Fear is Spiritual clutter. Have you ever thought about it that way?
So far in our 40-day fast, we’ve worked through 12 ways to be still and just finished applying 13 promises to help overcome fear. The theme God has repeated throughout our study on how to be still and know Him more is trust. Trust in the Lord!
How has that been hitting you?
To trust God, I have to declutter my life from the fear that keeps me from being still with Him. Today we will see how to apply these truths to declutter your Spiritual life.
Spiritual Clutter Keeps Us Stuck
Trust God. That’s the lesson God is teaching me… or trying to teach me. The problem is that I feel stuck. I can’t trust God if I am holding onto all these fears. How about you?
What are you afraid of right now?
More specifically, what are you afraid will happen if you finally decide just to be still and trust God?
Can I be super honest?
I’m afraid God will let bad things happen. My trust issues stem from real hurts and struggles from a past where God didn’t step in to stop the hurt. Can you relate?
- Neglect
- Abuse
- Betrayal
- Poverty
- Loss
- Divorce
- Bankruptcy
- Complete brokenness…
Now, on the other side of those hurts, I can see God’s hand never left me but the hurt led to brokenness. There are days I want to be angry and withhold my trust from God, but God has been so faithful.
I’ve learned that the same way God was faithful in the Bible, He will be faithful to you if you choose to be still. That brokenness led me down a crazy path toward faith and it can do the same for you if you let go of the Spiritual clutter that keeps you stuck.
What Does the Bible Say About Clutter?
I hear you over there shaking your head. Yes, it’s one thing to say God is faithful, but it’s another thing to completely let go and trust Him. We need some help with all this fear. We need help decluttering our Spiritual lives.
Does the Bible talk about this topic of Spiritual clutter? Of course, it does.
“A time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;” (Ecclesiastes 3:6 ESV)
There really is a time for everything. Fear is a natural response to threatening situations, but all too often we hold onto it far past the time of danger. So yes, there may have been a time when fear was needed, but now is the time to cast it away.
Related Post: 25 Bible Verses About Clutter
What Does the Bible Say About Decluttering Spiritual Clutter?
Today I’ll be using some popular terms for decluttering and applying them to our Spiritual life.
Questions about decluttering as Christians:
- What does clutter do to the mind?
- How do you declutter spiritually?
- What does the Bible say about being organized?
- How do you declutter your soul?
- What is the Spiritual meaning of clutter?
This list makes me smile! No, not in a critical way, but because the Bible really does speak to every topic known to man and every area of our lives… even Spiritual clutter or Spiritual decluttering.
Does the Bible talk about how to take care of your home and stuff?
Yep, but often as a way of getting us to look at our heart condition. Just look at the Biblical examples of decluttering given by Moses for preparing for the Passover feast. The family worked together to clear out any leaven in the home as a way of teaching and remembering how sin can destroy our lives. It’s amazing!
What Are the Spiritual Benefits of Decluttering?
When you choose to be still and know God as we have been focusing on during our 40-day fast there are many benefits. Spiritual clutter clearing does something that frees our minds. Once fear is gone, you can clearly see ways to keep your mind clutter free the next time trials come.
I have highlighted 12 benefits that come when we declutter Spiritual fear from the first 12 ways to be still we studied together (Click through the links to review)
Did you find this mid-series? Go back here and read the intro and keep up with the series.
12 Ways To Declutter Your Spirit Through Stillness
- Stop complaining
- Be still and because the Lord will fight for you. (Exodus 14:14)
- Rest in His faithfulness
- There is always a good reason when God says, “No,” or, “Wait,” so be still. (1 Kings 22:3)
- Remember
- Spend time remembering how God has blessed you to be still and prepare for facing real needs and chaos. (Psalm 4:4)
- Rest and praise
- Rest in God’s ability to provide and praise Him for restoring your soul to be still. (Psalm 23:1-2)
- Be content in God’s plan for your life.
- Instead of striving to have the better-looking life of others to be still. (Psalm 37:7)
- Let God control your life
- This is a witness to the lost world drawing others to God. (Psalm 46:10)
- Pray harder and fast
- When God feels silent pray harder and fast, knowing He will answer you. (Psalm 83:1)
- Praise God.
- Make a fool of yourself in worship, and God will meet you in that place. (Psalm 84:4)
- Rest in God’s control.
- God controls every story (big or small) and we can be still, resting in His control. (Psalm 107:29)
- Mourn when change is hard.
- It will bring healing as the God who never fails will fix the broken pieces. (Isaiah 23:2)
- Trust God’s heart.
- The justice of God brings the fear of the Lord. Trust God’s heart. (Jeremiah 47:6)
- Follow Jesus’ example
- God’s heart is always for you, even when you don’t understand God’s hand. (Mark 4:39)
Have You Experienced the Faithfulness of God?
It doesn’t matter how faithful God has been in my past, I still struggle to declutter my mind from the fear and trust Him in each new struggle.
Am I the only one with Spiritual clutter?
God says “Tiffany, just be still.”
And I reply, “But God what about that time when you allowed…?” “What if he doesn’t step out?” “But what if she doesn’t do such and such…”
The Lord has been teaching me to remember His faithfulness in the past. That can help me trust Him to be faithful in the now.
