The CHOICE of clutter
Do you know that God created our minds so incredibly?! He gave us the ability to think, to compartmentalize, to forget and to remember. He gave us the ability to CHOOSE to do those things, too.
Marie Kondo is all about clearing out the clutter, the things that no longer belong, the things that don’t “spark joy.” This is much the same as how God tells us we should organize our lives and minds in order to “spark the most joy” in our lives and the lives of others.
So often we get bogged down by the “clutter” of worry and stress and anxiety in our lives. We let thoughts flood our minds and run amuck. We let them bury us, much like we do with cluttered things in our homes. Sometimes we even let our thought life get so bad that we feel the task of removing the “clutter” is insurmountable.
We can moan and complain about the state of our lives and our thoughts or we can do something about them! God has given us the choice. He created our minds in such a way that we can have complete control over our thought life… but that control is all wrapped up in choice.
“This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” Deuteronomy 30:19-20 NIV
The CHOICE of obedience
God’s Word tells us that WE are to TAKE every thought CAPTIVE and MAKE it obedient to Christ.
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV
If the Word tells us to do it, this means we have a choice to do it or not. It means it’s up to us. The ball is in our court. While decluttering our homes takes forethought, purpose and action, so does decluttering our minds. We must actively TAKE each thought, pluck it out of our minds, compartmentalize it, recognize it for what it is (good or bad, beneficial or detrimental, holy or unholy, healthy or destructive) and MAKE each one obedient to Christ and His Word. If it lines up with what God has to say about our situation through His Word, then we keep that thought and let it roll around in our minds creating and inspiring further thoughts along the same lines. If it doesn’t line up, then we immediately throw it out! We recognize it as the lie that it is and replace it with a truth from God’s Word.
The CHOICE of reset
Our thoughts and our five senses form our beliefs, and those beliefs form our actions, and those actions have the ability to set us up for different seasons and situations in life. Those actions lead us to things that “spark joy” in us and others or spark hurt and harm. What we put our focus towards affects everything about us. We encounter so many things each day. There are situations and experiences that can bring great joy and others that bring great sadness. There are things that can confuse us or make us question or doubt ideals we have or things we thought we knew to be fact. Other circumstances may even leave us feeling burdened. Still, another may put us on top of the world.
Whatever we encounter pulling us this way or that through the day, if we have a “reset” each day (multiple times a day if we’re smart!) by returning that focus to God, His Word, His ways, His plans, His thoughts… then we can make sure we land at thoughts and beliefs and actions that point us in the direction we really want to be going, the direction that God has for us, the direction that impacts the world in a positive and life giving way!
Paul reminds us of this fact when he says, “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 [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].”
ROMANS 12:2 AMP
The CHOICE of contentment
So we’ve found a biblical model of what to do with this incredible mind God has given us. We see that we have a choice about what we let into our minds (through our senses) and what we are to do with the thoughts that begin to form based on those things that have made their way in. We become selective about our thoughts and perceptions. We choose the right ones and redirect as needed. Paul gives us the perfect example of how to practically do this in the following verses:
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
Philippians 4:4, 6, 8, 12-13 NIV
The CHOICE is ours
We have the option to choose joy and spread joy in every circumstance. Paul has given us the “secret of being content in any and every circumstance.” That secret is CHOOSING to perceive life through the light and lens of Christ and MAKING our thoughts follow suit, being in control of our thought life!
What will you choose to do with the things you perceive about your life today? How will you let those situations impact your thought life? Will you take control of it? Will you “declutter” and “spark joy” in yourself and others? Will you “reset” when needed, when negative and difficult things come in like a flood? Will you remind yourself of God’s Word and will for your life when your senses tell you something contrary? It’s up to us to choose. Let’s choose life today and all that LIFE entails!
Amber Dawn's Blog 
That’s a good word !
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Good word!
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