Red Wednesday's Wisdom - CHG #1, Part One

Slow Down and Be Still
Prior to writing today’s Red Wednesday’s Wisdom, I stilled myself by spending some time in prayer and reflection.  As a result of that slowing down, I wanted to share what came to me through Pastor Tony Evan’s daily e-mail devotion.  And to put it quite simply, had I not slowed down to be still with the Lord, I would have missed what God wanted to say to me, and particularly as it pertains to this blog!  Today’s devotion was just one example of the many ways that God affirms for me that I am on His path, heeding His calling.

Last week I taught you about journaling and what you can learn through God’s Holy Spirit when you write down your one word responses or phrases that are reflective of your answers to the SW.  This morning’s devotion began with these words. “Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord” (Exodus 24:4), and then Pastor Evans went on to say that Moses did not want to miss or forget anything that God was telling him.

I can not tell you how excited I got!   Whenever I hear God specifically and personally speaking to me through His written Word and His Holy Spirit, I continue to be in awe.  Just think about it, the God of the universe wants to talk to us!  It is so unfathomable, but the Bible, which is inclusive of the Torah (the first five books of the Bible), was inspired through God’s Holy Spirit!  The Bible remains the # 1 best selling book, and it contains God’s most personal love letters that have been written to each and every one of us!

So with that little side note, grab your journal and pen as we prepare to slow down.  Take some time to slowly breathe in and slowly breathe out so you can get that oxygen flowing to your brain.  Now take a moment to think, and consider the visual that comes to mind as you ponder on the word "clutter."  Write down your thought in one word.   If you then want to elaborate on your one word go right ahead.  For the majority of you there was an immediate mental picture of the pile ups and build ups of material “stuff” - mail, paperwork, laundry, dishes, or toys.  My one word would have been "chores."  Maybe your word was "paperwork."

Remember when I told you last week that clutter = stress?  I am going to help you see how specific we can be in identifying our stress when we rethink of it in terms of what builds up and piles up not only with our possessions, but also in our heads and hearts, as well as situationaly, spiritually, physically and mentally.  All you have to do is look at the expression on this face and you can sense that there is way more clutter going on than meets the eye!

Build ups and pile ups take place first and foremost in our heads, where we are bombarded with unlimited thoughts.  Those thoughts can then give way to an endless array of built up emotions and feelings that get stored up in our hearts.  Thoughts and feelings directly influence the numerous situations that we find ourselves piling into.  Add to all of this the bewildering pileup of spiritual beliefs systems, and you will see the ripple effect of what builds up inside of our bodies that adversely affects our physical health, and spreads to a build up of damaged relationships.

Looking at clutter from this point of view helps us to more clearly see that it can encompass every aspect of our lives.  As we look at stress in the light of defining it as clutter, I hope you will be better prepared to see what is robbing you from living with simplicity, order and nurturance.

Slow down and reflect on this:
♥ Clutter is anything that builds up or piles up around us.
♥ Clutter is anything that builds up or piles up inside of us.
♥ Our outward clutter reflects our inward clutter.
♥ Clutter is directly related to the build-up or pile-up of how we think and feel.
♥ Clutter is the build-up or pile-up of “pushing off” or “putting off” the making of a decision.  In one word, we "avoid" or "procrastinate" the making of a decision.  In one phrase, “I’ll do it tomorrow.”
♥ Clutter causes confusion, chaos, and disorder within us and around us.
♥ Clutter can reflect the barriers of sin that come between us and God.

To summarize, our outward environment reflects what we think and feel on the inside. Therefore, our outward clutter is a reflection of the clutter that is going on inside of us. And here is the truth about clutter, it is always coming at you just like the mail, whether it is snail mail or e-mail.  Clutter never goes away but, we can learn how to manage it and lessen it. 

How do we manage and lessen the clutter?  We will start by slowing down, and I will for warn you, this is a Clutter Healing Guideline (CHG) that is a foundational life skill for living in a very fast paced world.  We are going to spend some very precious time in learning how to do this.  So, in your journal, and even on a post it note, write down the following equation:  Knowledge + Application = Change.  Over the next week, take just one minute each day to remind yourself to slow down and think about how change pertains specifically to you and not someone else.

Knowledge without application is useless.  And when you are introduced next week to the 7 categories of clutter, you will begin to gain the knowledge that you need and the opportunity to apply that knowledge.  You will be able to lessen, manage, and heal your clutter, and that will bring about a transformation that is life changing.

Here is the challenge for you this up coming week as you still yourself to reflect these three truths about change: 
♥ You can only change you.
♥ You can not change another.
♥ True change, true transformation, comes through God’s power source, His Holy Spirit.

This week let’s make a conscientious effort to honestly assess where we need to slow down and/or be still.  Maybe it has to do with our scheduling, driving, talking, reacting, spending, serving, pleasing.  Ask God to help you identify that one area in your life that needs to change, and then write it down for yourself in just one word.

The first guideline to healing any kind of clutter is to slow down and be still.  We have build ups and pile ups in our life because we are doing everything way too fast and we think there is no time to slow sown or to quiet ourselves.  Here is the Scripture that God speaks to us in backing up this first Clutter Healing Guideline, which will be referred to as CHG from here on out.  “Be silent, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). I look forward to breaking this Scripture down for you next week as we continue to explore CHG #1.