Do You Get Stuck in The, “But Gods,” Too?
Did reviewing the benefits of being still with God (removing the Spiritual clutter of fear) help a concept stick? It gets me every time, but still, I struggle. There are days I repeat the benefits over and over…
- The Lord will fight for you.
- You can rest in His faithfulness.
- He will prepare you for facing the next real needs and chaos.
- You can rest in God’s ability to provide.
- Be content in God’s plan for your life.
- Your life is a witness to the lost world.
- He will answer you.
- God will meet you in that place.
- Resting in His control.
- It will bring healing.
- The fear of the Lord is like nothing else.
- God’s heart is always for you
And still, I find myself saying, “But God…”
Spiritual clutter clearing does something that frees our minds. Once fear is gone, you know some things that help keep your mind free the next time trials come. Share on XWhat Does the Bible Say About Getting Rid of Old Things?
“Do not call to mind the former things,
Or consider things of the past.
Behold, I am going to do something new,
Now it will spring up;
Will you not be aware of it?
I will even make a roadway in the wilderness,
Rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:18-19 NASB)
I don’t know what season you are in today, but God is with you. Remember, He has made some powerful promises to help you overcome the fears keeping you stuck! Powerful!
Those fears are old things! Old things that God will remove if you allow Him to. We serve a powerful God who can make all things new! Will you let Him do that today?
Related Post: Powerful War Room Prayers for Spiritual Battle
How to Declutter Your Spiritual Life from Fear:
God is powerful and desires to remove those old things from your life. If you are stuck in the fear cycle – where God does something new and amazing and you question Him with fear – I have something to help you.
How do you declutter Spiritually?
- Ask the hard questions.
- Don’t be afraid.
Today I’ll review my hard questions about the Spiritual clutter of fear with you to help get you started.
But it’s not enough to just ask the hard questions. Nope, you also have to listen for God’s heartfelt answers. God cares about you. He wants to get to the Spiritual root of clutter in your soul. Will you let Him?
Ways 13-25 to declutter your soul from fear are about knowing, believing, trusting, and remembering these key things about God!
Claim these 13 promises of God to overcome fear and be still.
13 – God Sees You
“But God, I don’t feel like you see me or this mess. God, Do you hear when I cry?”
Be still and do not fear because God hears you. Yes, God sees you, and yes, God hears you. You can be still and know that you are not alone in this struggle.
Read more in our study on Genesis 21:17.
14 – God Fights For You
“But God, I feel alone in this fight. Are you really always with me?”
Be still and do not fear because God is with you. Yes, when life is hard God is with you. When life is good God is with you. God will never leave you or forsake you so you do not have to be afraid!
Read more in our study on Genesis 26:24.
15 – God Can Handle Impossible
“But God, this situation looks impossible. Can you save me when I can’t see any logical way to win?”
Be still and do not fear because God saves you. Nothing is impossible with God. In fact, With God all things are possible. God does not depend on human logic. Just be still and know that God will save you.
Read more in our study on Exodus 14:13.
16 – God Conquers Giants
“But God, I am weak and the enemy seems strong. Shouldn’t I pull my weight in the battle?”
Be still and do not fear because God delivers you. God will deliver you and conquer the giants in your life. Your victory does not depend on how strong you are but on How powerful your God is!
Read more in our study on Numbers 21:34.
17 – God is Victorious At Spiritual Warfare
“But God, it has been one thing after another thing until I am too tired to fight. Why is the battle so long and hard?”
Be still and do not fear because God fights for you. You do not need to worry about how long and hard the battle is because God will fight it for you. All you need to win during Spiritual Warfare is to be still with God and pray. God will fight the battle.
Read more in our study on Deuteronomy 3:22.
18 – God Is Greater Than Your Enemy
“But God, The enemy in front of me is terrifying. God are you really bigger than my enemy?”
Be still and do not fear because God is greater than your enemy. God is greater than your problems and enemies. Not only is God greater than your problem, but God also commands the Angel armies which far outnumber the enemy forces you face.
Read more in our study on 2 Kings 6:16.
19 – God Can Handle Failure
“But God, I fail you daily and there have been times it felt like You’ve failed me. How can I overcome the fear of failure?”
Be still and do not fear because God will not fail you. God can never fail but because we see only part of the story it feels like it.
To overcome the fear that God will fail you must trust the heart of God. You have to have a kingdom mindset that says, “If God allowed this it must serve a Kingdom purpose.”
And don’t let fear of your failure keep you stuck because God forgives and uses the lease of these. Can I get an amen?
Read more in our study on 1 Chronicles 28:20.
20 – God is For You
“But God, it always feels like it’s me against the world. What does, ‘God is for you’ mean?”
Be still and do not fear because the Lord is for you. The Lord is for you means God is on your side. God has a plan for your life and it is for your good.
Yes, bad things happen, hard things happen and it is tempting to believe that means everything is against you. But we often learn and grow the best through adversity.
God is more concerned about our holiness than our comfort! So do not fear, be still, and know that He is God.
