When it comes to decluttering our souls, we need to begin by extending an invitation to the Holy Spirit.

Do you struggle with soul clutter? The internal chaos that keeps you stuck in a cycle of worry, shame, and discouragement? Would you like to replace it with spiritual qualities like love, joy, and peace?
Several years ago, I hopped on the “decluttering” bandwagon and began purging, cleansing, and decluttering my external world (frantically grasping for the illusion of control). However, when I failed to find the peace, purpose, and contentment I longed for, I had to consider that I might be applying the right principles to the wrong place. In my effort to make everything look good on the outside, I completely overlooked the clutter within my heart, soul, and mind, neglecting my negative thoughts, bad attitudes, selfish motives, and worthless worries.
Clutter, as defined by the dictionary, refers to mess, disorder, jumble, or litter. It is a state of confusion. We all know what external clutter looks like. But the Bible deals with the clutter within our souls.
We can also clutter our souls by imposing expectations on ourselves that God never intended. Even strong Christians can fall into the trap of adding unnecessary rules and regulations, burdening themselves with the weight of mistakes and regrets.
Consider the struggle with external clutter—it's an endless battle against entropy, the universal law that things naturally move from order to disorder. If we cannot maintain order and tranquility in our small little corners of the universe, what hope do we have of taming the chaos and clutter within?
That is where we need to turn to the Holy Spirit for help. No decluttering expert can accomplish anything unless we open the door and invite the professional to “have at it.” When it comes to decluttering our souls, we need to begin by extending an invitation to the Holy Spirit to come and look in the junk drawers, overcrowded closets, and forgotten attics in our hearts, minds, and souls.
We can cry out to God just like David did in the Psalms:
"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life."~Psalm 139:23-24 (NLT)
Even if you don't know where to start uncluttering or even what needs to be removed, God does. If we come humbly, asking Him to declutter our souls and cleanse our hearts, His Word promises that is exactly what He will do!

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