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Decluttering of a Different Sort


by Cathy Baker

This month we’ve learned how things like accountability, choosing wise priorities, and organizing our evenings can help us make over our mornings. 

Today let’s talk decluttering.

Not the kind of clutter collecting in our closets, but the sort that lurks in the corners of our minds. For me, this tends to happen when I try to sweep unresolved situations under labels such as “I’ll deal with this when I have more time to think it through” or “Maybe if I ignore it long enough, it will go away.” Before I know it, mental clutter makes itself at home in my heart, making my true home feel like anything but. 

This requires decluttering of a different sort. 

I find that a cluttered mind often remains undetected until it begins spilling over the sides of my soul, revealing itself through an overall feeling of uneasiness, almost as if I’m being suffocated by my circumstances.

While a hefty bag goes a long way in helping to clear closet clutter, the only help for the kind of clutter we’re talking about today comes from the LORD. 

I lift my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
My help comes from the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
Psalm 121:1, 2 
When I recently found myself in a discombobulated state of mind, I knew I needed to go back to the basics:
  • Get quiet before the Lord. (Psalm 46:10)
  • Release the burdens. I sometimes do this by writing each one down on a piece of paper, praying through each one, and then disposing of it. (Matt. 11:28)
  • Receive His peace. (Phil. 4:7) It’s our choice as to whether or not we want to walk around with either cluttered or clear, sound minds. Our God is not one of chaos or confusion but clarity and purpose. 
I think we can agree that quality time with the Lord far surpasses anything we’ve touched on this month when it comes to making the most of our mornings, and our days.
Whether you’re stopping by today for the first time or you’ve joined me for the entire September series (thank you!), you’re invited to leave a comment, and in doing so, you’ll automatically be in the running for this uber-cool writing journal*, just waiting to be enjoyed by you during your morning hours! The random drawing will take place next Monday, October 5th.
One way I’m learning to make the most of my mornings is to: _____________________.

And speaking of October, I’m once again joining the 31 Day Challenge to blog everyday. This year’s theme? 31 Ways to Fall in Love With Fall. Hope you’ll join me on this journey beginning Thursday!

*US readers only

Murder by Clutter

clut·ter: A confused or disordered state or collection; a jumble

One episode of Hoarders leaves me feeling like Martha Stewart on a bad hair day — while you won’t find feline skeletal remains buried beneath half-drained paper cups in my house, I doubt Martha would stack her books to the point of toppling as I sometimes do.

Let’s face it. House clutter kills more than cats, including:

  • spontaneity (sure, drop by any time! not.)
  • energy (does anything sap it quicker than disorder?)
  • beauty (even one who beholds would have to agree with me on this one)
  • peace (there’s always something to move, clean, or peep over)

Did you know it can also kill your creativity?

If you could use a boost of decluttering confidence despite your own toppling towers (am I alone here?), tune into an episode of Hoarders. You’ll be tweeting your own organizational tips in no time!

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