The spring cleaning bug hit me again last week. The time when I admitted things really needed cleaning, and I could put it off no longer. Many areas screamed for my attention, but my closet called the loudest. 

I opened the door and wondered, not for the first time, how one person needed so many clothes. Time to purge. My rule for the cleansing was simple: if it hadn’t been worn in the last year, out it went. Easy, right?

But as I rifled through the clothes, I fought the urge to keep something because I might lose those extra few pounds and be able to wear it again. If it didn’t fit now, chances were it never would. Sad, but true. And what about the clothes with price tags still hanging from a sleeve or neckline? If I hadn’t pulled the tags off, I probably never would. Onto the donate pile. Then, I faced the maybe-it-will-come-back-in-fashion pile. Chances were it would disintegrate before that happened. 

The spring cleaning of my closet reminded me of some verses in Colossians about renewing myself. What was still hanging in my spiritual closet that I needed to purge?

So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

~Colossians 3:1-2 CSB

Like the clothes hanging in the closet that were no longer in fashion, my mindset also needed to reflect my new nature. I needed to fix it on unchanging things above, not on the world’s whims. But how?

Focusing on and studying the Bible, praying, and worshipping with other believers were a few ways that came to mind. If I thought about such things, my outlook would change to an up-look. I needed to clear my head of worldly noise to hear the heavenly music. 

For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

~Colossians 3:3-4 CSB

I needed to anchor my mind in Christ, the one who provided my identity. Like the clothes that no longer fit, my old nature no longer fits who I am in Christ. My clothes may reflect what I want to present to the world, but my behavior reflects whom I want to present. Can someone tell by observing my behavior that I am a child of God? Do I favor my Father spiritually?

Therefore, put to death what belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry. 

~Colossians 3:5-9 CSB 

Hanger after hanger held old clothes that I no longer wore. Some were in such bad shape that I should no longer wear them. Why did I hold onto them? Those clothes no longer looked good on me.

Likewise, the old earthly nature no longer looked good on the new me in Christ. We are told to put to death what belongs to the earthly nature. If I put those attributes to death, they should no longer be present. Like the old clothes, I must throw them out and not let them sneak back into my closet. They needed to be gone, even if I must purge them daily.

Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. 

~Colossians 3:12-13 CSB

Once my closet was clean, it looked a little bare. The temptation to sneak back in some pieces loomed. My solution was to remove the purged items from my presence and replace them with better choices. Clothes that looked like me. Also, removing the bad pieces allowed me to see what good ones I might wear. My spiritual closet also needed refilling with attitudes and actions resembling Christ. When I remove the earthly parts, the Christ-like parts can shine. 

Think of some attitudes and actions to purge from your closet. 

Lord, please help me to daily remove those parts of me that do not reflect You to those around me. 

Genre: Non-fiction

Copyright 2025: Spring Cleaning: Sharon Davis: All Rights Reserved