Getting rid of clutter

Lately I have been getting rid of some clutter in my house. Paper clutter, toy clutter – clutter of all kinds. Things run more smoothly, and you get such a good feeling when things are organized. Ahhh.
But what about my inward life? How do I get rid of the clutter deep inside my soul?
I am reading a book on prayer and Christian meditation… called “Devotional Classics” by Richard Foster. One of the readings describes specifics about how to draw nearer to God and get rid of “spiritual clutter”. Here are the steps they mentioned:
1. Relax in the presence of God
2. Tell God all the things that are weighing on you, and release them to Him (um, that could take days!)
3. Make yourself aware of His presence
4. He comes to meet you, and you revel in His love
I read these steps and got so excited. I practiced them as best as I could. And I realized that there were so many things weighing on me I could not even count them. Sorrow, anger, fear…. weighing on me like a brick. I confessed them to him, and felt some release. I resolved to do this every day. But some of the really deep things that are weighing on me need more time – they need to be prayed through.
What does it mean to “pray through”?
I heard a sermon by Norvel Hayes in which he shared how his wife left him and how devastated he was. He could not get the weight of it off his soul. He cried out to God day after day and night after night, praying and weeping, until there was an exchange made between him and God. He was finally able to get that thing off of his soul. And peace utterly filled him.
I’ve made a decision that not matter what, I will pray through every issue with God until there is an exchange. He lifts my burdens, and I receive total and utter peace from Him. I release these things to God, and in return, He does miracles in my situation. He has done that for me so many times before, and yet now I find myself with some “clutter” weighing me down. But I know what to do! “Come to Him…”
Try this, and see what great things the Lord will do for you.
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30
