The 5S Method

I took a continuous development class at work called “5S” and it dealt with ways to organize your space. I’ve always maintained an organized workspace but oddly enough I can’t say the same for my personal space, so I was excited to learn a new technique. Here are the 5 S’s from the class:


1. Sort – distinguish any unneeded items and remove them
2. Set in Order – keep needed items in their correct place
3. Shine – make things clean and remove all that hinders visibility
4. Standardize – create a consistent way of implementing tasks
5. Sustain – maintain & consistently apply established procedures

This is great stuff! I’ve already started putting some of this into practice. As I review each step, I can’t help but relate this to my spiritual walk also:

1. Sort – evaluate your heart, mind, and life to determine unnecessary emotions, practices, mindsets, habits, and even people, and remove them. Galatians 5:24 – And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

2. Set in Order – prioritize your priorities – the Christian walk isn’t about self promotion, it’s about lifting Christ on high so others may follow Him. Luke 9:23: “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”

3. Shine – make an effort to cleanse and purify yourself, removing anything that hinders visibility. What is it that stands between you and God? God calls us to be holy as He is holy and He calls us to be the light of the world. Matthew 5:14-16 – You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

4. Standardize – create a consistent way of living the Christian life. Studying God’s word, praying daily, assembling yourself with other saints, serving others, paying tithes…these are practices that every believer should adopt – a standard – as they continue their relationship with Christ.

5. Sustain – Isn’t it great to know that God will sustain you? That you’re not in this alone? God has promised throughout his Word to sustain us. Webster’s Dictionary lists four basic definitions for sustain:

a. To support weight/To bear a burden: Matthew 11: 28-30 – Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light!

b. To endure suffering without yielding/To keep going: Only two words needed here: THE CROSS!

c. To supply necessities/To provide: Philippians 4:19 – And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

d. To uphold as valid/To confirm: Romans 5:1-2 – Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

As a born again believer, we have a responsibility to crucify our flesh daily, deny ourselves & follow Christ, strive for holiness, and consistently keep up the practices of our faith but Jesus promises to support us and provide for us as well us uphold us before the Father!