RID YOURSELF OF CLUTTER!

Luke 8:14 AMPC

And as for what fell among the thorns, these are [the people] who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked and suffocated with the anxieties and cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not ripen (come to maturity and perfection).

 

Have you ever had that feeling of being choked by everything around you? Not necessarily a physical choking, but more like an emotional, mental, or spiritual sensation. 

Over this past week, I felt this way—overwhelmed by everything and easily irritated. It felt almost as if someone was physically squeezing me. I realized it was time to make some specific changes: physically removing and changing things, which I did, and mentally rearranging my schedule and activities—which helped a lot.

We all feel this way sometimes, and when we do, we must look around to find the root cause and address it quickly. Otherwise, it becomes dangerous and detrimental to our spiritual growth, progress, and peace. 

To “rid yourself of clutter” means to get rid of things that are unnecessary, messy, or disorganized in your space, life, or mind. It involves clearing out physical items you no longer need or use, and also removing distractions and mental chaos, so you can have a cleaner, more organized, and focused environment or mindset.

Clutter affects our spiritual life, whether we acknowledge it or not. Clutter isn’t just physical—it can be anything from habits to worries, or even busyness and idleness, that choke out spiritual growth as stated in our text. Hebrews 12:1 encourages believers to throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, so we can run with perseverance the race marked out for us. In other words, clearing out both physical and spiritual clutter frees us to follow God's calling.

Perfect peace of mind is promised in Isaiah 26:3—the Lord keeps in perfect peace those whose mind is stayed on Him, because they trust in Him. Sometimes, we complicate our lives by doing more than we should, taking on more than we can bear, and in most cases, things that the Lord hasn’t even asked of us. We add stress, confusion, and unnecessary clutter to our lives and then hold on to them, even when it hurts.

These clutters, sadly, are distractions from the Lord, our calling, and healthy living. Matthew 6:19-21 gives a clear warning about how clutter can affect us, warning us against being overly attached to possessions. Jesus said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth… but store up treasures in heaven… For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Too much “stuff” can pull your focus away from what really matters.

We’ve all heard, “cleanliness is next to godliness”—even though it’s not in the Bible, the idea is actually quite scriptural. When our environment is full of things, our minds and hearts soon follow. When we’re surrounded by clutter, our performance in ways that matter most is restricted. We can’t pray well, we feel stifled, or it can feel like everything is about to fall on us. We keep using things on the surface, and reusing handy things, just to avoid disturbing the piles of stuff threatening to topple over. While we create pile after pile of things we don’t need, this can apply physically, spiritually, in relationships, and especially with material things.

We must learn to take inventory of what—and who—needs to go. A simple life is attractive and freeing. We should always ask the Lord for wisdom on how to have a simpler life. 

Letting go of things that distract us from God’s purpose—including non-essential possessions, old habits, or unhealthy patterns—is one way to do this. 

The Lord wants us to enjoy everything He’s given us, including your day. So, get rid of whatever is clutter, as it helps bring clarity, peace, and efficiency.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS 

- When was the last time you cleaned out old clothes or papers from your room or desk? 

- Are there things around you that may be more useful to others than to you? Would you dare to give them up? 

- Can you recognize and let go of habits or thoughts that make your mind busy or stressed? 

PRAYER: Father, please reveal to me the unnecessary things that I need to declutter from my life and give me the courage to remove them, in Jesus’ name, amen.

https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/womenoflight/episodes/RID-YOURSELF-OF-CLUTTERS-e35om62

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SHALOM

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