"Cleaning House"

In the back of my Bible I have notes I made over 1o years ago. It is under the title "Cleaning House" and it is not in reference to actually cleaning it. Instead, I had read some excellent material regarding cleaning out our home of things that do not please the Lord. Things that He even deems detestable. I used these verses as I went through our family inventory:

"I will walk in my house with blameless heart. I will set before my eyes no vile thing." Psalm 101:3

"Do not bring a detestable thing into your house or you, like it, will be set apart for destruction. Utterly abhor it and detest it, for it is set apart for destruction." Deuteronomy 7:26

"Let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God." 2 Corinthians 7:1

"Dear children, keep yourself from idols" 1 John 5:21

"The Lords curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous." Proverbs 3:33

"I will be careful to lead a blameless life--when will you come to me? " Psalm 101:2

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Phillipians 4:8




These verses aided me as I went through things such as:

1. Books, magazines
2. Art, personal pictures
3. Videos
4. Music
5. Toys
6. Miscellaneous (or things the Lord points out to you, that you would otherwise miss)
7. Anything immodest
8. Inappropriate clothing

I looked for evil themes, suggestive themes, anything that was anti-God in philosophy and I must tell you that 14 years ago I threw out tons of bags of things. Things that I never even thought I would throw out, got thrown out! Did I miss those things? Not one bit! And what I found even more interesting was that it felt great to do it, like a burden lifted off of me and my home. Now we were 'free' to start over---my daughter (only Janai) at the time would not have to be subjected to all the things the Lord would not want her to be through things in her home---the place where she was to be nurtured and cultivated into God-fearing adult. Now she wouldn't grow up in an atmosphere that would work directly against what we were trying to sow into her life.


I replaced all those things with what would inspire---dolls that were modest, music that exalted God, clothes that suggested purity and were feminine, books that taught character, challenged the mind and supported Scripture, movies that were educational. Things that even reminded me of my sinful past I threw out---I was no longer that person anymore--I was a new creation in Christ and I was going to begin this new journey 'fresh' with Him.

It took several months to thoroughly go through everything, this is still something that needs to be done periodically because somehow little things still find their way in. But I am so happy the way things are now, I would never go back to the way we were. I continually strive to make our home a place that honors the Lord by guarding and 'cleaning' my house. I believe if we are faithful in this type of 'house cleaning' along with our daily household management, and watching over other area's that Proverbs 31:27 is accomplished in it's fullest and God-glorifying sense:

"She watches over the affairs of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness."