You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV)
In the kitchen, my utensil drawer was stuck shut again. I jiggled and yanked the handle, finally releasing whatever had blocked it. Staring at the jumbled contents, I sighed. All I needed was the ice cream scoop. Shuffling through various wooden spoons, silicone spatulas, and stainless-steel knives—each created for only one purpose—my fingertips found the familiar rubberized handle. Now to work it free from the tangled mass.
That drawer, with all its useful and helpful items, sometimes reminds me of the way life can get cluttered with busywork. Like the garlic press I recently purchased, I always find ways to cram one more volunteer opportunity or social engagement into my week. Sometimes I lose track of the point. Why am I doing it and who am I doing it for? With my focus split in a hundred directions, none of these things bring me—or others—closer to Jesus. I’ve emptied the drawer, carefully selecting the utensils I’ll keep and which to donate. Now I’ll be able to find what I need with ease.
I’m doing the same with my free time. Things that distract me from Jesus or from serving Him better will be removed. Psalm 27:8 reminds me, “You have said, ‘Seek my face.’ My heart says to you, ‘Your face, LORD, do I seek’ (ESV). I want to declutter my soul, to seek Him with all my heart and find Him, and to reach for Him and recognize His touch deep inside.
FAITH STEP: Pick a cluttered drawer in your home and clear the unnecessary items from it. Now apply the same principle to your life. Remove the distractions and seek Jesus.
