Giving Your Home a Spiritual/Biblical Cleaning

Ideally I like to do a Spring and Fall cleaning around my home.  A time to dig deep into the corners and recesses of my home and tidy them up.   It doesn't always happen but that is the goal.  A time twice a year to open up windows, remove and wash the jams and screens.  I empty cupboards of pots and pans, dishes and pantry items and thoroughly scrub out any accumulated grim or crumbs.   In the Fall I usually take this time to freshen my linens by washing extra blankets and bedding so that they are ready to put on beds when the nights turn crisp.
 
As important as it is to be good stewards of our homes and belongings by seeing to their physical upkeep, it is equally important to give diligence to its Spiritual upkeep. 

Many years ago I found a blog post on cleaning house.  I felt it was a very important reminder and so I took the time to write it in the back of my Bible.  Unfortunately I did not make note of the author or blog where I found it and can no longer remember.  If anyone recognizes this please let me know so that I can give proper credit.  
 
Cleaning House

Every few months go through the house and examine it according to these Scriptures:
 

• Psalm 101:3
• 2 Corinthians 7:1
• Proverbs 3:33
• Philippians 4:8
• Deuteronomy 7:26
• 1 John 5:21
• Psalm 101:2
• Psalm 119:37

Clean out those things that are not pleasing to the Lord.  It is very easy for worldly distractions to creep into our home.  Look at:

 
* Books and magazines
* Art, personal pictures
* Videos and DVD's
* Music
* Toys
* Anything immodest or crude in speech, manner or suggestion
* Immodest clothing
* Miscellaneous things that the Lord might reveal to you.

(I would also add that you should examine your online and social media activities.  Are they pleasing to the Lord?)

Replace items with things that would inspire and draw you, your family and others to God.
Strive to make your home a safe place that honors the Lord by carefully discerning and guarding the things you allow into it.

 
** The Right Questions to Ask **

The following questions are ones that I wrote down from a women's Bible study I attended and I think they go beautifully with the context of Biblical Housekeeping.
 
1.  Will this strengthen my faith and help me love Jesus more?
2.  Will this advance me in warfare against sin?
3.  Will it help me be more resolved to pray?
4.  Will it embolden my faith and help me to share the gospel with others?
5.  Does this bring glory to God?

I hope this will be an encouragement to you as you think about doing your Fall cleaning.  God bless you as you work in your homes, may all you do there bring glory to the Lord and your family closer to Him.

Daybook

For Today...

Monday, November 10th, 2014

 

 

Outside my window...  the morning light is beginning to break forth.  I thought I would wake to a ground covered in snow but so far there is just a dusting. 

 

 

I am hearing... beautiful piano music by Paul Cardall

 

 

I am thinking... that I will enjoy another cup of coffee with cream and coconut sugar while I listen to this beautiful music.  Mmm

 

 

  I am thankful...

• for a wonderful week full of so many blessings
• game night with my family
• God's word
• Sunday afternoon talks with my boys - always lots to share after fellowshipping with friends.
• being able to have my nephew spend the weekend with us
• that I can worship God through the creativity He's given to me
• beautiful piano music to soothe my soul
• for the wonderful years with our sweet Sheltie, Tess who we had to put down on Friday - very unexpectedly. 

 

{Tyler and Andrew playing legos}

 

 

{Lizzy wanted to play rummy too.  She went from lap to lap.  At one point we put her bed on a chair because she was crying so much to be part of the action.  ☺  Sleepy Jon in the background}

 

 

{Andrew showing Sammi his hand - there were two separate games going so she was helping him decide what to do.}

 

 

{Tess}

 

 I am wearing... a new white nightgown with lavender trim and flowers. 

 

 I am creating... planner pages.  Last week's theme before I started to fill in the details and then the start to this week - decorated for our first snow.

 

 

  I am enjoying...

 

 

I am wondering...  if I can get all of my Christmas shopping done before December this year.  It is a goal each year but never happens. 

