With the warmer weather and sunshine, the dust seems all the more obvious gathered on the tables, windowsills, and knick-knacks scattered about.

Plenty of dust also settled in my heart this winter.

I struggled with the early sunsets and cold, dreary days. Even my happy light couldn’t help me quite shake it.

As I make natural cleaners to safely remove the dust, dirt, and grime from my floors and other surfaces, I also realize I must invest in a dust removal system for my soul.

Spring is a time of new growth and soul-growth is not to be placed on the back burner.

I revisit our Bible curricula for what works and what needs improvement. Some of the irritating behaviors in my family (and myself!) need to be addressed. I must remain diligent and beg my Father’s forgiveness for laziness this past season.

As I open the windows to let in the fresh air and sunshine and let out the stale air, I also need to air my heart’s grievances in prayer and Bible study as I do some spring cleaning for my soul.

Declutter. Renew. Revive.

Limit activities. Set goals. Personal growth.

What do you need to sweep out of your life?

 5 Ways to Spring Clean Your Heart:

1. Prioritize.

I need to focus on on better priorities. Some things have to get left behind for my sanity since I just can’t do it all.

I refuse to get caught up in the comparison trap. I really just can’t write all the posts, like all the social media, go to all the field trips, read all the books, decorate all the rooms like Pinterest, buy all the trendy clothes.

I must learn to be content within my means and protect my heart from comparison. With prayer and discussion, I can prioritize what’s best for our family. And my priority isn’t having my home look like a magazine or museum or running around constantly.

2. No cutting corners.

I must be diligent in completing a task well if I want my children to learn by my example how to follow through.

Just like I don’t want to sweep the dirt under the bed or rug, I don’t want to leave heart issues unaddressed to grow into bigger issues later. I need to be a diligent parent and coach my children consistently, in love and without nagging.

I need to be open to communication and aware of what my family needs. I need to explore the underlying causes of a behavior rather than react.

3. Relationships are most important.

I need to show my kids and husband that they are most important to me (after God, of course) – more important than my smartphone or my blogs or social media or anything else that might become an idol. Just like I want to be hospitable to guests in my home, so I rush around like a madwoman, cleaning and tidying before anyone comes over – only to apologize profusely for my house that has never been cleaner in years! I’m focusing on the wrong things – the appearances instead of the relationship. If they don’t like me because my house isn’t spotless, then that’s fine. I need to be more like Mary and less like Martha.

I can’t get lazy and then become overwhelmed by the task at hand. Sometimes, we create bad situations ourselves with poor choices and call it “from the devil.” Of course, Satan will use all ammunition we give to him, but we must accept responsibility for our actions and the consequences of those actions. This also goes for listening to dirt about others. We should just close our ears to that rather than expressing interest or spreading any gossip. If I don’t clean the refrigerator for months, then the task will become overwhelming and take much longer and need more elbow grease than if I wipe it down and pay attention to inventory and expiration dates every week or so. This also goes for social media, mom groups, family bickering. Limit that noise. Stay positive.

5. Ask for help.

When I can’t complete something on my own, I need to turn to Jesus for help. Just like when a maintenance task at the house or yard is too much for me to complete well on my own, s0 I enlist my husband and kids for help… I need to cry to Jesus in prayer when I get overwhelmed with life.

Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8

Ask for godly counsel. Mentoring seems like a dying art. Do you have a trustworthy Christian mentor?

 I plan to analyze my heart as I tackle spring cleaning this year!

Resources:

• Simply Clean: The Proven Method for Keeping Your Home Organized, Clean, and Beautiful in Just 10 Minutes a Day by Becky Rapinchuk
• How to Manage Your Home Without Losing Your Mind: Dealing with Your House’s Dirty Little Secrets by Dana K. White
• Cleaning House: A Mom’s Twelve-Month Experiment to Rid Her Home of Youth Entitlement by Kay Wills Wyma
• Unstuffed: Decluttering Your Home, Mind, and Soul by Ruth Soukup
• Say Goodbye to Survival Mode: 9 Simple Strategies to Stress Less, Sleep More, and Restore Your Passion for Life by Crystal Paine
• Love the Home You Have: Simple Ways to…Embrace Your Style *Get Organized *Delight in Where You Are by Melissa Michaels
• CHAOS to Clean: in 31 Easy BabySteps by Marla Cilley
• Having a Martha Home the Mary Way: 31 Days to a Clean House and a Satisfied Soul by Sarah Mae

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• Cleaning Laminate Flooring
• Kitchen Pantry Makeover
• How to Clean a House
• The Benefits of Green Carpet Cleaning
• Making a Natural Home
• Homemade Laundry Detergent
• Minimizing
• Making a Natural Home
• Teaching Kids to Cook
• Purging Clothes