Cleaning Out for a Fresh Start
New Beginnings. A New Start for all of us in 2026. Well, that’s my mindset, what’s yours in regard to a New Year?
I’ve been enthusiastic to clean up around the house (and not only because we had more visitors over during the Christmas/ Holiday Season.) I’ve been cleaning out my wardrobe. Getting rid of the high heels that I can no longer wear. The clothes that no longer fit or I have not worn in such a long time and don’t see myself wearing them in the foreseeable future. Both items, the shoes and clothes, are first offered to family members who are the same size. Then those left are packaged up and given to the charities that can resell them or give them away to those in need.
I’ve been cleaning out my bedside drawers, my desk at work, the linen closet, anything that has been sitting still for a while.
Then I have become reflective. Thinking over areas in my personal life that need cleaning, refreshing, renewing. Like my prayer life. My scripture study part of life. Trying to make some changes that will improve my productivity. But more so trying to make changes that prioritise my relationship with God as important. Number One. So, the time and effort I put into Him outweighs anything else that I do.
This means a change in my focus and thoughts first thing in the morning. Not listening to the daily News until I have listened to His Daily Word.
A change in the time I spend on my phone, on my computer, compared to the time I spend in His Word.
Over the years I have felt this “cleaning out” as chores. I have procrastinated so much to avoid doing this “cleaning”. But this year this “cleaning” is refreshing me. I’m driven to do it like I never have before. I feel like as I am getting older, if I’m not careful, I will run out of time. How much time do I have left to do the “good works” God has laid out just for me to do?
As stated in Ephesians
For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.
Ephesians 2:10 NRSV
We all need to discover what is our “good works” and then have the time and effort available to do them, knowing that God is helping us always along the way.
So, what are you going to be doing this year? What are your good works set aside just for you from the Lord? Or have you not thought about it?
Emma, Brigette, the Heart Team and I wish you and yours every blessing this year and pray that God reveals to you the good works He has set aside for you.
May these jottings from my journal inspire you to believe in and fall in love with Christ- the hope of the world, as stated in Jeremiah 17:7, ‘Blessed is the man who believes and trusts in and relies on the Lord and whose hope and confident expectation is the Lord!’
Love
Rosemary
Every week groups of ladies meet together to chat about the things I raise in my weekly blog post and to chat about life in general. We call these ‘Heart Connect’ groups.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Have you started the year with a clean out? Is it your heart or your home?
Do you use a different time of year to approach a cleant out of your heart?
What “Good works” do you believe that God has set aside for you this year? What are you going to do to achieve them or to discover them?
8 Comments
Mary-Ann
Thank you Rosemary. Confirmation that all you said is the same for me at the moment . I’ve actually taken an extra week off to clean my house. I too reflected on my life and aging and what that means. Things beyond necessities are not a priority. I want the Lord as the centre of my life.
Thank you for sharing . Blessings to the team for 2026 .
Valerie Lack
Heart for me. At 83 years of age I don’t know how much longer I have here on this mortal coil. At the most 20. My heart needs the most attention, I feel as if I may not have enough time to clear it out. There are so many areas within the heart, which need addressing.
Pretty much all year, is spring cleaning.
Just to keep an eye out for all those around me who might need a helping hand. Many neighbours who are similar ages to me, who are not as fortunate as me health wise.
And how blessed am I. I took a tumble, had an argument with a pavement on Saturday and despite having ten stitches to the head there were no breaks just skin off here and there. I am positive that God was with me and saved me from what could have been a lot worse.
So grateful and thankful to my great and Good God.
Rosemary Downes
Oh dear Valerie, thank goodness no broken bones- yes the Lord was looking after you! We all need to look at our hearts and make sure they are turned over to our loving God to transform.
Valerie Simms
Thank you Rosemary for this important comment about putting our Lord God FIRST rather than the Daily News!!! YES I believe I/ we need to clean our hearts first, then put our hearts into action!!! The Daily News can be important only if we pray for the troubles we are facing in the world BUT OUR LORD IS FIRST!!!… I have it on my heart Rosemary to help those who are poor and in need. I will continue to pray to our Lord God Jesus as to guide me to do His Will. At present I am watching a film about the life of Mother Therese of Calcutta, the struggles, the callings the Lord had placed on her heart to do, and her love and compassion she had for those who were starving, sick and abandoned upon the streets of Calcutta in India…This message truly is making me reflect, as to what does our Lord God WANTS ME TO DO!!!…
May our Good Lord bless you, Bruce and all in the ministry ABUNDANTLY!!!
In Christ’s Love
Valerie
Cheryl Wood
Thank you Rosemary for sharing those thoughts and actions. I’m in a similar place. We are preparing for a move and have the perfect opportunity for physical cleaning. Like you, I realize the need to focus on God and His word and letting Him lead the way through everything else.
Have a blessed new year!
Carla Villafana
Hello Rosemary.
Yes. Absolutely God’s word before world news. It is the only way I could possibly survive world news.
Thank you for your message about “house cleaning” our hearts.
Pauline Horne
Hello Rosemary.
I love reading your jottings. Like you and many others I too feel the need to prioritise God before all else, why is it so difficult? Why do things like house work, running errands and almost everything else get in the way? Why is it so difficult. I sometimes think I am putting off hearing what God has to say to me – that handing over the reins of my life is frightening, that Gods plan is different by to mine.
I pray for us all that we find the strength and commitment to trust fully in the Lord and go where He leads
With love and blessings for your good health and continued determination to spread Gods holy word.
Pauline 🤗
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