How to Let God Declutter Your Soul

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Carla Gasser is a woman with a passion for God’s Word who’s learned a thing or two about how to let God declutter your soul. It’s a joy to welcome Carla today to share about the beauty of an uncluttered soul.

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I don’t know about you, but when I think of decluttering it usually has to do with gaining control of something outside of myself: sorting and separating all the papers strewn across my desk or cleaning out my clogged email inbox.

And while decluttering often includes removing, organizing and ordering things and places in our external lives, I realized I was guilty of overlooking the clutter within my heart, soul and mind.

One day, when I was feebly attempting spring cleaning to overcome the disorder and disorganization in my home, I began thinking about how the ideas of cleansing, simplifying and decluttering apply on a spiritual level.

I was willing to put in time and effort but also desired a more profound sense of peace and purpose — a kind of contentment that comes from within my soul, independent of a perfectly maintained home or a fit and healthy-looking body. After all, perfect homes and bodies don’t stay that way for too long, do they?

And thus began my journey to discovering ways I could declutter my soul.

If you ask my family, they would say that I am a decluttering freak. Seriously. When I go on one of my rampages, cleansing, purging, straightening and ordering…everyone and everything should take cover. And since I usually only give a five-minute warning before the tidying tornado sweeps throughout the house, many things can get lost or thrown away in the shuffle. Just ask them…in my efforts to maintain order and cleanliness, I have discarded important bills and papers, thrown away retainers and keys, trashed homework assignments, and even mistakenly scrapped money and jewelry.

But am I as thorough, conscientious and rigorous when it comes to cleansing and decluttering my own soul, such as my negative thoughts? Bad attitudes? Selfish motives? Unforgiving judgments?

If I am honest, I would have to admit: not so much. Ouch! And what does that say about me?

Sadly, that I am often more concerned if things look orderly, well-kept and picture-perfect on the outside.

Inviting God’s Spirit to Declutter Your Soul

I have some good news and bad news when it comes to the decluttering process. Since I am not sure if you are a good news/bad news first type of person, I will start with the bad news because I like to be straightforward and honest.

BAD NEWS: You have no hope of decluttering your soul. Yep, that is the truth, my friend. No sugarcoating going on here!

GOOD NEWS: God has every intention of decluttering your soul and desires to do so if you allow his Spirit to come in and transform you from the inside out.

We can cry out to God just like David did in the Psalms:

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10, ESV)

Even if we don’t know where to start or what needs to be removed, God does! If we come humbly to God asking him to declutter our souls and cleanse our hearts, his Word promises that is exactly what he will do!

Searching the scriptures for a place to guide and direct this kind of deep soul cleanse that would result in a beautiful, uncluttered soul, I repeatedly returned to the fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV):

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

These nine attributes are the outward evidence of a transformed inner life. But how do we get there?

This cleansing process begins by first removing unwanted and unnecessary items to make room for essential and healthy things. When we invite the Holy Spirit to transform us from the inside out by first allowing Him to remove the clutter, he will produce these qualities (fruit) we desperately long for and need.

GOD WANTS TO DECLUTTER TO MAKE ROOM FOR

Pride Love
Discontentment Joy
Worry/Fear Peace
Judgment/Criticism Patience
Self-centeredness Kindness
Apathy Goodness
Dishonesty Faithfulness
Bitterness Gentleness
Weakness Self-Control

Discovering the Beauty of an Uncluttered Soul

I know the above list feels a bit harsh — to let God declutter your soul is not an easy process. It involves releasing, purging and letting go so God’s Spirit can come in and do the deep soul cleansing, and that is not always easy or comfortable!

But discovering the beauty underneath is not only possible but so worth it, dear friend!

Although I am not where I need to be in letting go of the clutter in my home, I am slowly learning that I experience less anxiety and more tranquility when I release my expectations of external perfection. And as I lean into the Holy Spirit, he is producing a more profound sense of order and peace as he works on my soul. There will always be things we need to declutter within, but God is ever-present and continually working on us if we let him. Surrendering control to him brings freedom and peace because we know he is faithful to do what he promised!

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Want more resources to deep cleanse your soul? Check out Carla’s free faith printables page for her two soul care guides. Carla’s newly released devotional Bible study, The Beauty of an Uncluttered Soul, takes you through the entire process of allowing God’s Spirit to transform you from the inside out.