Clutter, Junk and Stuff

If we do not take out the garbage, it piles up and becomes a problem. Clutter junk, and stuff are like the unattended garbage in our lives. When clutter junk and stuff pile up problems and obstacles also grow. Life is difficult enough without allowing clutter junk and stuff to build up. We do not like to be defeated before we even get started. I would like to take some time to define and suggest possible solutions to keeping clutter stuff and junk to a minimum.

Clutter can be defined by the priorities that we refuse to establish. This occurs when we follow our natural tendency to do the easiest things first. It is a lot more rewarding to enjoy what we are doing and take some time to have some fun. Harder or more challenging problems get put off until tomorrow or a later date. It is difficult to do things when we do not feel that we have the emotional or physical resources to face or solve our problems. Poor priorities lead to more difficulties and less energy to face our personal mountains. There are things that need to get done now, and they only become larger and larger if they are left undone.

Clutter also applies to poor judgment or choices in relationships or morals. Clutter occurs when we do not take the time to weigh the consequences of rash actions or an untamed tongue. How often have we wanted to change poorly thought out and emotionally charged decisions?  The clutter of consequences from these actions lead to damaged and destroyed relationships. Bent and hurt feelings block our ability to restore relationships and self-esteem.  Clutter also relates to the negative emotions such as anger jealousy unforgiveness, and fear.  This ties us up and tangles us up in our own self perspectives.  These negative emotions harden our hearts so that we cannot trust or love each other. This is not even to mention how these negative feelings block our relationship to God. Believing in God and others, and giving and loving, are so important. These are fundamental skills to living a happy and productive life.

Junk pertains to the things that we accumulate to make up for poor decisions and poor relationships. Keeping junk helps us to ease the pain of our unfulfilled lives. It is medicating ourselves when we feel unable to face reality. We chase things instead of helping or comforting people or spending time with God. We hope that having more things will affirm us despite the mistakes we make. Things are given to us to use give or share. They are not a replacement for self esteem or relationships that are broken or lacking. Things become junk because they lose their usefulness or become broken. A junkyard is filled with once useful things. Unfortunately, we allow our minds hearts and bodies to be filled with junk. If you have ever walked in a junkyard you will know that it is filled with useless smelly and potentially dangerous items. Our preoccupation with possessions can contaminate our hearts souls and our bodies. It is hard to love God and His people when our hearts minds and bodies are filled with things.

Stuff describes our decision to be self-centered. This relates to our thought life, ambitions and our resulting tunnel vision. The world teaches us that it is all about us but it is not. Stuff is made of ideas of self-importance and personal greed. Stuff decays and deceives our souls. Stuff numbs our hearts and puffs up our pride. We can literally if we are not careful stuff ourselves with ourselves.  The result is that there is no room for God or anyone else. Stuff centered people are manipulative and controlling. Stuffy people are addicted to themselves and other things that feed their own desires. Stuffed people are in a feeding frenzy that leads to emptiness. They are always right but find out that they were wrong.

Love does not need clutter junk or stuff. It is selfless and desires to be like Jesus more and more as time progresses. Its emptiness leads to fullness because it finds it joy in its Creator and the deeds of its Creator. The eyes of love are not placed on things but on a person who is the object of their affection. We desire love but it does not exist well with clutter junk and stuff. We try to possess love but it is a gift. We want to stuff ourselves more when we feel unloved unwanted or unneeded. How do we deal with the clutter junk and stuff in our lives? Here are a few suggestions.

1.  Pray for the courage to look at your life in a realistic manner. It takes courage to really look at yourselves and examine your attitudes and behaviors. If we ask God for courage to do this, He will freely give courage to us.

2. Spend time with God on a daily basis. He is the Champion of the needy and the fearful. He is the unveiler of our hearts and the Master of every solution to every problem.

3. Seek out the joy of loving God and His people. Without love our lives are meaningless. We become filled with clutter stuff and junk. Loving gives us and others power and life.

4. Practice loving others in non-threatening ways and then work up to more difficult challenges. Sometimes loving is not easy but it is the most rewarding thing that we can do.

5. Simplify your lifestyle. If you do not use it in a year, throw it or give it away. Sometimes we spend so much time taking care of our things that we do not have time to take care of people.

6. Practice putting yourself mentally in situations that you finding threatening to you. Then pray and imagine a successful outcome or solution with Jesus standing with you.

7. Apply the word of God to your particular problem area or areas. Study that verse. Place it in your heart and put it into daily practice

8. Make a habit of constantly thanking God for the solution to each problem. You will be surprised at how much this can and will help you.

9. Make a list of the goals that mean the most to you and ask God to help you to bring them about. Making goals helps us to focus and helps to keep us from more clutter junk and stuff.

Ask yourself the question. Am I accumulating more than giving?

These suggestions should get you started on a more love filled life. Putting clutter junk and stuff away requires vigilance and a more intimate relationship with God. Any success in life means sacrifice, prayer and determination. How much are you willing to remove the clutter junk and stuff from your life? 

(Michael Carr, August 2024)