 

 I am reading... through the Bible with my Good Morning Girls group.  I read Genesis 41 this morning.  I am almost finished with Aunt Jane's Hero - I probably could have finished it last night but I was so sore (knee problem) and decided to take an extra long hot soak in the tub.  By the time I crawled in between the sheets I was too tired to read. 

 

 I am hoping (trusting God)... for the salvation of some very precious loved ones and for my older children to be led by God in all areas of their lives.  For the love I have for my children to be clearly understood in even all of the little unseen things I do for them. 

 

 

 Around the house... we got the yard prepared for our big "snow event" that was supposed to happen but thus far seems to have taken a break. 

 

  In the kitchen...  We have a tradition to bake cookies on the first snowfall of the season and fill our winter snowman cookie jar.  We only use this cookie jar in the winter.  I'll have one of the boys get the cookie jar from the closet and wash it up while we make cookies. 

  

I am (still) learning… to let go and let God.  It is best to be taught by Him.  This is such an old entry but it is still so applicable.  Even this morning as I read and studied in Genesis 41 - Joseph who had been called forth from prison to interpret the Pharaoh's dream had two sons.  He named the first Mannaseh and the second Ephraim.  Mannaseh means to cause to forget and Ephraim, fruitful.  Joseph was able to "let go" of the unkindness and betrayal of his brethren and rejoice in the affliction of his current situation.  I have seen this played out in my own life.  How graciously God has healed hurts and after letting go of them He's brought His peace and joy even if still in the midst of affliction.  I also think that I have been more spiritually fruitful during those times of affliction - I've realized I really do have no control and the only right way to respond is to come before Him in total surrender and cling to Him. 

 A quote to share...  “If a tiny spark of God’s love already burns within you, do not expose it to the wind, for it may get blown out… Stay quiet with God. Do not spend your time in useless chatter… Do not give yourself to others so completely that you have nothing left for yourself.” (St. Charles Borromeo)

 

 A few plans for this week:  If we get all of the expected snow they say we are to get, I am looking forward to staying home.  As much as I am not looking forward to the cold returning I do love that feeling of winter - where you feel all tucked in.  ☺ Just the normal activities this week with a possible skating day on Wednesday.

 

 A peek into one of my days... on Friday's, in my Facebook Bible study group I put up a new Fun Friday question each week.  Sometimes they are serious... sometimes silly.  Here is this week's question.  I would LOVE to hear your answer in the comment section - I'm sure others would too!  My Scripture and answer is below.

 

Luke 7:36-39 - "Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to dine with him, and He entered the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table.  And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume. Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner."

This account has always touched me… The courage and vulnerability of this woman, a sinner (aren’t we all!), to enter into the Pharisee’s house to see Jesus and then cling to and weep upon His feet is so raw and pure – her need of a Savior overtook every inhibition she had.  May I be as she… pouring out my life at His feet.  Tossing out all pretenses and man made expectations and worship my King.

 

  This post is linked at The Simple Woman's blog.

A Greater Grace

 

"And Jacob lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men.  And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids.  And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost. And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.  And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.  And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant.  Then the handmaidens came near and their children, and they bowed themselves.  And Leah also with her children came near, and bowed themselves: and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves.  And he said, What meanest thou by all this drove which I met? And he said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord.  And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself."

Genesis 33:1-9

Twenty years earlier Jacob, after deceiving his father Isaac into giving him his brother Esau’s blessing, fled to his mother's brother’s house to escape the anger of his brother.  Genesis 27:41 says that Esau hated Jacob and that after the days of mourning for his father were over he had plans to slay Jacob.  For twenty years Jacob worked and served his uncle Laban and God had prepared and blessed him during that time.  God was now calling Jacob to return to the land of his fathers but what would he be met with?  Did Esau’s anger still burn so strong that he wanted to slay Jacob? 

