Praise God for Roombas: Keeping a Clean Heart
I have two beautiful mutts that make up the fur part of our family. One is a Lab-mix and she sheds more than any animal I’ve had the pleasure of meeting. If I don’t vacuum every day, large round tufts of fur resembling tumbleweeds wisp through the room as I walk. Every day is a new battle against the fur (the fur-battle). When I bought my first Roomba, I literally thanked God for it right after thanking him for Jesus and his sacrifice. “Lord, thank you for the gift of your love, for my Roomba, my husband…”
One of the things I’ve been thinking about lately as I do my daily dust and vacuum routine, are the parallels between my home and my heart. If I want to keep my home clean, there are so many things that come against and challenge me. Living in a rural area on a dirt road with fur-bearers means dirt and bugs and fur. I have to be diligent every day. If I miss a day, it shows. If I miss a few days, it’s gross. And it’s that much more work to get the home back into the shape I want it to be. It’s kind of like my heart. We live in a world that presents the opportunity to gain soul clutter every day. To gain big tufts of dirty fur-tumbleweeds to clog up our hearts. The Bible says it is up to us, not God, to keep our hearts with all diligence. He knows what leads to peace and what leads to anxiety. The enemy of your soul is not passive. If we are not diligent to weed out the things in our hearts that should not be there, then soul clutter can build up fast. The devil prowls about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). The main weapon the enemy uses to put people in bondage is lies. That is why it is so important to know and meditate on God’s truth and keep your mind stayed upon him.
Emotions are handy little indicators that I use as tools to really help me catch when I’m believing a lie. I’ve gone through a lot of heart-healing so I’m generally very happy. If I start to feel sad, restless, angry, I’ve learned to ask the question, “What have I been thinking about? Where have my thoughts been dwelling that lead to this emotion?” Often times, I’m believing a lie or dwelling on something that wastes emotional energy. Am I thinking about what I said or the mistake I made and thinking I’m inadequate? Or am I in fear over the future? Am I dwelling on the thought of how the current culture is so angry and mean so much so that I’m joining in their offense? Am I in unforgiveness somewhere? A big question to ask is: in what area am I not trusting God?
Deuteronomy 3019 “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!” (NLT)
Philippians 4:8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise (NLT).
Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! (NLT)
Proverbs 4:23 Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life (NLT).
Your mind grows whatever you plant so be a diligent gardener. Don’t entertain yourself with things that plant fear, sin, sarcasm, or tragedy. Don’t dwell on thoughts that make you angry and anxious. Don’t entertain lies that whisper you aren’t enough and you’ll always be broken. Start pulling weeds and cleaning house.
Home to me is place where the formative things of life happen. It’s a space where we laugh and cry and question and grow. I want it to be a peaceful, clean, uncluttered place. How much more my heart! My thoughts and soul where the very actions of life flow from!
A Part of Renewing Your Mind:
- Be aware of your emotions and use them as indicators. If you feel sad or anxious, what thought lead to that emotion?
- Ask the Lord to reveal to you if you are believing any lies.
- Be careful about what you look at and listen to. What goes into your eyes and ears can plant peace and joy or depression and anxiety.
- Watch what you think about. Don’t dwell on thoughts from the enemy. Catch those thoughts and replace them with what is true, honorable, lovely and pure. Be consistent.