Decluttering the SoulParaugs

The Gatekeeper of Our Soul

We are surrounded by so much stuff, it is easy to get overwhelmed and feel like a captive in the four walls closing in around us, drowning in a sea of supposedly necessary items. Before starting on the project, I felt like a victim of my environment and that I had no control over the clutter. As I began to sort through the deluge one piece at a time, I realized something. These items did not invade my house against my will. I let them in. 

I put this item in my shopping basket when it wasn’t really necessary. I clicked the buy now button that day to reward myself for a job well done. I chose, purchased, and took in each and every item that has crossed the threshold of my home. I created this clutter. While it was sobering to have no one to blame but myself, it was also empowering. I brought the clutter in, and I could take it out. It did not control me. I was not a victim. I got to choose what I allowed in my home. For the first time in a long time, I acknowledged responsibility for the mess, and I realized that I had the power to do something about it.

We can experience the same sense of defeat in our spiritual lives. It is easy to be overwhelmed when dealing with the same temptations, shortcomings, and failures over and over. Our mistakes, habits, and desires litter our souls and distract our focus away from God. We feel powerless to wrench our hearts free from clutter of sin.

But we are not powerless. We are not victims to sin. We have the final say over what thoughts we allow into our hearts and minds. No sin, indulgence, or failure enters against our will. 

It is up to us to take responsibility for our behavior. We have to monitor what we allow to access the threshold of our soul. While this responsibility may seem too great, it comes with incredible empowerment. Not only do we have the power of the risen Savior within us, but we have the Holy Spirit to guide us in wisdom. God has given us everything we need to sift through what should stay and what should go. This is the beauty and the burden of free will. We get to choose.

Pray

Father, thank you for giving me your power and wisdom to guide me. Help me to follow your instructions and obey your guidance so that I can keep my heart pure and blameless. Stand with me as I fight the temptation to let sin clutter my soul.

Reflect

What sin have I indulged or lie have I believed that is cluttering my soul?