Closets are for cleaning, or so it seems to be these days. Not long ago a good friend and I worked together on cleaning out a closet. When we first opened the doors to the closet, we gasped in dismay at the mess. We found outdated items, strange items, and items that didn’t belong in that particular closet. We tossed, we kept, we gave away and we rearranged. We kept on working until we were satisfied that we had done what we could to put the closet in order. But, now comes the tricky part – keeping the closet in order.
I have been working on other closets as well. Some are cupboards full of dishes, others are shelves full of linens and still others are bins full of this and that. Once each one is straightened and clean, it takes a plan and work to maintain it as such.
I sometimes entertain the thought that if no one else but me goes in these closets and cupboards, it would be so much easier to keep them in order. But I know that isn’t quite true. When I am in a hurry, I know I toss things into a closet with a promise to myself that I will put it in its rightful place when I have more time. With such actions as these, it isn’t long until each closet again needs cleaning.
Physical closets and spiritual closets are much the same. My spiritual closets fill up with piles of concerns that need to go to the Lord, prayers I meant to pray, lessons only partially learned, and half-formed steps in obedience. Just like those partially used cans of paint I discovered in the closet under the stairs, I come upon my spiritual gift containers drying up from lack of use.
So, I humbly ask my friend Jesus to help me and soon my prayers are in order and shared with Him, my concerns have become pieces of gratitude and I’m working on obedience of a whole-hearted nature. Of course, the tricky part is keeping everything in order. But, my companion Jesus has promised to be with me – and help me.
Isaiah 41:10 – “I will strengthen you and help you.”
