Hoarders

Article written by:

Cynthia S. Brooks of
Nashville, Tennessee

We are all guilty of being hoarders. Didn’t think you were? Just think about it a few minutes and you may come to realize that you're holding on to way more than you thought. We may be hoarding jealousy, envy, back lashing, anger, depression, lust, lies, selfishness, and the big "D" word; Doubt, followed by its ugly cousin worry and the list goes on and on. These are just some among all the things we just keep piling up and adding into our homes day after day and we just can't bear the thought of losing any of it. Jesus plainly tells us in the scriptures to do one simple thing that will help us get rid of all our junk in one fail swoop-"Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you - 1Peter 5:2". However, somehow we feel we just can't do it, or we don't know how to let go.

Jesus has already given us the necessary tools to equip ourselves to properly clean up our house. To name a few we have the Bible (the living word), our faith (belief in him), and the Holy Spirit (our help). Rather than choosing to put in a little elbow grease and a few moments of time to actually rid our homes of junk and clean up, we instead go through our "inner hoarded up house and pick and choose which things We feel would be easy to let go. But is that what Jesus said do? Certainly not, He said get rid of it All! Not some or a just a few things you may not be comfortable with parting from yet. He Wants It All.

We were not built to carry such junk and debris in our "homes". Homes with excess filth over time begin to stink and smell of filth and eventually things break down causing a domino effect throughout the entire house. If our inner house is filled with filth and junk how can we have room for those things of value to shine? How can we have the freedom to move about without having to worry about tripping, falling and possibly injure oneself over debris lying around (falling into sin)? Stay strong in the faith! Isaiah 41:10 says Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you".

Believe that you can and will have the house that you've always dreamed of, one without junk piles and garbage that keeps accumulating when we seem to be "taking out the trash everyday yet unable to cleanse the house (reading the bible but not staying fixed on Him daily all day)." 1 Chronicles 16:11 says Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!" It is possible for us to get that clean house made over now, but no one said it was going to be easy. Acts 3:19-21 ESV / “Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago". In order to be transformed like most structures we must first be stripped and/or broken down to the foundation and built back up from the ground inside out first. Doesn't look like much of anything but a big mess at first, but the closer you get to the end of the remodeling process things start to take on a new appearance different from the old. The home may still have a few original things kept from before and you may recognize what was once there before the remodeling, but it’s improved and better looking now.

To all the hoarders: Are you ready for your deep clean? Jesus (our Project Head) is ready on standby, waiting with all his tools and a full crew of the best workers (the Holy Spirit and angels). Will you give Him the go ahead? Have faith, trust in Him and you will look better than you ever imagined. As a result others will want to know who did your interior work (be a witness). As in Mathew 5:16 –“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." The time is now, let us hand over the keys to the house and let our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ all the way in and not left outside waiting to be invited in.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.



Cynthia S. Brooks