It was an old, syrupy streak of fruit that had bonded to the bottom shelf of my freezer that finally propelled me to action. Fed up with my less-than-pristine and very messy freezer, I started pulling out bags of frozen blueberries, packages of frozen burgers, sacks of coffee beans, and other miscellaneous freezer fares.
After removing everything, I scrubbed the freezer thoroughly, starting with that unsightly patch of fruit. Next, I sorted. I threw away outdated or unwanted items, and then I found small plastic totes and lined them up along the bottom shelf of the freezer. I put frozen meat in the first tote, frozen vegetables in the second, and frozen fruit in the third. I tucked bags of coffee beans into the freezer door and neatly arranged larger, bulkier items on the top shelf, next to the ice maker.
When I finished, my freezer was the most organized it had ever been, and I felt a sense of contented accomplishment at having set this little corner of my kitchen right.
As we march into spring, cleaning is on my mind again, and I can’t help but notice that my freezer is in need of another tune-up. But I’m aware that it’s not the only thing in my life that needs to be tended. My soul needs attention too.
The soul is generally understood to be comprised of one’s mind, emotions, and will. It’s the part of us that makes choices and expresses our thoughts, feelings, and personality.
Unfortunately, we live in a fallen world, and just like the spaces of our homes, the wear and tear of life can cause our souls to become disorganized and even dirty. And just as a dirty, disorganized home can leave us feeling anxious, overwhelmed, and even sick, so can a disordered soul.
Because the health of our souls is so important, I like to periodically “spring clean” my soul by sorting through my thoughts and emotions, and since one of the biggest expressions of our will is how we decide to spend our time, I also like to take stock of my commitments.
Cleansing our souls might sound complicated or intimidating, but in many ways, it’s not that different from cleaning out a messy freezer: We 1) take inventory 2) examine what we find, and 3) decide what to do with what we find.
Of course, instead of using rubber gloves and microfiber towels, when soul cleaning, we rely on other “tools,” such as courage, which is needed to honestly evaluate our thoughts and explore our emotions—especially the embarrassing or tender ones. But if you’re willing to do the work, you’ll find that the rewards include a happier heart, a clearer mind, and a planner filled with commitments that align with your unique purpose.
Are you ready to spring clean your soul? Here are three simple steps to get you started:
In an article published by Psychology Today entitled “Happy Brain, Happy Life,” Susan Reynolds and Teresa Aubele say, “Your thoughts form your character, how you operate in the world, and how far you travel mentally, physically, and spiritually. You are what you think you are, and all of your actions proceed from your thoughts.”
This statement, which is based on modern science, is affirmed by God’s Word. In Proverbs 23:7, we’re told that as a person “thinks in his heart, so is he” (AMP).
Our thoughts matter because where our thoughts go, we go.
As you begin tidying your thoughts, start by taking inventory. I suggest you grab a pen and notepad and then list everything that has been on your mind lately—thoughts about yourself, your friends and family, your dreams and goals, your job, your upcoming vacation, etc.
Next, examine what you find. For each thought listed, ask:
Is this thought helping or harming me?
Does this thought agree with God’s Word or contradict it?
Does this thought move me towards my God-given goals or push me away from them?
Finally, decide what to do with your thoughts. Of those on your list, which do you want to maintain and which do you want to release?
You might be thinking, I like the idea of releasing negative, ungodly, or unhelpful thoughts, but how do I do that, exactly?
Here’s one way: Once you determine to let go of a thought, tell God you are giving it to Him. If applicable, ask God’s forgiveness for believing something about yourself, others, or Him that you recognize is not true, and then purposefully replace it with His truth.
For example, suppose you identify the thought I’m not loved, but you realize it’s not true because Jeremiah 31:3 says that God has “loved you with an everlasting love” (NIV). You can release the thought by praying something like this: “God, I realize that the thought, ‘I’m not loved’ is a lie because Your Word tells me that You love me. I choose to relinquish this thought to You, and I choose to replace it with the truth that I am loved.”
Keep in mind that if you regularly struggle with a particular thought, you may need to repeat this surrendering and replacing process multiple times.
