Downsizing and minimalism have been popular topics for many years, and our culture is consumed with having less. Decluttering has been a buzzword for at least a couple of years, and has gained momentum rather than losing steam. Social media is saturated with articles, memes, reels, and shorts that show us how to live with less. With fewer items in our closets and pantries, we can expect to have less mental stress and more peace - so we can live happily ever after, or so they would like us to believe. If only it were this easy! I enjoy learning strategies for keeping things tidy, and I do need to purge some things, but some of those content creators can seem as though they’re saying that getting rid of some things will whiten your teeth and retread your tires. It’s just a little too good to be true. However, there are some things we can clean, purge, downsize, and minimize that really will have a significant impact on your mental, physical, and spiritual health.
Psalms 51:10-12,
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit.”
When Psalm 51 was written, King David had been unfaithful with a married woman, manipulated her husband, and had him killed; then, he hid his sin and waited almost a year before repenting.
1 John 1:9-10 says,
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”
Romans 3:23 tells us that
“All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”
We all need to be forgiven of our sins, confess our wrongdoing, and be cleansed of our transgressions. There isn’t anyone who hasn’t sinned, and there isn’t anyone who can’t be made right with God through His forgiveness and mercy.
I invite you to pray this prayer with me: My Father, you know the wrong things I’ve done, and just as King David, I’m asking you to cleanse my heart of all unrighteousness. Please bring back the joy I had when I first believed in you, and let Your Spirit remain in me. Thank you for redemption, Father. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Keeping our homes in order is a good thing, but keeping our hearts right with God is the best thing we can possibly do. Guilt and shame are like an anchor to our mind and soul, but when we live ready to repent of any wrong we have done, we have peace and are lighthearted.
