Emotional clutter provides fertile soil for the enemy to attack our lives. Learn practical steps for emotional healing and spiritual growth.
“Be careful,” my husband warned me, “I saw a snake in here yesterday!”
There had been mix up with dumpster delivery, so the contractor had left a large pile of wood odds and ends crisscrossed in our front yard. And now we were tossing all the debris into the dumpster.
As my husband warned me about the physical snake living among the debris in our front yard, the Holy Spirit quickened my spirit, and I heard, “That’s what happens when people leave debris unattended in their hearts.”
When we leave bad feelings, disappointments, and negative emotions undealt with in our heart, the enemy finds opportunity to take up residence among the debris.
Throughout the day, the words about the snake in the debris continued to disturb me.
Disappointment, Hurt, and Negativity
Because we live in a fallen world, our interactions with people can get twisted and piled up.
We can get disappointed, hurt, misled, and/or misunderstood.
We can feel used, neglected, or unseen.
Our attitude can turn negative as our faith dips and hope recedes.
Our vision can get cloudy and our soul tired.
It is here the enemy will find opportunity within the debris of our hearts.
These negative emotions consume our thoughts, cloud our judgment, and weaken our spiritual defenses to create a breeding ground for doubt, fear, bitterness, and resentment.
These negative emotions are in opposition to how God thinks and acts.
They keep us from experiencing emotional healing and God’s peace, love, and joy! They form a barrier between us and all God has for us!
Diligence is Required for Healing & Spiritual Growth
Just as we were diligently clearing away the physical clutter in our front yard, a similar diligence is required to take care of our hearts.
It’s all too easy to push aside our negative feelings, hoping they will fade away on their own.
We may bury them under the guise of busyness, distraction, or denial, but the truth remains: unresolved emotions have a way of lingering and attracting unwelcome influences just as the snake was hiding among the discarded wood.
Anger and Gossip
Just as the mix-up with the dumpster delivery resulted in a pile of wood debris in our front yard, certain circumstances in our lives can lead to the accumulation of more emotional debris.
We may unintentionally allow the snakes of anger, gossip, or negativity to slither into our lives.
Anger, for instance, can swiftly coil around our hearts to poison our thoughts and actions.
If left unaddressed, anger can manifest as resentment, bitterness, and even hostility, and allow the enemy to seize an opportunity within our lives.
Similarly, gossip can easily slither its way into our conversations to spread its venomous effects.
For example, I was visiting with relatives a week or so ago, and they were complaining about how our tiny town was being inundated with thousands of newcomers every month. Subdivisions were popping up everywhere. My relatives were negative and depressing.
After I left, I asked the Lord what He thought of all this.
He said, “A vibrant and growing community is a blessing.” I could have easily got caught up in the negativity of complaining about all the issues a growing community faces.
Growth of any kind produces changes and struggles but is a blessing nonetheless!
It is important to turn our thinking from negativity and fear to positivity and faith by establishing what God thinks in a matter.
Constant complaining and pessimism will drain our energy and hinder our ability to experience genuine joy and gratitude.
The enemy delights in using negativity as a breeding ground for doubt, fear, and hopelessness.
Therefore, we must be vigilant in guarding our hearts against these snakes. We need to become more aware of the situations, conversations, and influences that may invite them in.
We can actively choose to reject anger, gossip, and negativity, and prevent them from taking root in our minds.
What Can We Do?
So, what can we do to prevent the enemy from hiding in cluttered places in our hearts?
It begins with a willingness to confront our emotional clutter head-on.
We must be brave enough to acknowledge and explore the depths of our heart and feelings, no matter how uncomfortable it may be. You can use the following tips to get started.
Quick Tips Action Steps:
- Ask, “What does God think?” Practicing a time of reflection, even if brief, with God is crucial. Ask for God’s opinion on the matter. It is in these quiet moments that we can connect with the Holy Spirit and allow Him to identify areas of emotional debris that need attention. He will guide us towards forgiveness, compassion, and love. He transforms the way we think. See also, What Does God’s Voice Sound Like?
- Give all the yucky stuff to Jesus. Those yucky thoughts and feelings, no matter how justified you may feel, are weights and debris piling up in your heart. They hinder your relationship with Jesus. Simply say, “I don’t know what all this means, Lord. However, I feel this way, and I give it all to you Jesus to sort out. I trust You with my heart!” Then receive His peace.
- Don’t forget to worship. Worship by yourself and with the body of Christ. In times of worship, the Lord’s presence washes over us and gives us strength, hope, and love. We refocus on Him rather than our circumstances. He fills us again with His empowering Spirit.
Conclusion
Just as my husband warned me about the snake, and we were clearing away the physical debris to restore cleanliness, order, and beauty to our front yard, we must actively engage in the ongoing work of emotional healing and decluttering to restore peace and wholeness to our hearts.
It’s not a one-time task but rather a continual process where we create space for God’s work of faith, love, and joy to flourish within us.
Remember, our hearts are precious, sacred spaces that deserve our utmost care and attention.
Let us not allow the enemy to find a home among the debris but instead cultivate an inner heart stance of prayer, forgiveness, compassion, peace, and love.
also see, Keys to Freedom and Deliverance in Christ and 7 Things That Hinder Spiritual Growth
Verses to Ponder
Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Psalm 42:11 “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”
Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Psalm 34:17-18 “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
PS. These simple tips will help many people. However, some people may need the help of a trained Christian counselor or prayer minister/pastor.
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