Declutter

 Is there a space in your house or at work where things are all over the place? Does it seem like the stuff keeps piling up and piling up, then you're looking at a whole big mess? You meant to clean that area, but you put it off saying you would do it later. Later turned into days, weeks, and even months. Then, there are those who see the clutter, but choose to ignore and pretend like you don't. You don't even want to talk about taking care of it. Whatever category you can relate to, it has happened to all of us. We all can think of that one space (or more!) we can clean up and organize better than what it is. Let's look at the word declutter for a minute. To declutter means to remove unnecessary items from an overcrowded place. Some of us have things we didn't even know we had or forgot we had. That happens to me! When I do find these items, I try to think of where did it come from, who gave it to me and why do I still have it. Thinking about that helps me decide whether to toss or keep it. In Ecclesiastes 3:6, it tells us that there is "a time to keep and a time to throw away." Now there are times when I will find something and it's perfectly fine, but I don't or can't use in this season. So I think about who and where I could give that to. I've done that with donating clothes a lot. Now I highly recommend to clean and declutter spaces often. Items and papers can easily pile up if we're not careful. If things don't get put back in their proper place, that could pose a big problem too. I've found that doing a little bit at a time (closet only, certain space in my room, etc.) helps. It gets overwhelming quick if you don't! But I want to challenge you (and myself) to take the step to declutter even further. What about decluttering social media, our heart? We need to ask ourselves where certain attitudes and emotions come from, why did I follow/friend request that person, is this helping me or hurting me. Go through social media accounts often to unfollow pages and people that cause you to have unnecessary thoughts, attitudes and mindsets. If they're causing you to feel less worthy, second guess your purpose and stir up comparison, let them go. No unnecessary posts need to fill our stories or timelines. When it comes to our heart, we also need to remove the unnecessary that can crowd out the Word. Psalms 119:11 encourages us to hide the Word in our heart so we may not sin. If the wrong things get in (paranoia, hopelessness, feeling less than, greed), it could choke out the Word in us (Mark 4:19). Knowing and living the Word helps us to produce fruit (see Galatians 5:22-23) that will benefit and help us. What have we been letting pile up in our heart and not dealing with? What social media follows have been draining us of hope and thankfulness instead of pouring into us love and hope? I'm here to tell you today is the day. It's the day to declutter all spaces. Tomorrow, do the same and the day after that and the day after that. It has to be consistent and we have to be observant. What better way to start off a new year than to declutter the old and make room for the new?! Start somewhere. Start with one of your spaces. Do it now- don't delay. Get ready, get set, go!!