God is on your side… it is not you against the world. It is you and your Big God against the world… and He has already won the victory.
Read more in our study on Psalm 118:6.
21 – God Is Your Strength
“But God, I really am weak and all my strength is gone. How can I go on with this hard season of life?“
Be still and do not fear because the Lord is your strength and help. God will help you and God will strengthen you. Depend on God for your strength when you feel weak. He is faithful to hold you up when life has been too hard for too long.
Read more in our study on Isaiah 41:10 & 13.
22 – God Redeems and Names You
“But God, I have walked away and failed You too many times. Do You still want me?”
Be still and do not fear because the Lord redeems you and calls you by name.
God has paid the price for all your sins and wandering from Him. God still wants you. In fact, He calls you by name. Even if you have turned away from Him and wandered, the Lord is ever only just a prayer away.
Read more in our study on Isaiah 43:1.
23 – God Covers Your Shame
“But God, my past is filled with sin. Can I still come to You and serve with my past?”
Be still and do not fear because the Lord will cover your shame. God has redeemed you, and forgiven every sin in your past, present, and future. The Lord calls you by name and says you are His.
To sin is to be human. God will never give you shame for your redeemed past; that is the enemy and you must fight back. Guilt, however, should come with new sin because it grieves the Holy Spirit. That guilt will lead to confession, repentance, and real change.
Read more in our study on Isaiah 54:4.
24 – You Are God’s Child
“But God, I feel like an outcast, alone, unlovable. Do You love me?”
Be still and do not fear because the Lord adopts you. God chose you, adopted you, and called you His. The evidence that God loves you is in that adoption.
God didn’t have to bring us into His family, it was way more than enough that He offered us a way out of Hell. But because God loves you so much, He embraces you as His child, a co-heir with Christ, His Only Son.
Read more in our study on Romans 8:15.
25 – The Lord Has Done Great Things For You
“But God, this difficult situation is big and I am far from perfect. Will You really help me when I don’t deserve it?”
Be still and do not fear because the Lord has done great things for you. The promise God gives to fight for you, help you, strengthen you, and be with you is not dependant on you.
Not dependant on you. Let that sink in.
You can not be perfect enough to earn God’s faithfulness. God is faithful because God is faithful! And listen, God has done great things for you… and He is not done yet!
Read more in our study on Joel 2:21.
How Do You Declutter Your Soul From Fear?
Just re-reading those 13 promises of God makes me excited to set aside some fear today!
Even in impossible situations, against giants, through droughts and locusts, God is with you. We can stand tall in the face of fear knowing He will carry us through!
I feel like God has been holding my hand as I walk through this series. Aren’t you glad He is such a compassionate Abba?!?!. Holding my hand saying,
“I know you are afraid but I Am with you. Trust Me, I have you, I have this. Yes, it may hurt but I will shower you with blessings on the other side of this trial.”
Decluttering your Spiritual life from fear sounds high and lofty, but it is the goal today.
Will you give God your fears?
Related Post: Knowing God as a Loving Father
We Must Replace Fear To Have Success Against Spiritual Clutter
Yes, the fears are real and founded in hard things, but you can give God your fears because He is Faithful.
One way I overcome fear is to replace it and fight it with specific Scriptures. My sweet friend Lee from LikeMindedmusings.com created these beautiful verse cards for all the verses we’ve been studying on overcoming fear with God’s promises. Get your copy free below!
Understanding The Psychology of Clutter and Disorganization
Decluttering, minimalism, and living with less are all the rage today. These are not things I’m good at, but I feel compelled to obey God and declutter my Spiritual life starting with the fears He is pointing out.
No, honestly, this is more like decluttering my soul of the fears that have held me captive in this season.
The reason I am not good at decluttering is that I usually get excited about the empty space and then stop. It’s not enough to clean the space, we have to do more to keep the space clean. We have to repurpose the newly cleaned space, filling it with good things that serve a specific purpose.
Decluttering your Spiritual life requires both steps. Get rid of fear and move into God’s purpose.
Now that we’ve tackled clearing out the Spiritual clutter of fear in our mind and soul it’s time to get organized and focused
What should our response be to this new freedom from fear? Trust and obedience
Related Post: How to Win the Battle for Your Mind
Remove the Spiritual Clutter of Fear and Learn How to Trust and Obey
Learning how to trust and obey God is the perfect response to being still and letting go of fear as we get rid of Spiritual clutter.
In the same way that decluttering tips would be followed by strategies to organize your home (ahem… if I were a domestic goddess)…. decluttering your mind and soul must be followed by responding to God with trust and obedience. That is how to win the battle for your mind.
It’s not enough to clear your mind of fear, we must fill it up with God or more fear will come. This isn’t about learning how to be more spiritual or focusing on the types of spirituality. No, this is about knowing God more and practicing the stillness we have been learning about!
So as we finish our 40-day fast on learning how to be still and know God we will focus on 7 good ways to trust and obey.
in HIM,
Tiffany of Hope Joy in Christ inspires Christian Women to grow in faith, live out Biblical Marriage Principles and raise Godly Children. Join the Wives Only Facebook Group here or keep up with her through Pinterest.
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