Day Twenty- A Scripture for Letting Go

 

"You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock." ~Isaiah 26:3-4

Day Nineteen- Letting Go of "Shoulds"

There are “shoulds” and then there are “shoulds.” Some “shoulds” lead us into a place of peace and contentment. “You should empty the trash can when it is full.” “You should extinguish the campfire before leaving the camp site.” Complying with these kinds of “shoulds” brings about a good result. Noncompliance has decidedly negative consequences.

Some “shoulds”  lead to confusion, guilt, and even condemnation. “You should decorate your house this way.” “You should drive this kind of car.” “If you are a good person, then you should do this.” And, the one I have been hearing a lot lately, “You should return to work full-time now that your nest is almost empty.” Complying with these kinds of “shoulds” encourages self-doubt. Rather than living authentically, we try to live the way others want us to live.

I have found that I am at my best when I focus on loving God and seeking His plan and purpose for my life. When I am listening to His voice and living according to His word, then all of those “shoulds” just fade away. I am free to live an authentic life without fear or condemnation.

Let go of those “shoulds” today and focus on what God has for you. 

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” ~Romans 8:1

Day Three- Letting Go of Clutter

Clutter. What’s the big deal about clutter? A little pile here, a little pile there…it’s not hurting anything, right? Well, have you considered the following?

• Clutter can cause you to feel overwhelmed, anxious, or depressed. 
• Clutter steals your energy.
• Clutter makes it harder to keep your house clean.
• Clutter takes up valuable storage space.
• Clutter can make it hard for you to concentrate.
• Clutter can affect the way you feel about yourself and your home.

Ugh!!! The good news is that eliminating clutter can boost your energy, improve your attitude, and make way for new things and experiences to come into your life. If we keep holding on to old stuff that is no longer useful to us, then we won’t have room to receive anything new. 

How do we begin to take control of clutter?

For some people, organization is a bit of a challenge. Make sure that you set up a system that makes sense for you and your family. Keep it simple and set realistic goals or you will get overwhelmed. Involve the entire family- group participation is important! Even little ones can learn to put things away with the proper training.

Getting rid of stuff can be difficult sometimes. We often form attachments to our possessions. This makes it hard to decide what to do with them. Letting go takes courage and determination. Change can be tough, so you might want to call a friend to come help you through the process. Throw away anything that is broken or worn out. Anything else can be sold or donated. Remember, the goal is to keep only those things that are currently useful and add value to your life.

Once you have conquered the clutter, commit to doing small things every day to maintain order. It’s amazing what you can accomplish in just a 10-minute tidy-up session at the end of the day. 

Letting go of clutter is a practical way to bring peace and beauty into your home and into your heart.

“Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.”  ~William Morris