Junking Your Junk

A few weeks ago, I stopped at a shopping center to pick up a couple of items. When I got out of my vehicle, something immediately caught my attention. I noticed a late model car next to me that was a major mess; not outside, but inside. It looked like the owner had been using his automobile as a combination garbage container and junk closet. A quick glance revealed discarded food wrappers, empty soft drink cans, half-eaten food, old newspapers, books and dirty clothes. I could only imagine the stench inside. Just seeing it made me sad.

One of the sad things about the sight was knowing that the owner had likely become desensitized to the situation. Chances are, this person had lost touch with the environment they had created. They were traveling through life surrounded by filth and junk, and probably didn’t even notice it.

This experience made me think about all of the folks who face a similar reality in their personal lives. Think about your life.

If we could look through a window into our own soul, how many of us would be appalled at what we see inside? How many of us are traveling through life with an accumulation of junk from the past — leftovers of hurt from former relationships, emotional wrappers of resentment and regret from old disappointments, dirty clothes of jealousy, anger, guilt and shame that linger with us?

All of these things limit our life view, crowd out our life potential, restrict growth in our relationships and leave a certain “stench” around us. They hinder us and make us unattractive, spiritually and emotionally.

The Bible speaks to this situation:

… Dear friends, let’s make a clean break with everything that defiles or distracts us, both within and without. Let’s make our entire lives fit and holy temples for the worship of God. — 2 Corinthians 7:1 (Msg)

The psalmist prayed:

How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. — Psalm 19:12 (NLT)

These passages remind us that we need to regularly clean out the trash in our hearts. They call us to “junk the junk” we accumulate inside of us.

What does your soul look like? Is it clean, orderly and healthy, or filled with ugly, trashy things you have accumulated over time?

Make a decision today that, with God’s help, you’re going to “junk your junk!”

Dale O'Shields

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