3:199 – Purge the Clutter

#faithbites #faithjourney #clutter

Setting

Maybe I have a little Marie Kondo in me, but lately, I’ve felt the need to clear out the clutter. If it doesn’t bring me joy, away it goes. Last week we had our city bulk collection and we threw out a ton of stuff from the garage. Could I have sold some of it? Maybe. But if I haven’t in 10+ years, am I really going to get around to it now? Today, I cleaned out my office storage cabinet and tossed almost a full garbage bag full of old parts and cables away. Will I need something in the future? Possibly, but if I haven’t needed it in 10+ years, it’s not going to happen soon.

We all have clutter in our life that we need to purge. It may not be boxes and cables but people, activities, and attitudes. Spending too much time on social media? Maybe you need to clean out your feed or step away. Making yourself so busy that you are burned out? You might need to stop doing a few activities. Focusing on the wrong areas of your life? Maybe you need to turn it over to God and ask for his direction.

How will you look at the clutter in your life?

Scripture

• Ecclesiastes 3:6 – A time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
• Luke 12:15 – And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
• Hebrews 12:1 – Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

Reflection

Today’s verses really hit home. In Ecclesiastes we see that there is a time for everything, including getting new and casting away. You may have purchased or inherited something that brought you joy but no longer does. This could be a thing or an attitude. Today may be the day that you’ve outgrown it and it is cluttering your life. Castaway.  In Luke, we see that having a lot of stuff, could lead to covetousness, which is a sin and takes us away from the Lord. Then finally, in Hebrews, we see that we need to set aside anything that ways us down. Our stuff, our sin, our bad attitudes, all of these are weighing on our hearts and minds. When we are overburdened we can’t walk, we can’t run, and we can fly on eagle’s wings. (Isaiah 30:31) 

Throwing away our physical clutter is much easier than making a change in behavior. One suggestion I heard, was writing that behavior or attitude down, crumpling it up and throwing it away or burning it. It’s a physical act to remind us that we need to change. As we live in Christ, we are a new creation. (2 Corinthians 5:17). 

Are you ready to declutter your life and make a change? I am! 

Challenge

Find one piece of clutter and throw it away. It can be physical or mental. If it’s physical get rid of it. If it’s mental, cast it on Jesus. Ask for forgiveness and help. He will cleanse you of that burden and make you whole. Then the next day, do this again. Slowly and with baby steps, declutter your life and walk without a heavy burden.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, your people are carrying so much clutter. You don’t want us to live like this. Let us see what things are just stopping us from being the servants you want us to be. Help us throw away these things, these behaviors, and move forward. We want to be light and soar on eagles wings. Remind us that we don’t need to use these things as a crutch or for support, that we have your everlasting love, forgiveness, and comfort. Be with us, Lord. In your Blessed name, Amen.