Don’t worry, this isn’t a post on saving trees or holding your breath lest you add to the greenhouse effect. I’m talking about your more immediate environment. Our physical, emotional, and spiritual environments affect us more than we realize. For example, I used to keep my desk in our living room. Having so many small children it just made sense. I could use my “command center” without leaving the main living area because we all know what happens when mom steps out of the room for a moment!
When I decided to start writing however, I knew I would never be able to concentrate while in the midst of boisterous family life. My walk-in closet is finished doing double duty as a nursery, so I moved my desk in there. I was surprised how great my “writing studio” felt and I am encouraged and comfortable when I sit down at my computer.
Just like our physical environment, our internal emotional environment can affect us. If we are allowing our negative emotions to rule us, our environment will lack peace. I want my home to be a place of encouragement and laughter. I want to smile at my children and give out lots of hugs. I find when I focus on being grateful for the gifts God has given me it is so much easier to do these things.
Our spiritual environment, our hearts and souls, are the most important environments to change. When I allow my heart to soften towards God and His best for me, I am transformed. I am a control freak by nature so for a long time I tried to change my heart and soul on my own. It never worked. When I finally surrendered to God’s grace and amazing love, my internal spiritual environment changed. In some areas it changed so much that I no longer recognized myself! In other areas it is an ongoing process. I have to remember to let God refashion my heart after His every day. I am encouraged to do this when I think of David in the Bible, who even though he is called a man after God’s own heart spends pages in the Psalms writing of the journey of his own continuing heart transformation.
As we move into the new year I pray that you will feel empowered to change your own environment!
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” David in Psalm 51:10
For a link on how to create a clutter-free workspace click here!
Happy Friday. Best Wishes for a great week end
Thank you! You too
Thank you for the helpful link. You are the queen of scheduling ahead. It is helpful to schedule our priorities. I hope to apply this more this year. John Piper once said, “Bible before breakfast” and it changed my life.