Welcome! I am SO HAPPY you are here today!
If you have stopped by after reading my devotion on Encouragement for Today, I hope you’ll hang around for the next three weeks. I’m going to go through a Clutter-Free Challenge that I developed last year that will walk you through decluttering all kinds of things. If you’d like to join me and get my challenge in your emails, simply enter your email address in the box in the right sidebar, below my picture. After the challenge is over, you can unsubscribe, or stay with me for ongoing encouragement in bringing peace and order to our lives.
If you are one of my faithful readers, I hope you’ll either try this again, or hang with me through the next three week and I’ll be back to normal posting.
First let me say that I don’t expect anyone to do this in 15 days. What I suggest is that you create a folder in your email provider labeled “Clutter-Free Challenge.” Then, when my email comes in, move it from your inbox to that folder. Then you can work through it at your leisure.
Before we dive in, I want to address what I know is on many of your minds. Maybe you are itching to get started, but if we don’t deal with what’s going on inside of us, we’ll only put bandages on the outside problem of clutter. I want more for you than a temporary fix.
Everyone starts this challenge from a different place of optimism. Perhaps you are charged up and ready to tackle the clutter in your life. Or maybe you are discouraged and defeated, and we haven’t even started. You’ve tried everything, and you are ready to lock up your house and move.
I understand. I’ve been in both places before.
How and what I think affects my ability to sustain any challenge. The truth is, my mind can be my biggest enemy in this battle of the clutter. I’m sure some of you can relate. We blame and label ourselves. We compare and discourage ourselves. We judge and give up on ourselves.
And so today, before giving you any tips, I want to start by praying for God’s truth to replace the lies that have held you back. You see, this isn’t just a battle of “things,” it’s a spiritual battle.
Please pray with me before reading any more:
Heavenly Father, You alone know my heart as I start this challenge. You know the depth of my discouragement and the loss of my hope that I’ll ever be free of the clutter in my life. So today, as I take this step with Glynnis and other many others, I’m asking for Your help. Help me have Your perspective on the areas of my life that feel overwhelming.
Clear my mind of the negative chatter. Protect me from an enemy who wants to confuse and defeat me. Reveal his lies and replace them with Your truth about my worth and potential. With Your help I believe I can make progress. In Jesus name, Amen.
Each time you feel overwhelmed and discouraged remember to pray. Satan wants you bound; God wants you free. See the lies for what they are and ask God for His truth. It’s amazing how empowered you’ll feel when you use the weapon God has offered you – truth.
Now a bit about why I’m doing this challenge. As I was writing my book, “I Used to Be So Organized,” I studied many organization, time management and productivity books. I read magazines articles on organization and visited many organizing blogs. Everywhere I looked, I found great tips on how to develop efficient systems for organizing. Even with all this information available, much of it free, why do so many people struggle with getting organized?
It actually didn’t take me long to figure this out. The answer was obvious. Most of us have too much stuff in too little room – whether it’s our minds, schedules, offices or homes. There’s just more stuff than we need or can manage.
You see, there is no point in “organizing” stuff that shouldn’t be there in the first place! And there’s no benefit of trying to get a handle on your schedule if your responsibilities outweigh your resources for getting everything done.
If you’ve got an organization problem, I’ll be brave and at the risk of offending you, say you have too much stuff in your life.
I’ll bet you have stuff stacked, tucked, shelved, boxed and piled around your house. And the thought of bringing any kind of order to all that stuff overwhelms you. I know. I’ve been there. That’s why I don’t want to spend your valuable time telling you to buy more storage bins, filing cabinets, cute baskets or bins.
For now, let’s not think about how we are going to bring order to our stuff. Let’s just think about getting rid of clutter.
Together we’ll spend the next 15 days working through areas of our lives that tend to feel out of control. We’re going to simplify. Doesn’t that sound appealing?
Together we will: assess, categorize, recycle, shred, toss, give away. It will be like going on a diet, only you can have Starbucks and brownies while you work. At the end of this challenge, I promise you’ll be lighter.
You’ll have the weight of a messy office, kitchen or bedroom off your shoulders. You’ll feel unburdened by too many thoughts running through your mind. You’ll have a lighter schedule and be able to identify your priorities and focus on what’s important.
