Looking Inward

If we don't give attention to those things that need changing we can end up spiraling out of control.

Some time ago I read a blog called "Deep Cleaning the Heart" I thought then how both timely and eye-opening it was for something I was facing in my life. Let me tell you, while interesting, it wasn't something I was crazy about in its conviction of me. However, because I wanted to see what the ending was, I read on. Once finished, I understood the why behind the concept of a deep cleaning of our hearts.

Do you ever question why so many things happen to us in life? Those things others do to us and those things we do to ourselves. Sure you do! At some point in each of our lives we have asked the "why me" question. Usually it comes at a point where we feel we've gotten a good handle on life and it's running smoothly. However, that is quite often the time when something else crops up that requires our attention -- The deep cleaning of our heart!

"Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me – watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” — Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG)

If we don't give attention to those things that need changing, need attending to, need healing, and need resolution, we can end up spiraling out of control. I don't know about you but I've done this. I've ignored things in life going on hoping for them to get better or resolve on their own. I have to tell you that it absolutely does not work. The "ignorance is bliss" phrase is false. Those problems just get bigger and more in your face until they or you simply become uncontrollable, very often occurring when we have let our guard down and attempt to live our lives rolling merrily along!

Perhaps looking at ourselves from a deep, internal, and inwardly perspective and truly seeing ourselves as God sees us can be quite a difficult task. The things we go through can have their way of placing a cloud of untruths over our lives in turn giving us the belief ("those untruths") we see in and of ourselves. When there are things we don't like about ourselves and our lives, it takes on connotations of doubt and worry if we are truly worthy in the eyes of God. Feeling very less than, in one too many areas, ends up taking root. We become more critical of and harder on ourselves than any other individual in the world can be towards us and in turn our finding value and worth often fall to the bottom of our list.

A journey to know who we are, in the eyes of our Heavenly Father, is necessary to take in order for us to find peace, forgiveness, grace, healing, mercy, and love. This journey - the one we are all on - requires a "deep cleaning of our heart!"