en en en id en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en ca nl ne en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en fa en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en it en en en it en en en en it en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en pt en en en en en en en en en en en en en fa en en
I pulled out the drawer in the middle of my kitchen, searching for a number 2 pencil WITH an eraser, with ten minutes to get into the minivan.  My hands began frantically rummaging to no avail; UNO cards, nail polish, hair clips, dozens of tiny rubber bands…no number 2 pencils, no pencils at all!  This is not good I thought.  The one thing that is supposed to be there isn’t, but every other thing under the sun is in there, taking up space and just junking up my drawer!
I know how this happened.  When I am tidying up I just toss things in there and close it up real quick instead of dealing with it and putting it
where it’s really supposed to go.
It works for the moment.  My counters are clear, and on the surface my kitchen looks really shiny and nice.  (Until a guest accidentally opens the drawer looking for a spoon to stir her coffee, right?) The same happens with our hearts.  We don’t put the real time or effort into prayer.  So we just toss up a general “Lord help me.”
Our outsides look great and tidy; but on the inside, we feel like our own junk drawer.
This afternoon, I opened it up to clean it out.  I put my fingers in there and moved the junk all around, looking for things that were valuable enough to keep.  I set a few treasures on top of the counter that I deemed worthy.  There was still so much junk mixed in with the good stuff.  I spotted a handwoven necklace I had bought in Africa when we were there adopting my daughter that I definitely wanted to keep.
But I realized I only had a few minutes before I had to leave again to take my daughter to gymnastics!  (See why I wrote the “Why your house is messy” post?)  I shoved the UNO cards and other treasures back in and then took this picture:  (Your’e welcome, I try to keep it real here :))
I thought about how my heart felt all discombobulated like this messy drawer.  It had been such a busy morning with necessary activities that I could not cut out of our schedule.  I have been out of the habit of rising very early to pour my heart out to the Lord in prayer and so it felt just as cluttered as this drawer.  So many concerns were in there, nothing extremely heavy or pressing,  but just things I needed to talk to Jesus about, stuffed in there waiting to come out and set before him.
The only way to clear something so messy out is to dump it.  Let all the good things worth keeping and the clutter taking up space to come out, and be picked up and evaluated
one thing at a time.
It is the same with our prayer life.  We can’t feel light and free if we don’t sit at the feet of Jesus and lift up every concern separately
one care at a time.
He wants us to be specific, and ask.
“You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.” James 4:2
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” Philippians 4:6
“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” 1 Peter 5:7
So in the spirit of Spring Cleaning, go pick a drawer or a closet.  Open it up and dump the clutter out.  As you pick up each thing to evaluate it, voice your concerns to the Lord.  Don’t let your mind wander into daydreaming.  Talk out loud to Jesus if that helps.  Feel your heart become so light and free as you let all the cares and worries be set upon the One on whom they are supposed to fall.
Then organize all the things that are left.  See the beauty you have created where there was once a mess.  Know that the things you lifted up to the Lord are being turned into something beautiful for eternity as well!  If you doubt,  just open up that drawer or closet and thank Him for working on the requests you laid at his feet.
I would love to hear from you if you are working through “Spring Cleaning for Your Heart and Home!”  Comment below and tell me how it’s going!  Praying for you all. Enjoy journeying through your home with Jesus, and look forward to a clean home and heart!
>>>If you would like to purchase the study, it’s available here on Amazon: >>>
April 7, 2016September 15, 2017 AmyTerry 4 Comments
4 thoughts on “Decluttering Your Heart, One Drawer at a Time”
April 7, 2016 at 12:50 pm
I was going to leave a comment even before I read the request. Yes, I am doing spring cleaning. I am open and honest. I was told by my boss that was not a good thing but I do not agree. I want to be transparent so that others see that I am just like them. A sinner saved by Grace no different than a non believer other than his GRACE.
When I first started the book. my first thought was, this is not for me. I don’t have little children but God stopped me to let me see that even thou my children are grown. I still need to de-clutter my home and especially my heart. That being said. Here is what God showed me this morning.
The last 10 years have been so hard (not focusing on this please) but the best 10 years of my life. Why because now that I look back, I would NEVER have come to love and appreciate who he was if I hadn’t. When you are in the valley of life, you either look up to where your hope is and realize that he is your hope or you become bitter, hurt and angry.
April 7, 2016 at 3:40 pm Author
So true Donna! We have to keep refocusing our eyes on Jesus for hope, no matter what season of life we are in! I am glad you are doing the study even though your kids are grown. I hope the Lord draws you even closer to him through it! ❤ Thank you for commenting!
April 7, 2016 at 5:34 pm
Hi Amy! I am loving this! I have to say as I have been cleaning closets & drawers this week, your study has given “spring cleaning” a whole new outlook! Praying during these tasks keeps me motivated and encouraged!
April 7, 2016 at 5:55 pm Author
Hey Stacy! Thanks for commenting! That’s amazing how praying has kept you motivated! I hope it stays a part of all of our cleaning routines & becomes second nature to us as we maintain our homes. Hope to see you this weekend! ❤
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Hi, I'm Amy and I'm glad you're here. I hope you join me as we journey to live a life refocused on Jesus. I love meeting other women who desire to go deeper with the Lord and narrow their focus through his word to see the abundant life he has for us. I'd love to connect! Send me an email and join our sisterhood group on Facebook!