Gò0dNews from the Pastor’s Desk
Cleaning House
D
by Danny Hesterly
o you have any old, dusty boxes that need to be
and trying to figure out how to make 2100 square feet of
thrown out?
stuff fit into a 900-square-foot apartment, I came to the
A couple of months ago, my family moved
conclusion that some of these boxes wouldn’t make the
out of a 2100-square-foot home and into a 900-square-foot
transition to our new place and needed to be thrown out.
apartment. Needless to say, it has been quite the transition
Psalm 139:23-24 says, “Search me, O God, and know
for us all. My two kiddos are sharing a room, and I can
my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out
cook an omelet, wash dishes, and do the laundry—without
anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path
moving a foot. Our family is happy: a little smooshed, but
of everlasting life.”
we are finding wonderful contentment in the season God has us in.
This first part, “Search me, O God, and know my heart…” is a constant prayer of mine. I know there are things in my spiritual life that need daily attention, but it’s easy for my days to get busy, and I lose focus on those spiritual matters. So what happens is they get neglected, and things that are neglected often are forgotten… …until I ask the Lord to reveal those things that are unpleasing to Him, those offenses that lay in the shadows. God is amazing; He gently reveals these old, dusty boxes that haven’t been opened in a while and asks me to take a look and see what needs to be thrown out. Here’s the wonderful part of it: even though it never feels great in the moment—realizing that there are sins, character issues, or behaviors that sadden God—He never grows tired of helping me clean out the clutter to create more
The process of moving is almost unbearable. For those who have moved multiple times, you know and feel my
space for His love, grace, and joy to abide. Let me ask you a question. What dusty, old boxes in
pain. I would rather be covered in honey and have a pack
your spiritual life need to be examined and thrown out?
of wild hyenas chase me than go through the process of
Today, God wants to gently look into your heart. He wants
packing and unpacking (I’m kidding…I can tend to be a
to take out the unnecessary things you’ve been carrying
little dramatic at times).
around. He will take the empty space that’s created and fill
In my previous home, there was a nice-sized room in the garage that housed all the unpacked boxes from
it with more of Him. Take a moment and ask God to search your heart. Trust me: you’ll be glad you asked Him.
been moved three to four times AND STILL HAD THE ORIGINAL PACKAGING TAPE! As I was looking through
6 // June 2020
About The Author
our previous moves. Some of these old, dusty boxes had Danny Hesterly is the executive pastor at City Church Chattanooga. He’s married to his lovely bride, Erin and together they have two wonderful kiddos: Micah and Ava.
