My kitchen was a catastrophe. Christmas baking had left detritus on every visible surface. The sink was full of dirty dishes, and every countertop was covered with cookie sheets, flour siftings, eggshells, butter wrappers, and dirty mixing bowls and utensils. Just as I had taken each of these items out one by one, I had to clear them away — one by one. I filled the dishwasher, disposed of the garbage, put away my cookbook and other baking items, and wiped down the countertops. It wasn't long until order was restored, and all that remained was a plateful of warm cookies — my reward for an afternoon of hard but pleasurable work.

Life is like this sometimes, isn't it! A difficult life experience can also start in a small way, but little by little, incidents are added until things seem to be out of control, and we have a problem on our hands. James reminds us that words can create difficulties, just as a spark can start a conflagration.

James 3:5 – In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. (NLT)

It then becomes necessary to take steps to deal with the problem. Just as the problem grew from a tiny spark, the problem can be resolved, step by step. A wise piece of advice is to go back to the point where things began to go wrong. By retracing our steps, we can gradually clear away the clutter and confusion and return to a peaceful resolution.

How can this be done? The starting point is to confess any known sin and ask God to forgive us and give discernment in righting any wrongs. This may mean making amends with someone or rectifying an error. When we've done our part to resolve the problem, we can accept God's forgiveness and direction in moving forward.

Let's ask God to make us aware of the messes in life that must be cleared up before they grow out of control. Let's aim to keep our lives clean and clear of the clutter of unresolved sin. Let's clean up the mess.

Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, You know the problems that we create by our carelessness and reluctance to face the truth. May we be willing to face up to our shortcomings honestly and to trust You for forgiveness and guidance in keeping our lives clear of unresolved sin. Amen.