Have you ever so messed up or even allowed the busyness of “life” to put distance between you and God that you didn’t know how you could get back into God’s favor?  Or maybe you thought you had to come to Him with works and offerings.  Thinking you must deny or prove your devotion to Him in order to be accepted.  Oh dear heart, have you?  I have.  I’ve tried to appease God – so many times I have allowed the enemy to skew my view of God or have taken my finite knowledge and relational experience and applied it to my relationship with God.  If we were honest, I believe we all have.

Beloved, His LOVE and GRACE and MERCY and TENDERNESS and FORGIVENESS towards us is SO great and He desires for each of us to know it.

“…that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fullness of God.” 

Ephesians 3:17-19

I know my own anxiousness and trepidation when coming before Him after times of separation.  What was Esau’s response?

He RAN!

Esau ran to meet Jacob!  He embraced him, fell on his neck, kissed him and wept!   He didn't want the droves sent as an offering - he wanted only the restoration between himself and his brother.  Oh the grace!  I read that and heard the Spirit of God speak these grace words to me.

 “Theresa, why did you bring all of this to Me?  Sweet, precious, daughter, I do not require this of you.  You do not need to appease Me or buy back My love toward you.  I have already secured your place in My Son!  My love for you is everlasting.  My grace for you is in Jesus.  Daughter, I desire you to have a broken and contrite heart before Me (Psalm 51:17).  A heart that trusts and is wholly Mine – surrendered (Proverbs 3:5-6).   You are a chosen generation, chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world that you should show forth the praises of Me who has called you out of darkness and into my marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9, Ephesians 1:4).

 Why do I complicate something that is so simple – Come before Him with a broken and contrite spirit.  Confess my sins (1 John 1:9), trust in His forgiveness and faithfulness and show forth His praises (goodness). 

Father, I lift up each one that might read here today, Lord I pray that we might wholly surrendered to You and allow Your Holy Spirit to lead and guide us into all Truth.  Father I pray that we would no longer allow the enemy or our humanness to replace Your words spoken to us and over us.  May we be renewed in mind as we read and meditate on Your word and have complete trust and confidence in You.  Thank you for Your Son, Jesus and for the picture of grace you showed to me today in this story of Jacob and Esau.   May we give as we have been freely given,  In your name I pray, Amen.   

 

  Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 

Isaiah 1:18

Learning to S.O.A.P.

 

 

There are so many different ways to study Scripture.  This summer, I went through the book of 1 John.  I studied out one verse each day (in context) and then looked up key words in my Greek/Hebrew Study Bible.  I also read through any Scripture references and did the same with those verses that captured my attention.  It was slow and very deliberate.  I enjoyed this method of study very much and felt the Holy Spirit revealed many truths to me through the extensive study of one book over many months.

Currently I am reading through the Bible 1 chapter a day and following a study method known as S.O.A.P.  I first heard about this method of study years ago through the ministry of Good Morning Girls, but am unsure of where it originated. 

The S.O.A.P study method is a very solid method of Scripture study because you are studying in context.  I also love how it gives structure in its approach which makes it an ideal method for those that are new to Bible study or need a little more direction.

SOAPing takes me between 15-45 minutes each morning.  I begin with prayer, asking the Lord to bless my time in His word and for the Holy Spirit to bring understanding and reveal truth to me as I read.  I then read through the chapter and S.O.A.P the verse or verses that really stood out to me.

So what exactly is the S.O.A.P method? 

The S.O.A.P method focuses on 4 different key areas each day. 

S – Scripture – Read through your chosen selection or chapter of Scripture. In your notebook, hand write the part of the scripture that has captured your attention or that the Holy Spirit spoke to you.  Some days this is just a verse, on others it might be a longer passage.

O – Observation – Carefully and deliberately examine the verse or verses you wrote down. Ask yourself some of the following questions.  Who is speaking?  What was said?  Are there others there?  How did they react?  Where is this taking place?  What kind of details are mentioned as to location, time, etc.?  What is happening?  Is there a command or promise?  To whom is the command or promise given?  Really take your time here and study to learn everything you can about the selected passage.