Our emotions are powerful indicators of our soul’s health. Just as the pain we feel when we cut our finger lets us know that our body needs attention, so painful emotions can alert us to sickness or injury in our soul.
Of course, our emotions can also signal wellness: feelings of joy, peace, love, and delight indicate a soul resting and flourishing in God’s goodness.
While some believe that our emotions are insignificant or even a sign of spiritual immaturity, this perspective does not align with the Bible. The Psalms describe just about every feeling known to humankind, and Proverbs 4:23 teaches that the heart, which is the seat of emotion, is the wellspring of life. Healthy emotions are just as essential to a thriving soul as are healthy thoughts, so as you work on spring cleaning your soul, be sure to pay attention to your feelings.
As with your thoughts, begin by taking inventory. Reflect on the emotions you’ve been experiencing lately, and write down anything that comes to mind, both positive and negative.
Next, examine what you find.
Usually, our feelings are linked to the things that happen (or don’t happen) to us, as well as our beliefs about ourselves and our circumstances. So as you examine, take note of the experiences connected to your emotions. For example, if you identify negative emotions such as anger, fear, or sadness, consider their source. Did you fight with a friend? Did you fail to earn the promotion you were hoping for? (If you can’t identify the root of an emotion immediately, don’t worry. Just keep bringing it to God, and He will bring clarity in time.)
Once you’ve examined your emotions and identified their source, it’s time to decide how to respond, and our best guide to deciding is God. You can start by asking, “God, how should I respond to this emotion and any related experiences or thoughts?” As you listen, you might sense Him prompting you to forgive an offense, encouraging you to give yourself time to grieve, or highlighting a thought that needs to be adjusted.
On the other hand, you might find that He’s using your positive emotions to guide you into a new calling, ministry, or relationship. For example, suppose you’ve been feeling a lot of joy lately, and the reason you feel so joyful is that you took a painting class and found that you love painting with watercolors. Your joy could be a clue that God is leading you deeper into work as an artist.
Whether your emotions are positive or negative, you can trust God to sort them out and guide your next steps.
I don’t know about you, but if I’m not careful, I can collect commitments the way some people accumulate knickknacks on their shelves. Most of these activities are fun, interesting, and even valuable, but eventually, my calendar gets crowded, making me feel hurried, stressed, and overextended, like a bungee cord that’s been stretched beyond its limits. Also, if I become too busy, I find it much harder to spend much-needed time with God.
On the other hand, when I’ve carefully cultivated a calendar containing only activities that I know God has called me to do and that I enjoy doing, I feel energized, organized, and fulfilled.
If you’re ready to clean up your commitments, begin as we did with your thoughts and emotions: by taking inventory. Write down all your current activities and commitments, such as volunteer commitments, church commitments, work commitments, family commitments, personal hobbies, or involvement in clubs and organizations.
Next, examine each activity and prayerfully ask:
How do I feel about this activity? Do I enjoy it? Dread it?
Is this activity consistent with what I feel God calling me to do in this season of my life?
Could it be time to let this commitment go or adjust the amount of time I spend on it?
Finally, decide what to do with each commitment. Which do you want to maintain? Which need to be amended, put on hold, or removed altogether?
If you determine that there are activities or commitments that need to be released, start planning how you will do so. When will you discontinue the activity? Is there anyone you need to inform or with whom you need to discuss your decision? Do you need to give notice so your position can be filled by someone else?
Letting go can be hard, especially when the activity is a “good” activity. But it helps to remember that the most fruitful plants are those that have been pruned. Encourage yourself with the truth that trimming your commitments will provide the margin you need to focus on what matters most in your current season.
Surveying a sparkling stovetop or a freshly cleaned, fruit-stain-free freezer can produce a wonderful sense of satisfaction, but those feelings pale in comparison to the feeling of knowing that your soul is well ordered and at peace with God.
As you embark on your own soul-cleansing session, I hope you find these steps helpful, and I encourage you to invite God into each part of the process. He is in the business of transforming and restoring our souls, and you can trust Him to provide wisdom for how to handle any thought, emotion, or schedule conflict you encounter. You are His masterpiece, and He wants you to enjoy the vibrant life He created you for. Happy spring cleaning!
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Helin Loik-Tomson