find.

Jesus said, “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture.” John 10:9

I’ll say it again: “Forgiveness is not illusive.”  It is as vividly displayed in God’s Word as it was boldly proclaimed on the cross that stood on Golgotha’s hill.

I just want to remind someone out there today that despite how you feel, God does love you.  He created you and He designed you for His purpose and His pleasure.  Surrendering to Him doesn’t always change the circumstances that we are living in, but it does change how you look at those circumstances.

I get it.  We are in a crazy time.  What we saw as normal seems to be a thing of the past.  The future is uncertain and fear runs rampant, but don’t waste the time.  Let this be a season of refreshing your spiritual home. Can I just encourage you today to keep your focus on what we know is true? God’s Word still stands.  He is faithful–and we can trust that He is in control of the chaos.  While it may seem like there’s not a lot that we can do, sometimes it is in the waiting that we get a better picture of what God wants to do.  I believe He is still at work in this world, and I know that He is wanting to do a work in me–and you as well.

There’s a children’s song that comes to mind when I think of how God sees me as a “fixer-upper”–maybe it will encourage you today or at least bring a smile to your face!


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