Some days I have more time available and I’m able to look up commentary on the verses.  This is especially helpful if I’m having trouble understanding something in the passage.  Sometimes there are cultural aspects that I am unfamiliar with and reading through commentaries, while not necessary, can help to bring further clarification. I use a Bible study software called PC BibleSoft but you can find study helps and resources online at places like Bible Gateway (com) or Bible Study Tools (.com) Bible Study Tools has Matthew Henry’scommentary and others free to use.  I also like to use the 1828 Webster dictionary online.

A – Application –  Here is where our study gets personal.  How does this passage personally apply to my life?  Has the Holy Spirit revealed truths within the passage that I need to give attention to?  Are there attitudes or actions I need to respond to through repentance and obedience in light of what I’ve read? Are there relationship conflicts that I need to resolve or give to the Lord, people I need to forgive, truths I need to meditate on and receive?  Write it all down and then…

P – Prayer –  Commit all you’ve learned today to the Lord in prayer.  Ask the Holy Spirit to seal the truths of the passage to your heart and for the strength to move forward in trust and obedience where He has asked.

 

What a blessing that in America we can study the Scriptures so freely and have so many resources available to aid us in our study.  I hope this post will be a practical help to you if you are wanting to read and study the Scriptures but are unsure of where or how to start.  If you have any questions feel free to ask below in the comment section.  :)

Making Your Home a Haven - Week 1

 

Each Autumn I've followed along with the Making Your Home a Haven challenge at Women Living Well.  Courtney gives some practical ways in which we can help make our homes a haven for our loved ones.

 

Here is the challenge for week 1

 

 "Go buy an extra large candle and light a candle everyday in your home. I will be starting mine in the morning but you can start yours at dinner time or whenever is convenient for you.  I will be placing mine in the kitchen – the main hub of my home.  Each time the glimmer of the candle catches your eye, say a prayer for peace and patience within your home."

 One of the things I especially love about this challenge is lighting our candle each morning. Although we don't do it everyday, we've continued with this practice all throughout the year.    Our candle is pictured above and is part of the centerpiece on our living room coffee table.  Our living room is open to our school room and the kids spend quite a bit of time here reading and working on school. 

 

One morning this week as we were preparing to have family worship time, the Holy Spirit spoke to me.  I was to have the boys each take turns lighting the candle and then praying for peace in our home rather than my doing it.  I think it has made a huge impact on them as they are realizing that we are each responsible to do our part.

 

Here is a picture of my youngest praying this morning after he lit our candle.

 

 

 

I shared this quote earlier in the week in my Daybook post but I'll share it here again because it fits so beautifully. 

 

 

So how do we go about creating a foretaste of heaven in our homes.  First through prayer - pray daily for your marriage - the earthly visible example of Christ and the church.  This relationship is the most important one you will have aside from your personal relationship with Christ.  Next pray for your relationship with each of your children.  Ask the Holy Spirit to help you find creative ways to love on and encourage them.  Pray for the relationships of your children one with the other.  If you are noticing conflicts or issues, make them a matter of prayer. 

 

Living peaceably with others begins in our homes, amongst our families. 

 

Romans 12:9-21 (KJV)

 

"Let love be without dissimulation.  Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.  Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of saints, given to hospitality.  Bless them which persecute you:  bless, and curse not.  Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.  Be of the same mind one toward another.  Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate.  Be not wise in your own conceits.  Recompense to no man evil for evil.  Provide things honest in the sight of all men.  If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.  Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath:  for it is written, Vengenance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.  Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink; for in doing so thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.  Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."

 

I'd love to hear from you in the comments... how do you work to create your home a haven?

