Jennifer Lambert

A Sacred Balance

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You are here: Home / Faith / Spring Clean Your Heart

Spring Clean Your Heart

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April 10, 2017 By Jennifer Lambert 27 Comments

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.

As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. Psalm 103: 13-14

And sometimes, I need to let the dishes sit and the floor go unvacuumed while I take a walk with my kids to enjoy the sunshine and flowers. They will remember those experiences more than having a museum-spotless house.

4. Don’t allow dirt to collect.

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!


Linking up: Blogghetti, Life of Faith, The Mrs. Tee, Our Holiday Journey, Modest Mom, Darling Downs Diaries, Inspiration for Moms, Life on Oak Hill, MaryAndering Creatively, Create with Joy, Lori Schumaker, Holley Gerth, God Sized Dreams, Timeless Mama, Home Stories A to Z, Teaching What Is Good, LouLou Girls, April Harris, Purposeful Faith, Jaime Wiebel, Trekking Thru, Live Randomly Simple, Jessi’s Design, Wise Woman, Ducks in a Row, Our Three Peas, Raven Would, Bringing up Georgia, Soaring with Him, Breakthrough Homeschooling, Becoming Press, Mississippi Mom, Sincerely Paula, Life Beyond the Kitchen, Creative K Kids, Penny’s Passion, Katherine’s Corner, Organized 31, Imparting Grace, Crystal Storms, Mommynificent, Be Thee Inspired, Brenda Bradford Dottinger, Debbie Kitterman, A Bountiful Love, Home Crafts by Ali, Simply Sweet Home, The Charm of Home, Susan Mead, Lyli Dunbar, Crystal Waddell, Arabah Joy, Create with Joy, Coffee with Us3, Overwhelmed to Fulfilled, Easy Peasy Pleasy, Chic on a Shoestring, Anna Nuttall, The Answer is Chocolate, The Blended Blog, RCH Reviews, Momfessionals, Life with Lorelai, Being a Wordsmith,

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Comments

  1. Katelynn|hampersandhiccups.com says

    March 27, 2018 at 3:42 am

    Great motivational post! Enjoy the journey and the moment
    #MMBH
    Katelynn, hampersandhiccups.com

    Reply
  2. Balaka Basu says

    March 27, 2018 at 7:02 am

    Great motivation. May Jesus be with you always. Amen!

    Reply
  3. Liz says

    March 27, 2018 at 2:43 pm

    Amen! Great tips! We’ve been doing some of this soul cleaning over at My Messy Desk, too! May God refresh and renew you as you clear out the clutter in your home and your heart! Blessings!

    Reply
  4. Betsy de Cruz says

    March 27, 2018 at 2:44 pm

    Visiting from #RaRalinkup! These are 5 great ideas for dusting away the cobwebs in our hearts. So needed for renewed joy!

    Reply
  5. Whitney@confessionsofparenting says

    March 27, 2018 at 3:20 pm

    Thank you for this inspiring post. I love that spiritual and temporal things are tied together. I really appreciate the reminder.

    Reply
  6. Donna Reidland says

    March 27, 2018 at 3:25 pm

    It’s an on-going, yet important process isn’t it! God has been showing me some areas that need spring cleaning, too!

    Reply
  7. Alice V. Walters says

    March 28, 2018 at 1:18 pm

    Dear Jennifer, what a terrific analogy! It’s easy to become complacent during the long, dull months of winter, isn’t it? Thanks and blessings for sharing the practical tips!

    Reply
  8. Rebecca Jones says

    March 28, 2018 at 10:14 pm

    Great advice, for heart and home.

    Reply
  9. This Scribbler Mum says

    March 28, 2018 at 11:15 pm

    Great post! I’m motivated! #fortheloveofblog

    Reply
  10. Cheryl Gerou says

    March 29, 2018 at 3:51 pm

    Visiting from Thoughtful Thursday link up. Many good reminders here in this post. My heart needs spring cleaning done as well as my house. It all takes time and effort, but it is very much worth it! Thank you for encouraging me today!

