Decluttering the SoulParaugs

The Freedom of Less

One month after my third child was born, I hit a clutter wall. I was overwhelmed by the amount of stuff in our house. The combination of one more person’s things (and babies have lots of things) and everyone being home all the time (hello, pandemic) made me acutely aware of the constant clutter. Doing the dishes, dirty laundry, and clearing up toys was a constant battle and demanded the majority of my time and attention. 

Ready to burn the house down in my postpartum exhaustion, I made a goal to declutter. I vowed to get rid of one bag of stuff every week for the next year. After another look around, I decided to give myself a real challenge and make it one hundred bags instead of fifty. I am proud (and embarrassed) to say that I met my stretch goal in only six months. 

The practice of decluttering has been a process. I started by carefully choosing things to get rid of. "This shirt has a stain. These shoes are worn out." I didn’t miss these things, and I celebrated one less item to wash, pick up and maintain with each choice. Then I went through the house again, this time being even more selective. The question changed from “why should I part with this?” to “why should I keep this?” I have two whisks. Why? I have six infant bath towels. Why? 

At this stage I started to get rid of perfectly good items that were useful. If I had kept them, I probably would have used them at some point for something. But in choosing to part with them, I made a conscious decision to value something other than having a full cabinet. In a world that demands that we need more and that more is better, I can attest that for me, less has been such a breath of fresh air. 

The same principle is true of the stuff in our hearts. What thoughts keep cycling through our minds, cluttering up our focus and distracting us from pursuing godliness? What unhealthy habits and feelings do we refuse to let go of because we might need them one day or they have served us in the past? When we are trying to love others well, does our own brokenness keep us from being able to prioritize them effectively? In order to serve our master, Jesus, wholeheartedly, we will must begin the process of decluttering our souls. 

We have to ask the tough questions about the things that we are holding on to: our reputation, our image, our secret failures, our dreams and goals, and our rights. While it is a challenge to let go of the things that we hold dear, they compete for God’s throne in our hearts, and there can only be one King there. Stripping away all of the excess brings relief, freedom, and life!

Pray

Father, I am ready to take a hard look at the things cluttering my soul. Guide me in the process of opening the embarrassing places, taking out the contents, and surrendering them to you. I want you to be the King of my heart, so help me strip away everything that completes with your will for me. Give me new life!

Reflect

What is one thing that is competing with God for my attention that I need to let go of?