Confession: I am not the best at keeping our refrigerator cleaned out. If you were to open it and look in on any given day, you would probably find some leftovers growing all sorts of interesting things. I don’t mean to neglect the fridge, things just get pushed towards the back, life gets busy, and before you know it, that leftover gravy is growing all sorts of interesting mold.
Why do I make this confession?
First, so that you know not to just grab leftovers from my fridge; and second, because God has an amazing way of extraordinarily revealing truths through simple, everyday things.
As I noticed some leftovers I need to take care of, the Lord spoke to my heart and informed me that my heart looks a lot like my fridge. I have some leftovers from the past here and there, some emotions that got pushed towards the back, some things I figured I would deal with when life slows down, and some things that are growing toxic mold back in the corner of my heart.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! -2 Corinthians 5:17
When the Lord looks into my heart, I want Him to see a “fridge” stocked with new, fresh, healthy, nourishing food that He can use to bless the company He places in my life. I don’t want others around me to suffer from the fermented emotions in the bottom of my heart.
I don’t want to disappoint those the Lord wants to bless through me with rotten fruit. Most importantly, as I endeavor to be the best wife and momma I can be, I don’t want to give my family “food poisoning” from the old things I have allowed to decay in my heart. I desire for the Lord to be able to use me to nourish the souls He has placed around me.
No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. -Luke 6:43-45
As I look into my fridge now, I am reminded of the old things in my heart. I realize it is time to allow God to bring out the garbage bag and scouring sponge and start replacing my old with His new.
What about you? Do you have some containers in your heart sure to give food poisoning to your husband and children? The Lord doesn’t promise the cleaning process will be pleasant or easy, but He is kind and loving. In the end, the pain we may experience in the cleaning process is far outweighed by the knowledge that we will be able to better serve our families afterwards.
I really love this analogy. I know I have areas that need work but just get ignored and pushed to back because, frankly, I don’t feel like dealing with them.
(visiting from the Little R & R Wednesdays link-up)