Do I Need Spring Cleaning of My Heart?

Well spring is here, and we all think of spring cleaning and preparing for the summer months. As I was contemplating the first jobs to tackle, God spoke to my heart and said, “Start with your heart!” Oh dear, Lord, you mean leave the windows, the curtains, the closets, the yard, and WORK on my heart! Many times, we are so excited about the change in the weather, we concentrate on the external and forget the most important-our spiritual condition. What are some of the signs that tell us we need spring cleaning to the soul? I happen to come across an article written by the great evangelist Charles Finney, and he named some ways to check the condition of your heart and see if you’re backslidden. I’m not going to list all that he suggested but here’s a few that I asked myself.
1. Do I have loss of interest in truly spiritual conversation? What am I talking about most of the time?
2. Do I search for worldly amusements? Do I find more delight in worldly things than in delighting in the Lord?
3. Do I have a lack of interest in foreign missions? Am I praying for the missionaries daily?
4. Do I have a lack of interest in studying God’s Word?
5. Do I have a self-indulgent spirit? Do I try to gratify my appetites, passions and fulfill “the desires of the flesh”?
6. Do I look at my secret, private prayer as more of a duty than as a privilege?
7. Do I have a loss of interest in personal holiness?
After reading all the evidence of a backslidden heart, I had to ask myself, “Am I really as dedicated to the Lord and His work as I should be?” Proverbs 14:14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man [shall be satisfied] from himself. We need to take an honest look at our spiritual condition and ask the Lord to forgive us and get back to full surrender to the Lord. If you’re thinking about spring cleaning, you might consider beginning with your heart!