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“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own,” 1 Corinthians 6:19, KJV

This has been something of a week for our family. The rush from one thing to another has drained us of any free time. When I awoke this morning, the evidence of our busyness was staring me in the face. What? Do messes multiply at night when I’m asleep because it didn’t look that bad last night? It amazes me how easy it is for things to get disorganized and cluttered when we’re not giving it the attention it deserves. So, one of my first thoughts this morning were, “I hate when my house is a mess – Grrr.”

Disorganization throws me off big time. When I’m trying to concentrate on a task and I lift my head up to look around, and am spattered with mess, my mind keeps going to the mess instead of getting back to the mission. Clutter is its own monster to deal with; for when schedules grow out of hand, and stuff gets tossed to the side, the clutter monster gets fed and continues to grow and grow. Then, I wonder, “Where did all of this come from?”

When I first was married I used to be a perfectionist. My husband, through years of patience, broke me from that (almost). While I’m not as uptight as I used to be about a messy house, I still like cleanliness! A place for everything and everything in its place. Calm. Peaceful. Quiet. Yeah, that’s how I like it! It’s an environment that supports what I want to do in life.

Our spiritual lives operate in much the same way. When we are going off in many directions and not taking care of home, our “temples,” things become disarrayed. We become less focused on taking care of the “home” business, and in our pursuits, our spiritual house becomes a mess.

Inattentiveness will do that. There are so many things that can capture our attention in our day to day activities. We have to be diligent guardsmen of the temple that keeps everything running smoothly. Take a museum for instance; it’s probably one of the cleanest and most orderly establishments. The stuff that it holds inside of itself is very valuable and some of it could never be replaced. Because of that, there are guards posted everywhere to insure that everything is kept that way. When the sign says no photography, the guard will insure not a picture will be taken. Flash does something to some of the works. You will not eat, drink, touch or sneeze on any art work. Our local museum has a line around each item and you better be careful not to cross it or else.

Being that the spirit we have in us is of more value than any art work, irreplaceable and priceless, ought we not to guard it with even more diligence? Shouldn’t we be concerned about any messes or clutter that could disrupt the spirit’s flow of working within us?

Paul thought so. The concern is that since God’s spirit resides in you, you have the responsibility to keep the house clean. This body is a rental. It’s not permanent. The last part of our above verse tells us, “and ye are not your own?” We don’t hold the deed, “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s,” (1Corinthians 6:20, KJV). But, we are responsible for the upkeep of the property.

What mess of the spirit has us so cluttered and disorganized that we are less attentive to the things that “glorify God?” When the spiritual house is a mess it’s hard to function and find peace to complete the task that God is leading me to. I need to revere this spiritual house as one does when visiting a museum.

How do we keep it in order? Start by having a made up mind to set priorities. Know that above all else your relationship with God is to come first. One way to do that is to find out what has been sidetracking you and make it fall into place. Then, change your focus of thought to allow the spirit freer access to move. Unclutter your thought life from that which does not profit to something far better. “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things,” (Philippians 4:8, KJV). Using this filter will help keep the clutter out and rampart thoughts under control.

In verse 9, Paul goes on to explain if they listen to this advice and follow his example, “the God of peace shall be with you,” (KJV). That means the house is clean and uncluttered, free for Him to move! If you feel like you having a hard time connecting with God or you don’t feel the spirit moving and leading like you once did, check the environment. If you find a need to pick some things up off of that spiritual floor and get things back in order, then do so. There is nothing more precious or powerful than God being able to work in a “house” unhindered, with no messes or obstacles in the way.

Now, time to go clean. Pray for me! I really do have to get started cleaning this house 😉