How's Your House?

"Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in your midst?" 
1 Corinthians 3:16 (NIV)

My house is on the market.

Enough said?

If you've ever sold a house, you know it's not really fun...keeping it ready for strangers to appear at any time with moments notice.

Each time I go out it has to be ready.

When I'm at home...wanting to just chill...or take a nap...or sort my laundry. It's got to be ready to be ready!

As I write, there are stacks of folded laundry on the chairs in my den. There are dirty dishes in the sink awaiting the emptying of the dishwasher. My beds are not just unmade, but nakedly anticipating the buzzer to sound on the dryer so that fresh linens can cover them. The surfaces cry out for the Swiffer duster...again. And where do those dust bunnies in the corners come from?? I'm assuming they follow in the rabbit reproduction mode...hence the name dust bunnies? My floor needs to be vacuumed. Did I recently buy new socks for my hubby? Or does sock lint reproduce as well?

And let's don't even talk about baseboards. Sigh.

Now, my closets are all in nice order, looking all spacious and well...orderly. My pantry has never looked so good since clearing out the clutter that made its home there.

So you might ask, "Why are you sitting at your computer writing about what's yet to be done instead of getting up and doing it?"

Easy.

Each morning this week as I've made my house ready before I headed out the door, God has whispered in my ear. He said, "Okay, your house is ready, but is your house ready?" Is my heart, the place where He dwells, ready for the day? Ready for strangers...and friends, family, and neighbors to see?

Has the gunk of sin been cleaned from my heart and mind? Is there a sparkle in my eyes that shines from time spent in His Word? Is His reflection clear or obscured from the surface of my countenance? Am I relying on Him to direct my day and hence bring order to the stacks of responsibilities there? Does the presence of His peace dwell richly in me? Is the aroma of Christ being diffused to those around me? Does my mouth speak of His overflow in my heart?

How about you? How's your house today?

Lord, help me not to lose sight of what's important and get caught up in earthly things and forget that what matters most is You. Cleanse my heart, O God. Fill me up with Your presence. Cover me in Your peace. Order my steps today, Lord. Live in me...richly, so that Your aroma is pleasant to everyone I meet.