Before we get into actual de-cluttering of our life and home, we are going to be honest about our justification of what we allow in our minds, lives and homes. You cannot lose the mess and stress until you stop justifying everything.
For example, a student failed a test. She knew she would be having the test, but after failing it completely blamed the teacher. She said it was not her fault because the teacher did not teach. The question I asked: if she had a book and notes to study. She said yes but chose not to use them. So can she justify failing because she did not have the best teacher, but had all the resources?
A young wife and mom becomes addicted to a TV show about a young single woman. The young woman is living what looks to be the perfect life. She has the cutest and most romantic boyfriend. She is a successful business woman. She spends every night going out and having fun. The young mom never misses an episode and talks about the character all the time like she is a real person. The mom says there is no harm in this show. She justifies watching it because it comes on at 7 p.m. and nothing bad comes on that early. But eventually she is dressing like the character and starts acting like her. Sadly, she eventually even falls for a man and cheats on her husband. After months of justifying the show and denying the effects, her whole life fell apart.
A family has a dream of owning a home. They want a home with lots of room. Due to the easiness of qualifying for a mortgage they buy their dream home even though they know it is really more than they can afford. They justify by saying they will be making more next year or they will use it to serve God by opening it to others. Once they have the home they run up credit cards to buy all new furniture. They justify it again. Now they can never enjoy their home because they are stressing on how to pay all the bills.
A person looks at pornography on the computer. He justifies it as a moment of weakness. A couple years later looks at it again justifying it to himself as a result of stress. But this time a job is lost because of the addiction.
A house is covered in laundry and clutter. In some rooms you can barely walk. A stay at home mom justifies not picking up because she needs to be with the kids. But she watches every Soap Opera that comes on TV.
Credit Card debt is now higher than their income. They are continuing to spend money on things for themselves and for others. They never take the time to have a budget. They live beyond their means. They justify it because they are buying all this stuff because it makes them and their kids happy. Yet they are so miserable now because of the financial stress.
A sixteen year old kid decides after growing up in church, he will no longer go. The parent blames the youth minister for not reaching out enough. But the parent has not one time in sixteen years prayed with their child or spent anytime developing their child's spiritual walk.
All of the above stories are true. I could give a name or names to each of them. You may be able to give names to some of them. It may be your own name.
I share each of the stories for a reason. We as a society have become professionals on justifying our actions. We justify so we do not have to admit we have made a bad choice. We all make bad choices. We have made choices based on what the world says is ok, not God. That alone has become our biggest justification.
I plead with you to not justify anymore actions as we continue to de-clutter. Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit not the lies of the enemy. If you are making an excuse in your head why it is ok to watch a show full of sex scenes then you are trying to justify your actions. If it requires an excuse then you probably need to stop or change what you are doing.
Go back over the questions and the last blog. Choose not to justify, but listen to God and His truth. And the next couple of blogs do the same. Maybe you need to go back and read more again because you were justifying your actions and thoughts.
We must choose to stop justifying and stop this cycle. The next generation has already started justifying their actions, thoughts and even disrespect. If it is not Christ like we cannot justify it any more. And praise God for shedding his blood so we may be forgiven and for His grace.
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