The pictures above are before and after shots our friends, Erick and Krystle, took of the property they bought for their business. When they bought the property, the workshop and the surrounding land were filled with garbage and debris. By the time we got to see it, they had been working for a while to clean it up. When I saw the before and after photos of the workshop, I was very impressed with how far they had come.

This cluttered building is a visual example of what the thoughts that so easily clutter our minds. We all go through it. Some have more mental clutter than others, but we all need to be sure we are decluttering our minds on a regular basis. We overthink, which leads to confusion and indecisiveness. We worry with unanswerable questions like How?… When?… Where?… and the all too common What if? Then there’s the tag-team favorites, fear and anxiety. These teammates can cripple our thoughts and paralyze us from taking any action.

God knows our tendency for mental clutter. That’s why He tells us, “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” (Romans 12:2). Instead of overthinking, we are reminded, “God is not the author of confusion but of peace…” (1 Corinthians 14:33). In place of worry, Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.” The number of verses to combat fear and anxiety are more than I have room to write, but here are a few key verses.

• “Fear not for I am with you” (Isaiah 41:10)

• “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.” (Joshua 1:9)

• “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.” (1 John 4:18)

• “I sought the Lord and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears.” (Psalm 34:4)

Our thoughts are a funny thing. We think we can hide them, but if they stay too long or grow over time, eventually they are shown in our words and actions for all to see. So the Bible warns us, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” (Proverbs 4:23)

Sometimes we need each other to help us declutter our minds. Wrong thinking can become habitual, and others can steer us back to the truth of God’s Word, which is what renews our minds. We can speak encouragement and hope to those who need to hear it. And we all need strong people around us that won’t let go until we are walking, talking, and thinking without all the clutter on our own.

Check out this video Erick took as they were de-cluttering his workshop. As you watch,  think of the building as your mind. Notice the man on top of the van, as well as the hand pointing to the piles of clutter.

God is like the man standing on the van, cleaning the walls of our minds through repentance and the releasing of strongholds and bad habits. He is sweeping the cobwebs out and restoring it to its clean and proper state (1 Corinthians 3:16). The hand in the video is like the hand of God, pointing to different piles of clutter. The piles are areas of our minds that still need to be tended to, but God has a plan to clean out the clutter. Nothing is hidden from God. If we allow Him to help change what we have created, He will make us free. Did you notice the voice mention that the plan was to paint the walls white? Imagine your mind decluttered and shining bright. What peace and clarity there can be! Don’t doubt what God can do. Jesus said, “Everything is possible for one who believes” (Mark 9:23).

God spoke to me long ago, “Sometimes you have to release to receive.” In other words, we need to let go of us and our way of thinking – overthinking, worrying, being fearful or anxious, etc – and instead seek Him and receive Him and His way of thinking – with clarity, peace, and love.

We love each of you very much!

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“Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?”   ~ 1 Corinthians 3:16

“Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”   ~ Matthew 6:27

“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.’”

~ Matthew 6:31-34