Time to take some trash out!

Junk...that is what I see whenever I look out in our garage.

We have been piling up all those things that no longer fit us, or fit our style or liking any longer. Seems like the pile is getting bigger and bigger and now that we no longer have any use for these things, a trip to the junkyard seems in order.

When I think about all of that "stuff", I can't help wonder how in the world so much unwanted junk has accumulated. Seems just like overnight, things that once were useful, now have absolutely no use or value. A quick trip to the local junkyard seems to be in order.

I wish that unloading our spiritual junk could just be that easy.

I don't know why some junk is easier to get rid of than others. But it has occurred to me, until we are willing to strip ourselves of those things that weigh us down, we will never be anything except junk dealers. Constantly dealing with our junk. I love what the writer of Hebrews says about this...

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. (Hebrews 12:1; NLT)

Most of us would think that what "hinders" us is sin, but sin is not the only thing that stands in our way of having a fulfilling, faithful life. Some of the "junk" in our life is not even our fault. We have no control over some of the junk in our way such as things like a birth defect or an illness. Some of us are hindered because of our environment or because of our education. Things such as depression, anxiety, and the economy can also slow us down, sometimes just as much as sin can.

Often times, Christians feel ashamed or awkward if they struggle in any of these areas. But, just like sin, we can all become overcomers thru the Blood of Christ. Each of us can make a choice whether we allow the junk in our lives to control us or with the help of God, we can control the junk, by tossing it out.

If we are going to be full blown, sold out, true Followers of Christ, we must be willing to come face to face with the junk that holds us back. Grace and Mercy has been offered to us in spite of the junk that we continue to carry from place to place with us. It is true that the enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy but he also hits us by using the junk (the pain, heartache, loss and bad memories). To counteract this, we must remember what God said..

"I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (John 10:10)

To live a life more abundantly, one without sin, and one with less junk, we may need to clean out some junk in our life.

Is it time to take out some trash!