Decluttered & Refreshed

 

“...let us lay aside every weight...which with so easily beset us...” Hebrews 12:1

We’re into the fourth day of a new year. Who would’ve imagined we’d ever see 2021? Maybe it’s easier for the younger people to imagine, but as a forty-seven year old, I know this is true for me. 

My Christmas tree and decorations are down and properly stored, most of the closets in my home have been decluttered, rooms have been rearranged and some freshly painted, and...I’m a little tired already this year. Yeah. 

Normally, it may be called spring cleaning. You know, that time of year when everything is deep cleaned and refreshed once again. 

I remember every springtime, my Mamaw would completely empty out a room, wash the drapes and clean everything thoroughly, have my Papaw put a fresh coat of paint or wallpaper on the walls, then put everything back together again. They lived in the same house for probably over 50 years and we used to joke around about the house getting smaller and smaller with every visit because of the layers of paint or wallpaper that was added every year. 

Maybe it’s in the genes? I don’t know, but I’m feeling a bit restless right now and everything in my house seems to be getting a refreshing or overhaul. 

It’s not only in my home however. There’s a restlessness in my heart that just won’t go away. This week, I’ve been reflecting and participating in some deep heart cleaning and decluttering. You know, things can pile up there if we’re not on guard and we’re eventually left with meaningless clutter. It can cause us stress and unnecessary anxiety. Who needs any extra of that now days anyway?!

There’s all kinds of clutter.  The past. Mistakes made. Failures. Disappointments. Words you wish you wouldn’t have or should have spoken. Opportunities missed. Etc. We can be reminded of these issues all too often and they can cause us to become tired spiritually if we don’t take care of them on a regular basis. There’s nothing in this world the enemy would like to do but to remind us of a failing, to get us off our guard and down on ourselves. 

We cannot be effective in the Kingdom with clutter in our hearts. 

It doesn’t have to be some great big sin, just a little failing here and there. The ones we haven’t let go of yet and so they lay around in our hearts causing us to be tripped up and easily discouraged. 

Let’s get that stuff cleaned out. Declutter. Reorganize. Get ready to be useful by being prepared within. Our hearts are kind of like closets. We hide all sorts of things within them until it’s difficult to shut or open the door without being buried underneath a mountain of stuff. 

I was reminded again last night of why it is so important to deep clean, to humble myself and take the time, no matter how tiring it is, to  lay everything at His feet and have my heart refreshed in His presence. There’s no sense in carrying around past mistakes when instead we can live so much lighter - even victorious. 

So, even though it’s not springtime yet, the new year offers a great time to do some deep heart cleaning, don’t you think? Let’s free ourselves from all the clutter which bogs us down and keeps us from being all we can for the Kingdom’s sake. 

We’re  going to come up short often, but let’s not stuff the souvenirs in our closet for future proof. 

Laying it all at God’s feet and keeping the heart decluttered is such a benefit and blessing in our every day life. It’s worth putting in the effort and being tired for a season. Then, when we’re reminded of our past mistakes, we can remember and remind ourselves that we’ve already let that go. 

How wonderful and blessed it feels to sit in a freshly cleaned and decluttered room...and just breathe. 

That’s what I’m talking about, only in the heart realm. 

Be blessed today~