We all do it.

In the hustle and bustle of our day to day activities, we throw things in closets or drawers, pile stuff on counter spaces, or toss things into random nooks and crannies thinking, “I’ll get to that soon.”

Days turn into months.  Months grow into years.  Suddenly, we realize these catch-all spaces need attention, cleaning, and some organizational TLC.

In the last few months of having some concentrated time at home, I have found myself embarking on a few organizational projects including cleaning out some closets and sifting through filing cabinets jam-packed with outdated and unnecessary papers.

Recently, while my paper shredder was on the verge of work overload and heat exhaustion, I wondered how many times my mind (and consequently, my heart) have looked like my neglected office files and crowded closets?

It can be so easy to walk through our day flinging our thoughts into a mental corner.  As a result, our minds begin to pile up with unchecked burdens, worries, and baggage that threaten to overwhelm us simply because we didn’t put them in the proper place to begin with.

Before too long, we realize we feel fearful, worried, empty, dry, exhausted, lonely (the list goes on and on) and we wonder what happened.

Romans 12:2 gives us a clear solution concerning mental clutter.

“And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind…” (AMP)

Having our minds “transformed and progressively changed” is an ongoing, daily, organizational mental discipline.  Permitting wrong thinking, lies, or ideas contrary to the Bible to clutter up space in our heads is detrimental to our well-being and adversely impacts our walk with Jesus and our ability to love our neighbor well.

It takes just a moment to march that dirty sock over to the hamper and throw it in – but, it does take effort and intentionality.  How much easier is it on laundry day, though,  to have everything in the hamper ready to go rather than franticly canvasing the house playing hide-and-seek with dirty clothes?

The same is true with our thoughts.  Examine them as they come in and “take them captive” (2 Cor. 10:5) as you hold them up to the Word of God to see if they need to be filed or trashed. 

The more you do this, the more clutter-free your mind (and, ultimately, your heart) will be enabling you to think more clearly and love more deeply!

Until next time, Grace and Glory!