Our purpose in getting free of clutter is to be freed to do what God is calling us to do. Clutter in our minds, spirits, time and resources drains us. It saps our creativity. It discourages us before we get started. We are free from clutter to obey.
Thanks for joining me on this 15-day challenge. Just work at it as you can. Maybe for you it takes 15 weeks. And that’s okay too. Just keep moving forward. We’ll celebrate the little victories together.
Tomorrow I’ll share a spiritual principle that will help bring clarity to your mind. Everything starts there, and we need to get that area under control first. Until then …
Grace & Peace,
Glynnis
Dear Heavenly Father, I believe You are the God of new beginnings. Please help me to accept this for myself. Help me replace the old labels I’ve given myself with the new names you have given me: chosen, able, equipped and loved. Thank You! In Jesus Name, Amen.
If you’d like to read more of my tips for organizing, I hope you’ll consider getting my book. It’s available through Proverbs 31 Ministries, Amazon or any bookstore. Thank you.
Hi Glynnis,
I am excited that you are doing this again this year! I started with you last year but didn’t follow it to completion. I’m looking forward to making it through this time! God willing, I am ready! Thank you for sharing your wisdom in the Lord and applicable steps for our daily lives!!
It really is God’s time.
I struggle constantly with the negative thoughts that run through my head. It defeats me before I begin. Thank you for the uplifting prayer and the uplifting words. I really look forward to the journey!
Hey Glynnis! Am re-reading “I Used to be So Organized” this month and this challenge fits right in for de cluttering my thought life and calendar. Two of my favorite scriptures in your devotional at Prov 31 today…Titus 2 & Proverbs 25:28. I always relate that “city with walls broken down” to my personal appearance, which is in need of lots of repair following the holidays season of pretending too much food, too many activities, too little sleep & exercise has no effect on how I look & feel
my 2 areas needing de cluttering are my health/appearance as well as my calendar/priorities. So I am up for the challenge! But since I have 2 hand surgeries scheduled this next month I love for your idea of creating a folder for this challenge & doing it at my own pace. Did this in my home with you last year & was great! Thanks
Oh, Glynnis you just don’t know how much I need this. When I saw the title, the first thing I thought of decluttering was my mind. Then when I read through your post, you actually mentioned our minds! Thank you! And thanks be to God!
I’m so excited and look forward to the next 3 weeks.
I too, am so happy you are offering this again. Last year I started, but didn’t finish…bought your book…but I have no idea where it is…..sigh….but my “theme” for this year is RENEW! I want to renew my mind each day in Christ, and renew my efforts (with His help, because I know I can’t do it on my own) to live a life that honors Him!
Thank you!
Thank you for doing this again! I really love your blog!
“too much stuff in too little room – whether it’s our minds, schedules, offices or homes. There’s just more stuff than we need or can manage.”
“…Stuff stacked, tucked, shelved, boxed and piled around your house” – when did you visit?!
This is me and my home, in a nutshell. I, too, am grateful you are assisting us through this again this year. Some, like me, need the prodding.
Joined in the middle last year – great to get started from the beginning this time.
I also plan to apply it to my mind and schedule! Thanks Glynnis!
I started this last year as well, and made slow and steady progress – UNTIL the first week of April when my college-age daughter moved back home because she was pregnant (and not married, father-of-baby departed the picture when she refused to abort her baby). To say that this major life altering event for our family produced a hiccup in my ability to continue decluttering is an understatement. I could not mentally continue the project. My time was reduced as I cared for her needs, and did my best to continue to parent my two young daughters (7 and 11 at that time). When September rolled around, I increased my work hours to full-time to help carry the financial burden a new baby was going to bring; and as the due date arrived, so did the “stuff” that I thought my home was not going to see again: crib/changing table; swing; bouncey seat; etc. Now that the baby is nearly two months old, the laundry has tripled…yes, how does one small baby create more laundry than a family of four? It’s some mathematical inconsistency, apparently. A breast pump decorates my living room end table, and now that my daughter is back in college full-time, there are bottles to wash and books everywhere to add to the clutter. I’ll be trying again this year. I have to assume it will go slower than it did last year! But I will not give up. Perseverance is key. And through all of this, I KNOW that God is in control and He is teaching us all some powerful lessons.