    Reply
  11. Bette Stevens says

    March 30, 2018 at 12:48 am

    Perfect post! :) Happy spring cleaning… xo

    Reply
  12. Blessed Mess says

    March 30, 2018 at 5:03 pm

    Beautiful comparison!! Thanks for the reminder.

    Reply
  13. Jessica @ Overwhelmed to Fulfilled says

    March 30, 2018 at 9:24 pm

    This is a wonderful post, Jennifer! I love the analogy that you use of spring cleaning our heart and our soul. I’ve been concentrating on setting and living by my priorities over the last 3-4 months or so. It’s so easy to get caught up in daily living or things we think we should be doing that we stop giving our best to our top priorities. You collected a great list of things to do to start fresh. Thanks for linking up with us at #LiveLifeWell

    Reply
  14. Mother of 3 says

    March 31, 2018 at 1:05 am

    What a great idea!! I love this. Pinned.

    Reply
  15. Amy @ The Quiet Homemaker says

    March 31, 2018 at 1:29 am

    I really love this concept and it is a great time of year to reflect on our heart and really ask God where we need a little scrubbing and cleaning. Thank you for this wonderful post!

    Happy Easter and thanks for linking up at #LiveLifeWell!

    Blessings,

    Amy

    Reply
  16. Sinea says

    March 31, 2018 at 3:53 am

    You are so right Jennifer! I have been getting quicker at asking the Lord for help, even with the simple things. Everything works so much better that way!

    Reply
  17. The Mummy Bubble says

    April 2, 2018 at 11:19 am

    Love this post! Such great tips for making the most of the new season. thanks for sharing with #fortheloveofBLOG

    Reply
  18. Rachel Lee says

    April 2, 2018 at 6:29 pm

    Jennifer, perfect timing! And doesn’t spring cleaning make you feel so accomplished and, well…clean?! It’s refreshing!
    I can really relate to all of these helpful tips, but God has really been honing in on #3 for me. It’s all about relationships! Between God and us, and us and others. It’s mighty important to Him, therefor it ought to be equally as important to us!
    Great reminder for me today, as we head into another busy week!

    Reply
  19. Sherry says

    April 4, 2018 at 1:28 am

    I always think of it as He is refining us. I t is an ongoing process that I will endure till the end. Thanks for sharing at Home Sweet Home!

    Reply
  20. Tina at Mommynificent says

    April 4, 2018 at 5:44 am

    I love this post! What a great analogy. Thanks for sharing this at Booknificent Thursday on Mommynificent.com!
    Tina

    Reply
  21. Karen Woodall says

    April 4, 2018 at 7:40 pm

    It’s so easy to let that ‘dust’ collect in our souls b/c it takes too long to get it all out… and there are a lot more ‘fun’ things to do than clean. But just like a job that’s put off too long, we complicate the process and it ends up taking way more time and effort than just keeping things tidy all along. Thanks!

    Reply
  22. Aimee Imbeau says

    April 6, 2018 at 3:50 am

    Jennifer, I loved your post. Your 5 points are spot on. Thanks for sharing on Grace and Truth. I have chosen your post as my feature. If you want the “I was featured” button for your post, you can head over to my site tomorrow to get it. As always, it is a pleasure to read your articles.

    Reply
  23. Gayl says

    April 7, 2018 at 11:49 pm

    Good advice for all of us to take inventory of our souls and make sure we are not overtaxing ourselves so that we neglect to nourish our souls and bodies. As we spring clean our houses, let’s spring clean our hearts and minds. Thanks for much for sharing this. Thank for linking up with us at the #LMMLinkup. Blessings to you!

    Reply
  24. trobuzz says

    May 14, 2018 at 7:00 pm

    nice post.

    Reply

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