Cleaning Out the Fridge

I had to do it.  Today was the day.  I cleaned out the refrigerator.

I always hate cleaning out the fridge.  But, I hate it more when finances are tight (even tighter than normal).  Because, you see, then I know my refrigerator will be empty and I have no money to refill it.  And the mom in me tends to freak out when the fridge is empty.

So, as I was going about the dreaded task, exclaiming to myself how naked it looked without the mystery leftovers and mostly-gone mayonnaise jars, God started speaking to my heart.

(Don’t you just love how He uses the mundane to teach us valuable lessons?!)

God compared throwing out the rotten apples and gooey lettuce to getting rid of sin in our life.  I just had a friend ask me why she couldn’t get past this one besetting sin.  I gave the best answer I had, knowing it probably wasn’t the best answer available.

But God.  (Hehehe.  I LOVE it when He shows up!)

God showed me the parallel.  I hate throwing stuff out of my fridge – even bad stuff – because I’m afraid that it will just be empty when we open it to look for food.  Now, I’m not going to eat the stuff in there.  Some of it would probably make us sick.  But, it comforts me to see something versus nothing.

In the same way, I think we hang onto habits or sins because we have an underlying fear that we will simply be empty when it’s gone.  Lust isn’t love, but it’s better than nothing.  Hurtful friendships seem better than loneliness.  Addictions fill the emptiness that would be there without them.  All these have the same root.  Fear.

Earlier this week, I found a meme on Facebook that stopped me in my tracks.  Here it is….

I know.  It says worry and not fear.  But, I believe fear comes from the same place.  We worry – or fear – that if we let go of what we’re holding onto, God won’t truly meet us.

I just don’t believe that’s true.

Jeremiah 29:13 says, “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” 

Now, the question is this.  Is God enough?

I think the answer lies in Galatians 5:16-24:

¹⁶ But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. ¹⁹ Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, ²¹ envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. ²⁴ Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Look at the list of the deeds of the flesh.  Do any of those really look appealing?  Not to me.  Especially when compared to what is available when we submit to God and do away with the fleshly desires.  I will take love, joy and peace over enmities, strife and jealously all day long!

So.  What’s in your fridge?  Have you been trusting God to put good fruit in it or are you filling it with moldy leftovers?  If you’re concerned about the answer, talk to Jesus about it.  He never reveals a thing to you without the intention of helping you through it.  And, I guarantee you’ll enjoy the sweet fruit of Jesus much better than the sin that tried to take it’s place!

O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!  Proverbs 34:8

Be blessed and tell someone you love them!