 

 

 

This post may be shared with some or all of the following link-ups: The Art of Home-Making Mondays, Marriage Monday, Titus 2sdays, Titus 2 Tuesdays, Raising Homemakers, Wise Woman Link Up, Coffee and Conversation, So Much at Home, Homemaking Thursdays, Home Sweet Home, Hearts for Home Thursdays, Growing in Grace Thursdays,  Front Porch Friday Blog Hop, Simple Meals Friday, Making Your Home a Haven,  Thank you to each of the lovely ladies listed above for hosting..

 

I am Willing

"And behold, a leper came and worshipped Him saying, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing, be cleansed." Immediately his leporsy was cleansed. Matthew 8:2-3

Everyday when I read through my healing Scriptures this verse touches me deeply. This faith filled, diseased man who was so used to rejection put aside every social boundary that had been placed around him. Falling in worship before Jesus he humbly but boldly asks the Lord if He would be willing to make him clean. Think about that for a moment... You don't risk yourself like that unless you have lost all hope and yet have full confidence that the One you are asking is able to look past the outward and love you to wholeness. That took guts! And Jesus... Jesus reaches out and touches the untouchable and says, I am willing! Oh my Jesus you are such a loving Savior and Healer. Thank you that we can come to you with all of our ugly sin and disease and it doesn't revolt You. I stand amazed that I can come to You and receive your loving, cleansing touch.

Worn and Weary

You've heard the saying, "You learn somehting new everyday," haven't you?  Well yesterday I learned something new.  Did you know you can dislocate a rib?  I didn't... but I do now and it wasn't pleasant.  At first I felt the pain and wasn't sure what had happened but then remembered that a few minutes earlier I was acting silly and dancing with my son, Christopher and twisted my body funny.   I iced the area thinking that I pulled a muscle and then I tried to take a nap but after 30 minutes of pain and trouble breathing I knew I needed to go to the chiropractor.  Dr. Logan fixed me up and as he adjusted the area I felt it pop back in.  He told me I would be sore for a few days and I am.   Bending down to pick something up is hard and sleeping was very painful.  Thankfully I have a bed that I can adjust the head and foot and was able to find a position that worked.

Isn't our body amazing!  For those of you who knew about my torn meniscus in my left knee, I am happy to report that after 8 weeks, much prayer, 24 chiropractic physical therapy treatments and some natural therapy I am pain free and surgery is not in my future.  Yay!  Strength is returning and the only area that I notice I am a little weak in is walking up the stairs.

As I was reading my Bible yesterday morning I read this...

³ He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee.
⁴ And he must needs go through Samaria.
⁵ Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.
⁶ Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.

Jesus was wearied with his journey!  Boy did that jump out at me because right now I have been feeling very overwhelmed and wearied.  Our Savior, God incarnate was confined to the limitations of a physical human body and was wearied.  When Jesus came to earth to take upon himself the curse of sin for us, He was subjected to physical infirmities in his body.  It was what I needed to read.  I needed to know that I am not alone and that He truly understands every little thing I am going through.

Meditation

 

 

The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

Zephaniah 3:17

Abundant Life

This week the LORD gave me a powerful visual and understanding of His Truth while walking in my yard and gazing up at a tree.  As I first approached the tree there didn't appear to be anything out of order but as I walked and stood underneath I saw one cluster of very orange leaves.  It looked so out of place.  I thought this branch of withering leaves looked how I sometimes feel.  Weak and out of place.  I'm sure I'm not the only one who has ever felt like that!  :o) 

The Holy Spirit brought to my remembrance the following verses in John 15:1-8

 

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.  Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.  Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.   If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.   If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples."

 

We can still be connected to the vine and surrounded by branches (believers) and from the outside appear as everyone else around us.  For a time being that is.  However, over time and with neglect, separation and death would begin to become visible.  Eventually it would become very visible.  

As I meditated on this and asked the LORD why this was He said it was because although they were connected they were not receiving adequate nutrition and sun (Son) and because of this, the life of this branch was weak and withering.   JESUS (the SON) is the Bread of Life (our nutrition). Our response then is a life surrendered and making sure that we are connected to the Source of life through relationship with Him, we stay connected through consistent study of His Word, its application in our lives and intimacy with Jesus through prayer. 

