Getting Our Homes in Order

“Let all things be done decently and in order.” 1Corinthians 14:40

Order is an elusive word that slips off my tongue and right through my hands. Most days, my plans for orderliness go great. Other days, they go crazy, fade from view, fall behind and flat-out fail. I’ve misplaced my phone, keys, lists and priorities. I’ve tripped over dog toys, dust bunnies and stray shoes (all in one day). In my defense, getting a home in order is harder than it sounds and today’s hindrances don’t make it easier.

I’m usually an organized person. Some say, I’m an “obsessively compulsive” and annoying planner (no names mentioned to protect the guilty). But, imagine, what would happen if I didn’t try to keep some balance in my life? Dysfunction, drama and disorder could destroy me. After all, I’m only human and dust bunnies scare me when they jump out from under the bed!

Fighting Disorder

Sadly, the world appears to be in complete and irreparable disarray with no shortage of disorder. Many hours are spent fighting just to keep our heads, hearts, health and homes in order. Today’s battles are seriously requiring us to acknowledge and accept our roles in the disorder while showing us that some situations are out of our control no matter how hard we fight or how organized we are.

Fighting for Order

Since God likes things done, “decently and in order” as it says in 1 Corinthians 14:40, how do we overcome the disorder? Maybe we could start fighting for order where we stand with the resources God has given us.

Stop and look around you. Do you see anything out of order in your space? Like your:

• Spiritual Life
• Health & Diet
• Attitude
• Habits
• Relationships
• Budget
• Schedule
• Dishes
• Laundry
• Papers
• Electronics
• Social Media
• Furnishings
• Hobbies

The New Year is a great time to start over. But without a plan in place to make the necessary changes, nothing will change. That is a 100% guarantee. We can make messes without thinking, but we won’t clean up our messes without putting some thought into it.

Unlimited tips and tools for cleaning, cooking, decluttering, simplifying, minimizing, organizing, creating comfort or conquering a crisis are available online and in print. However, if we don’t apply the knowledge acquired from them, they won’t help. We can buy all the pretty planners, file folders, baskets and organizers we can afford. But, when they sit next to our closets and on top of our piles of stuff, they only add more disorder to our disorganized hoarding. 

Keeping order takes consistent effort no matter how difficult or easy the seasons, situations or struggles, and I’ve learned that the four hardest tasks we face are:

1. Getting on God’s page – following His plan.

2. Getting a plan in place – choosing a system that works best for us.
3. Getting up and going – stopping procrastination.
4. Getting the job done – working until order is achieved.

God created everything with order and gave us the ability to keep it that way. Disorder comes when we stray from His plan.

“For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace,
as in all churches of the saints.” 1Corinthians 14:33

Bring It Home

What are we willing to do to get our homes in better order today?

Praying for you as we grow together,

Smiles, BRC