Clearing Out The Clutter Isn’t Always As Simple As It Seems
When you hear about clearing out the clutter, the picture that comes to your mind is that of taking things out of the cellar, or the attic, or a kitchen cabinet. It’s very simple to take items from the cellar, toss them on the curb, and have the garbage men haul them away each week.
The clutter in the heart is not so simple, though. You try putting them on the curb, but Satan hauls them back in and there they sit. You try sticking them back in the closet or behind the sofa, but Satan still tosses them in plain view. You know that the clutter is in your way, tripping you up, holding you down, preventing you from fully grasping all that God is promising you.
The way I see my clutter is this: Satan is trying desperately to keep me from God, and by surrounding me with this clutter in my way, I become distracted and forget to practice simple daily Godly living. You know, things like prayer time, Bible reading, praise & worship, and fellowship.
Today I have spent a lot of time taking care of the physical clutter. I feel that by removing the physical distractions in front of me, I can better see the spiritual benefits that are hiding just behind that pile of clutter. By removing piles of papers, mountains of books, unwanted and unneeded things, I am freeing up time and space. Time to pray, time to read, time to reflect. By having less to clean up, I can spend more time in things that matter most.
My faith, my family, and my friends.
Blessings to you!
June 5th, 2009 at 8:11 pm
Keeping my home clutter free is always a challeng for me. I tend to hold on to things instead of properly organizing or getting rid of them. If I’m not careful, just as you said, I’ll hold onto hurt and anger, creating a barrier-sin- between myself and God as well as others. Thanks for reminding me how much I need Jesus.
August 5th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
I found this post today, when I needed it most. Sometimes what we think is going to be a “quick read” settles into our hearts and hits home. I see the clutter around me daily. Now I know that it’s connected to the clutter in my heart. A good, physical “tidy up” will also do wonders for your emotional and spiritual well-being. Thanks for sharing this insight Jen.