 

Jesus came that we might have life and have it more abundant (John 10:10) - the abundant life He gives comes through our abiding in Him and He in us. 

Do This, Not That

 

 

"Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."  Colossians 3:2

 

I really like it when Scripture tells me exactly what to do and what not to do, like it does here in this verse in Colossians.  It's pretty black and white.  Do this, not that.

 

Although I know and have hope of Heaven I would say my mind is not very renewed in this area.  I find myself thinking more about earthly things throughout the day.

 

• What should we have for dinner?  I have to cook again?! :o)
• My schedule is so busy!  What am I doing tomorrow?  Next week?  Next year?
• What is the future of our country?
• What if my husband loses his job?
• Should I do this or that, or go here or there?
• The boys really need to mow the lawn, the garden needs to be weeded and I really should clean the house.
• fretting about finances, health etc.
• Wishing I were taller, shorter, thinner, had curly hair or straight hair, less freckles, newer cars, better furniture.

I think you get the idea. 

 

My mind is constantly thinking - this morning during my quiet time I took a few minutes to really think about how many times throughout the day I set my affections on heavenly or earthly things.  It's so easy to do.  Sadly, I am much more inclined towards earthly cares throughout the day.

 

This verse really is a protection for me against discontentment and idolatry AND even more than a protection, this verse applied will foster a closer, intimate relationship with my Savior.  After all, as the next verse says, "For ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God."   I no longer belong to the world.  When I was converted to God, I died and became alive in Christ.  My affections should reflect this.  I ought to be as earnest for eternal things as I was for earthly perishing things before my salvation.

 

 

set affection on (5426)

• to exercise the mind
• earnest in a certain direction
• to interest oneself in
• to be devoted to

above (507)

• heavenly or divine things

~  I am to exercise my mind towards heavenly or divine things.  When I think of exercise I think of doing something good for my body and health.  Exercise doesn't come naturally to me, I have to be intentional about it and I don't usually enjoy it but am always glad I did it.  The same is true I suppose in my affections and thought life.  I need to intentionally train myself in this area to set my affections on things above.

 

~   I am to be earnest in my affections being set on heavenly or divine things.

 

earnest:  

1. Ardent in the pursuit of an object; eager to obtain; having a longing desire; warmly engaged or incited.

 

2. Ardent; warm; eager; zealous; animated; importunate; as earnest in love; earnest in prayer.

3. Intent; fixed.

4. Serious; important; that is, really intent or engaged; whence the phrase, in earnest. To be in earnest, is to be really urging or stretching towards an object; intent on a pursuit. Hence, from fixed attention, comes the sense of seriousness in the pursuit, as opposed to trifling or jest. Are you in earnest or in jest?

(I love this from number 4, "urging or stretching towards an object; intent on a pursuit."  I am to ibe ntent on pursuing eternal things, so much so that I am stretching (exercise!) for them.) 

~  I am to interest myself in heavenly or divine things.  I enjoy knitting and crocheting and learning about health and wellness.  My husband and boys are interested in football.  My son Jonathan is interested in writing computer codes and web design.  Another son is interested in piano.  When we have an interest in something we spend time learning and studying about it.  As a believer I should be studying and learning about my eternal home and God's will being done here on earth as it is in Heaven. 

~  I am to be devoted to the heavenly and divine.  Because of my love for the Lord, I am committed to Him.  I am to be set apart and dedicated to Him.   Showing devotion to Him.  Here is one definition of devotion as I understand it in the context of our verse and where we are to set our affections: 

A solemn attention to the Supreme Being in worship; a yielding of the heart and affections to God, with reverence, faith and piety, in religious duties, particularly in prayer and meditation; devoutness.

Lots of spiritual food for thought this morning and definitely a practice that will require the help of the Holy Spirit. 

Have a blessed day as you set your affections on Jesus!