Spring is just around the corner, and I’m sure if you haven’t already, you are getting ready to do a little bit of cleaning inside your home. Eventually you will even venture out to clean up your lawn, and the weekly rotation of grass mowing will come into play.
Spring cleaning is just a normal part of the yearly calendar, but today’s topic is a different kind of spring cleaning.
Cleaning the inside of our homes is a needed and worthy task, but more importantly, we need to clean up our hearts for spring.
When most people think of the heart, they think about the muscular organ that pumps and circulates blood. This organ is crucial for life and significant for the functioning of other organs.
Another meaning of the word heart is the innermost character and feelings. It’s who you are deep down inside and what causes you to do what you do!
Due to the fall of man, we are all born sinners into a sin cursed earth. That’s not very happy news to read, but the good part is that’s not the end of the story.
God made a way through His Son Jesus for our sins to be forgiven so that our hearts can be made clean through the precious blood of Jesus Christ.
In the following paragraphs you will read my personal salvation testimony. Please reflect on your own life as you read my story and examine your heart.
Do you need a spring cleaning in your heart?
I probably have a typical testimony of a person who grew up in a Christian family, but my testimony has a slightly different twist. I made my first profession of faith when I was three years old, but I do not remember much about it. I vaguely remember sitting on the couch and Mother talking to me, but that’s about it. I honestly don’t remember a time in my life when I didn’t want to serve the Lord. I fail miserably at times, but it is my heart’s desire. My brother made a profession of faith at age five and has never doubted it. I am the exact opposite of that testimony.
I went through a time in my childhood life when I doubted my salvation terribly. I used to lie in bed at night and worry if I was saved. I would go to my parents’ room regularly for help in the middle of the night. I don’t know how many times this happened. I’m sure it was wearisome for them. Looking back, I now realize my doubting became a habit in my life. I am a worrier by nature, and worriers are great at meditating, we just meditate on the wrong things.
November 2, 1992 is the date I have written in one of my Bibles as the day I asked the Lord to save me and forgive me of my sins. After this point in time, I had more peace in my life concerning assurance of salvation, however, because my lack of assurance had become a habit, I still had seasons when I would doubt my salvation.
I remember Daddy using Romans 8:16 when dealing with me as a child, and I remember not totally understanding this verse because I would often base my salvation on feelings rather than what the Word of God says.
When I was a sophomore in college, I had a time in my life when the Lord revealed some areas of pride in my heart, and I really had to do some evaluations in my life. I was reflecting one day after the chapel service, and I just prayed and told the Lord that I knew I was a sinner and that He had died for me, and that I knew there was nothing I could do to save myself. That day, I probably received more assurance of my salvation than ever before.
I had to come to the place in my life where I realized it’s not about a date and time or an emotional experience, but it’s about Who I am trusting in and Who I am trusting in right now. I know in my heart that I am a sinner and that Jesus died and rose again for me personally as well as every person who has ever walked upon the earth. I have asked Jesus to come into my life and save me, and the rest is up to Him.
When the rapture takes place or when I pass away, the Lord is the One Who is in charge from then on out. One of the greatest assurances of salvation to me is the Spirit’s convicting when I do wrong, whether it be an unkind word, an angry thought, or a wrong motivation.
Another way the Spirit bears witness in my life is through the Word of God. When I allow my daily activities to crowd out my Bible time, it really shows in my actions and attitudes. This is an area in which I am constantly striving to do better and asking the Lord to help me spend sufficient time in His Word. Without His guidance, life is hard, and I make mistakes and fail.
There are so many ways to spend time with the Lord in our digital age. We can read the Bible and listen to the Bible, sermons, podcasts, uplifting music, etc. All these things help me in my daily walk with the Lord and help keep my focus on serving Him. Making time for these things is so important in the life of a Christian. Faith in Jesus Christ alone...His death, burial, and resurrection... saves, but reading God's Word and praying create a relationship with our Heavenly Father.
Spring cleaning in our homes has to be done year after year, and regular chores happen on a daily basis.
When Jesus cleans up your heart for spring, He does it once for all of eternity. We are sealed until the day of redemption!
Our works do not save us, nor do they keep us saved, but those who are truly redeemed will be known by their fruits.
If you have never received Jesus Christ as your Savior, you can do so today, right this very minute! Your heart can be clean for spring!
If you need some motivation for actually cleaning your home, you can find it in my post, No Stress House Cleaning, and if you want to know the chores I dread doing, check out Top Three Least Favorite Chores!
