1 John 1:9 (KJV)

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

How many of you are list makers? I am definitely a list maker. I have all kinds of lists. I have them in my purse, by my computer, and I even email them to myself. Yes, I send myself emails. It is just one way to remind myself to do something. I always have my phone, and I check my emails several times a day. I will see them every time and then I am reminded to do it. I won’t delete the email until I have finished whatever the reminder was for.

Writing things down has always helped me to remember them better. Even when the lists seem to never end and I am overwhelmed, they tend to keep me focused. It sure feels good when I can throw a list away or delete an email because I have accomplished the task.

Now, these lists are all to-do lists: what to get from the grocery store, what bill needs to be paid, or what email needs to be sent. Let’s get a little more serious. How about making a list of the areas in your life that feel cluttered. Write down the things that seem to take up the majority of your time. Be honest with yourself. Maybe it is social media, maybe you find yourself entangled in other’s problems or drama, or maybe even it’s work that consumes your time.

This is just a starting point for decluttering your life. Spend some time organizing your list, starting with what you feel is most important. You might realize that the things at the bottom of your list aren’t so important after all, and maybe you can toss them out. It is always important to talk to God while you are organizing your list. There may be things there that need to be in your life. It may be an area that God is trying to grow you in. If that is the case, you don’t want to delete that item.

Don’t spend time beating yourself up over your lists, or your failures in a particular area of your life. We all lose focus and tend to fill our lives up with stuff that doesn’t need to be there. Just like the above verse, we can always go to God for forgiveness when we fail in some way. Be patient with yourself, and just keep working at it. You never really fail unless you quit.