“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” – John 14:27 KJV
Day 8: Organize Your Mental Clutter
Nature does a recurring purge every winter. This clearing away is necessary to prepare for new life in the springtime.
Think of a pine tree, shedding its needles to form an insulating carpet for the forest floor. The spent needles decompose, along with other dead plant matter, into the rich, fertile, life-giving soil.
Nature’s built-in cleaning process is a means of readying for new growth. God has created our earth to recycle what is no longer useful. New growth can take place once the purge is complete.
When spring comes, many of us get a strong urge to purge away what is no longer needed to make room for something fresh and new in our lives.
Maintaining clean and clutter-free surroundings in our home is important to many of us – and our mental health and clarity are just as important – if not even more so!
Let’s focus now on getting rid of mental clutter!
The thoughts that occupy your mind arrive there from various sources.
Here are some resources to de-clutter to protect your mental health…
People who fill your head with doubt and confusion. One way to stop other people from taking over your thoughts is by limiting the amount of time you spend with these negative people each day.
Social media. Limiting time on social media can do your mind a great deal of help. De-clutter the people you follow who may be feeding you constant negativity.
Media: Television, news, videos, movies, shows, music. There are many sources feeding us false philosophies and negativities. Declutter these and you’ll see a huge difference.
Next, Give your mind a daily rest.
Some ways to give your mind a rest….
1. Quiet time in daily devotions. (Bible reading and prayer time)
2. Take a 20-minute walk. (By the way, it’s recommended that we get 20 min. of daily sunshine for our health.)
3. 15-minute power nap. (I find that getting up the first time you wake up from a nap seems to be perfect. If I roll over and go back to sleep some more, then I wake up groggy and more tired.)
4. 20 - 30 minutes on a hobby (Reading, drawing, writing, learning something new, etc.)
Once you make the above ideas into a habit, you'll find that you're a lot less stressed and overwhelmed in general.
Journal Exercise: Clear Your Mind
To clear your mind, let’s address some deeper issues. We tend to become stressed when we play avoidance games in our own heads.
Let's say that you're really bothered by something that a friend or loved one said to you today. Their words hurt you, and you are not quite sure what they meant.
As you go about your day, you may find yourself tensing up, taking everything too seriously, and stressing out…
The small things that you're having to deal with will now be harder to process, and your thoughts may even race around. You might find yourself taking your anxiety out on others, picking on how they're doing things, and becoming short on patience and understanding.
For today's mind-clearing journal entry, we'll be isolating “The Thing” that's really bothering you.
Write down what happened. Go into details (even if you think it’s silly) and share something you might not normally talk about. You're spending some “alone time” with your own mind. Feel free to express what's bothering you.
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Once you've written down all the details, read through it and see if there is anything you could have done differently.
What does God’s Word say about similar situations? Pray about it. Do you need to seek godly counsel on the matter? Do you want to tackle the problem again and try to influence what happens?
Or is it WISE to let it go?
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Once you've thoroughly examined whatever is causing you frustration, choose to set aside your difficulty.
Take a well-deserved break from thinking about it and tackle your daily routine and duties!
Take Action: Set Your Intention
What are your favorite ways to de-clutter yourself mentally?
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What resources do I need to declutter to protect my mental and spiritual health?
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Bible Verses to Reflect Upon:
Psalm 19:14 - Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
Psalm 91:1- He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
Psalm 139:17 - How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
Isaiah 26:3 - Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Isaiah 41:10 - Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Matthew 6:34 - Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Matthew 11:28 - Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
John 14:27 - Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Romans 8:6 - For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Romans 8:28 - And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Romans 12:2 - And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
2 Corinthians 10:5 - Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
Galatians 5:22-23 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Ephesians 3:20-21 - Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.
Philippians 4:6-7 - Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
2 Timothy 1:7 - For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Hebrews 4:12 - For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
1 Peter 5:7 - Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
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