Enjoy the blessing the Lord has given to you! I was there 18 months ago and so overwhelmed I didn’t know what to do! But, our lil man is absolutely the best thing that ever happened! I wouldn’t wish the circumstances of his arrival on anyone but I know he was created for a purpose — specifically to give us joy in times of chaos & confusion around us! Even the chaos of a little one will pass all too soon! I can’t believe how time flies! They still live with us and I find I’m much more relaxed and able to enjoy each stage of his development than I was with his mother & aunt. My daughter tried full-time college & part-time work with parenting . . . found it best for all of us for her to drop back to part-time college. That’s one thing that will wait . . . children can’t! Again, enjoy this Blessing!
Thank you Glynnis. .I’m crying because this has been on my heart for the last few months and I’m so overwhelmed. I went through your challenge last year, printed your emails, filed them, purchased your book and began, but did not get very far. This year with God’s help I’m determined to de-clutter, even if it takes all year. Just walking into my girls’ room often sends me into a panic. . there’s just too much stuff. . and we are trying to declutter and organize our basement because we’re moving our teenage son down there as soon as we can so he can have his own room. . so much to be done, but I’m thankful for the support her and I’m ready! Let’s declutter!!! Blessings to you!
Glynnis – your emails are such an encouragement to me every day and when I read this one my heart overflowed. My mind and my basement are both cluttered and it weighs heavily on me all the time. I let this clutter prevent me from being the woman I know God has called me to be. So today – I prayed the prayer above and I truly know that God will enable me to see this challenge through with your help. Thank you for caring about all of us and for your ministry. Let’s get ready to declutter!
I am looking forward to ‘uncluttering’ my mind and house with you. I have so needed to do this but, like you said it is so overwhelming, so instead of doing anything, I do nothing. I’m actually excited to start and see what wonderful things happen!
You spoke about the “Unhurried Life” at our church last fall, I was so blessed to meet you and hear you share. I love your book. It so aptly describes my life. This year I have spent time decluttering my body. I am few pounds lighter and preparing for surgery, but we found out recently that the Army will likely move us this summer. There is not a better time to declutter than now! I am going to read and work along with you, as I continue to declutter my body, I will also declutter my house. Thanks, Glynnis! I love your writing…
Couldn’t have been pointed to your site at a better time… cleaning out 35 years of two hoarders in the same house…. How do I get started…. I have to do it in a hurry… I don’t have time to sit in front of my computer all day!
Glynnis,
Always a good reminder. Thanks. I joined you last year for that challenge, but looking at the piles in my bedroom, I’ll need to do some more again.
Have a great week, Glynnis. I enjoyed talking with you at She Speaks 2011.
Jennifer Dougan
http://www.jenniferdougan.com
I am glad you are doing this again.
I tried but did not get far last year….I think I was not ready.
My heart/relationships were too cluttered. I worked on this a bit and I think I am now ready!
Let’s GO!
I am so excited to be starting this. Last January, I started the year in a “Made to Crave” Bible study and it transformed my life. I can see how this will also transform my life. Thank you for sharing with us and walking right besides us as we de-clutter our lives.
God Bless you!!
Glynnis,
just the other night I was relaying to my husband that I felt so overwhelmed at the thought of organizing/de-cluttering our home. With a five year old and an eight month old going full speed and BOTH of them getting up several times a night, I’m exhausted (and feel like a crazy woman) during the day. I definitely identify with this being a heart issue, also. I’m so ready to be transformed from the inside out. I can’t wait to go from survival mode to refreshed and renewed! Thank you for your words of grace! Leigh Anne
Every year we talk about the clutter in our home and how to tackle it. It just doesn’t get done as we are so overwhelmed with how to accomplish it. We think it’s because our house is too small and now I see that’s not the issue.
Last weekend we planned our 2013 family goals. This is one of my 2013 personal goals. I will start today by starting my list as suggested in Day 3.
I just found your sight through Karen Ehman’s post. I am so glad I checked out your page. I wish I’d seen it earlier. January is nearly gone and my life is already too busy and I’m still disorganized. I guess it is really never to late to start though. Thank you for sharing the insight God has placed on your heart.