ASK #013 - Uncluttered

 written:  December 18th, 2021

Uncluttered

More often than not these days especially near the holidays we seem to be too busy.  With the hustle and bustle of the holidays starting at the end of October it is go go go time.  From Halloween to Thanksgiving to Christmas and New Years.  But is this what is best for our lives?  Are we focusing on what is important if everything seems so busy.  Running from store to store, shopping online…trying to find just the perfect gift, trying  to keep up and “give” in comparison to what you believe you will receive.  When has the holiday time transformed from the heart to trying to keep up with your neighbor?

When has the focus of the holidays switched from that of family time, enjoying one another's company to feeling bad, down and guilty for not being able to keep up with others.  

Giving is supposed to be that of a heart gift.  Afterall our best example of this type of giving comes from our Heavenly Father.  He gave from the heart.  He gave His ONLY son to die for us.  It is not about the hubbub and how much financial debt you can occur to make others happy.  That only leads to stress, anxiety and feelings of loneliness.  

So why do we do it you ask?  Why do you feel the need to give to the point of causing anxiety and stress?

I am reminded of the song Uncluttered by Gwen Smith

Another day of way too much to do another list of things I can't get to

Feel like i'm running

But i'm losing ground

Never quite enough of me to go around

If I could strain away the noise

Of all the voices calling me

I will run into the silence where I could hear God speak

So I'm cleaning out some closets, tearing down some walls, 

things I’ve never needed that've been there way too long

Give myself completely nothing in between

That's the kind of love he has for me 

cause I want my love for him to always be

Uncluttered

If faith is just believing with the heart

Then tell me why sometimes it seems so hard

I know that I trust him and live like its true

But still I wonder if there's more that I can do

I wanna understand his ways

I wanna follow in his steps

So daily I surrender

Until there's nothing left

So i'm cleaning out some closets

Tearing down some walls, things I've never needed

Been there way too long

Give myself completely

With nothing in between

That's the kind of love he has for me cause 

I want my love for him to always be

Uncluttered

Another day of way too much to do…feeling a sense of running but not going anywhere.  There is so much pulling on us one way then another.  So much noise that we get suckered into the wrong ways and deception of the enemy.  He is the head of fear, inadequacies, anxiety and a sense of loss.  

But Christ is the conqueror of these feelings of fear, inadequacies, anxiety, and a sense of loss.  He gives us a sense of acceptance, security, and significance.  God wants us to declutter our mind, heart and spirit.  

He tells us that we are a Child of God (John 1:12)

We are bought with a price (! Corinthians 6:19-20)

We are complete in Christ (Colossians 2:10)

We are confident that the good work God has begun in us will be perfected.(Plillipians 1:6)

We have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7)

We have been chosen to and appointed to bear fruit (John 15:16)

We are God’s temple (1 Corinthians 3:16)

We can do all things thru Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13)

God has called us to be His hands and feet.  We are to speak His Word to the nations.  But how are we to do that if we allow the hustle and bustle of the world to clutter our hearts, souls, minds and spirits.  We are called according to His purpose to carry out His will.  When we unclutter our minds we are able to focus on what is important…the will of Christ.

We are to live our lives as children of the light.

Uncluttering Our Minds

When we clutter our lives it shows that we are being drawn into the consumer culture of  “MORE STUFF” is better.   However God wants our hearts, souls, minds and spirits to be uncluttered.  

Ephesians 4:31-32 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

 

How to Declutter our Soul

1.  Take inventory of your life

• Isaiah 1:18  “‘Come now, let us settle the matter,’ says the Lord. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.’”

• Matthew 10:9-10 Jesus sent the disciples out without any money or spare clothes.

• God wants us to declutter our lives and not have anything in excess to draw us from Him and His word.

2. Get rid of regrets.  Regrets hold us to the past and don’t allow us to fully declutter and move on.

• Acts 3:19 (NIV) Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,

• 1 John 1:9 (NIV) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

• God wants us to repent our sins and to confess whatever is making us feel shame, guilt, and regret.

3. Don’t set unhealthy goals

• Psalm 20:4  May He give you the desires of your heart and make all your plans succeed.

• Psalm 33:11 But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.

• God has a purpose and a plan for our lives.  All we need to do is reach out to Him in prayer and ask Him to guide our goal setting.

4. Purge unhealthy relationships

• In Luke chapter 14 He (Jesus) told His followers that taking up the cross might require them to “declutter” their relationships and leave behind family members.  

• 1 Corinthians 15:33 (ESV) Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”

• Proverbs 13:20 (ESV)Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.

• It is important to God to be in good company.  A toxic relationship brings negativity and pain to those in it.  We need to pray and trust that God will continually help us to grow in consistently loving one another very deeply, in encouraging one another, in patience, forgiveness, and kindness, and also to know when to let go and not put ourselves in a position where our values are compromised because of a bad relationship, and consequently, our relationship with God becomes shaky, going in a downward spiral.

5. Don’t replace old clutter with new clutter.

• Matthew 6:19-21 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

• As God’s Word states where our treasures are so too will be our hearts.  So we need to place our lives in our Heavenly Father.  Store up treasures in our hearts with the love of Christ and share His love with others.  No earthly treasure can satisfy what Christ can give us…eternal life.

The idea of decluttering our lives comes right from the Bible.  

I will end today with several Biblical Keys for Goal Setting

https://celebrateeverydaywithme.com/25-scripture-verses-on-goal-setting/

 

Faith – We serve a big God who can accomplish the impossible.  There is nothing He can’t do.  We can believe that He journeys with us and always has our best in mind.  He is trustworthy and faithful.

Humility – We never want to be in a position of demanding that things work out or that all our goals are accomplished exactly as we say.  The Lord’s will always trumps our own.  We need to be sure our attitude is one of humility before our holy and mighty God.

Commitment –  We need to commit ourselves to the tasks at hand.

Diligence – Goals often require hard work.  We need to be diligent in our effort.

Perseverance – We will face setbacks and disappointments, but need to persevere through rough times.  Don’t give up!

Alignment with God’s Word and Will – As we mentioned above, are we within the parameters of God’s Word and His character?

Forethought & Planning – Have we done the appropriate homework before starting our task?  Have we counted the cost?

Motivation – We need to ask the hard questions.  What is our goal and why?  Do we have selfish motives or are we operating with a healthy heart?

 

It is important to unclutter our lives with the unnecessary things of this world and fill our lives with things of God.  

 

If this seems like a difficult or monumental task that you cant handle...don't worry He is there with us.  All we have to do is keep asking, seeking and knocking and God will roll the stones away and make straight your path to a life of uncluttered joy in Him.