Ephesians 4: 31-32 “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

I needed a paper clip, so I opened the drawer and began my search. You know what drawer I’m talking about: THE JUNK DRAWER! I would imagine ninety-nine percent of you reading this right now have a junk drawer. (You other one percent come from alien DNA that I cannot, nor ever will, understand.)

The impossibility of finding anything useful in that drawer made me realize it was time for a purge. Assuming paper clips would certainly have fallen to the bottom of this great abyss, I began excavating items. It did not take me long to determine most of what I had was rubbish.

I pulled the trash can close and began tossing out items deemed useless and broken: corroded batteries, handfuls of dry-rotted rubber bands, keys unlocking homes from our distant past, and remote controls to televisions buried in the city dump. (just to name a few!) Once the purge was complete, useless contents were hauled away. Plenty of room was now available for useful items, like my paper clips.

As I discarded the contents of the drawer, my thoughts turned to the scripture above. (I mean, you gotta think of something worthwhile when tackling unpleasant tasks, right?) Is it possible, Sisters, our hearts are like that junk drawer? Do we allow old, damaged, and hurtful emotions to pile up within us, granting them a protective space? Within the recesses of our hearts, do ancient grudges, broken relationships, and unprocessed anger sit side by side with a big heap of stubbornness and unforgiveness?
If so, pull the trash can close and as the scripture says, get rid of ALL of it. Discover the joy of refilling your soul with items useful for God’s Kingdom. Opting for kindness leads us to reach out to those in need. Reserving a section for tenderness allows compassion to dictate the way we respond to others. Making sure forgiveness claims its space gives us a chance to mend broken relationships.

Once you have tackled the infamous junk drawer, you will discover the peace and joy that comes from being organized. (along with a plethora of paper clips!) But Sisters, oh what greater blessings are to be discovered when we dig deep within our hearts and cast out ALL that hinders us from having the heart God desires.

Father God, help us rid our lives of all forms of malice and fill our hearts with You.

Blessings,

Rita Cochrane