On Facebook last week we talked about losing 20 pounds in a few days by purging some of the stuff that is crowding out our living spaces and weighing us down.  It feels great to get rid of stuff (to donate, toss, or sell our excess), very freeing.

This morning as I was reading “Our Daily Bread” devotional (by RBC ministries) they were talking about purging sin from our lives.  Hmm, now that is a kind of purge that is long lasting, from here to eternity.  So, I ask- what bad habits, behaviors, or hangups (a.k.a. SIN) do you need to be purged of?

Over the past few years God has pointed out a sin problem with my words- criticism, gossip, negativity, speaking in anger (all around yuck coming out of my mouth).  He has given me a lot of help and victory in this area, but I have a long way to go too.  As of late I have been feeling pretty good about how this stuff has been improving and then, boom- there it was again… I was not feeling good, annoyed with someone’s attitude towards me and I let it fly, an angry rebuke.

To be honest it felt good at the time, releasing my built-up frustration and feeling justified in my rant and confrontation.  Then, I shared what had happened with the hubby and he quickly helped me see that my harshness and response was not okay.  Now enters..correction, conviction, humility.  Not comfortable companions, but ones that produce further refinement and help the lesson go down deep.

So, I need to ask God to keep purging the nasty fruits of unkindness, pride, and judgement from my life.  This one life that He has given, the one life I have to get to know Him- love and live for Him (with His help of course).

The fruits of kindness, humility, and grace are what I desire to grow in the place of the purged old fruits- the ones that try to hide and stick around and show up and stink strong at the most inopportune times.

Instead of being weighed down by these stinky fruits and their effects- today I will ask Him to keep working in these new healthy, vibrant fruits in my life.  Knowing, this purging/pruning process may hurt at times, but it will product fruit that lasts; sweet and attractive…pleasant aroma to Him, to those around me, to myself.

I like to be deep, spiritual, and to ask probing questions.  While this approach can produce fruit and has its place… so does laughter, play and fun.  I am thankful to my hubby who keeps me much more balanced than I would be on my own.  He helps me not to take myself too seriously, to take people at their word, and to enjoy this dance of life as more of a hip hop freestyle than a strict ballet routine.  In light of this, I thought it would be beneficial to share a video that we made together that addresses this topic of purging sin from our lives (this video was made to summarize the book of Colossians).

As we begin 2012 let’s ask God to help us purge spiritually-

Put off the old life; old ways, our ways
Put on the new life; new ways, His ways

Colossians 1:11 “May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.  He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

Thank You Jesus Your beautiful, powerful, fragrant grace.