What’s taking up space in your soul?

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Take care of yourself”

Our Bible verse for today: “(There is) a time to keep and a time to throw away.” Ecclesiastes 3:6 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “What’s taking up space in your soul?”

Almost ten years ago Linda and I made a strategic life-decision to downsize all areas of our life. It began with selling the home we were living in. It was a large home, two stories, five bedrooms, three baths, three thousand square feet, on a half-acre. It was much more than we needed for just the two of us. So, we sold it and bought a house less than half that size in a retirement community. It was perfect for that season of our lives.

Then we also downsized in terms of activities and responsibilities. At that time, Linda’s health was declining quickly and she needed more of my time and attention. So, I resigned from my part-time work with a mission agency along with a couple of volunteer ministry activities I was involved in, and I resolved to focus just on taking care of Linda and taking care of the church.

We also downsized in terms of possessions, especially the stuff that had been in storage in sheds, basements, and attics for years. If we weren’t using it, we gave it away. All of that downsizing served to unclutter our lives and it made room to focus more fully on the activities and people that mattered the most to us. Downsizing can be a healthy and positive way to improve the overall quality of your life – proving once again that many times, less is more.

Recently I came across another application of the downsizing principle. It was from author Katherine Wolf in her book “Treasures in the Dark: 90 Reflections on Finding Bright Hope in the Hurting.” Katherine asks us to consider if there needs to be some downsizing in our souls. If you are like most of us, you have accumulated and are holding onto lots of stuff that is cluttering up your soul. Old hurts, regrets, resentments, sorrows, unfinished grieving, sinful habits, and more. All that stuff is taking up precious space in your soul. It is distracting you and keeping you from focusing on what really matters most.

Let me ask you this morning to consider what is taking up precious space in your soul. Spend some time in prayer. Ask God to show you if there might be some clearing-out that needs to take place. Maybe there’s some clutter in your soul that needs to finally be cleaned up and cleared out.

In terms of good mental, emotional, and spiritual health, sometimes we need a soulful spring cleaning – we need to get the clutter out.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

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