The Four Steps to Decluttering Your Life

Removing what no longer serves God’s purpose

Dr. Randy Carlson

What if I told you that decluttering isn’t just about organizing your home—but about clearing the distractions that keep you from living with purpose?

The truth is, most of us have clutter in our lives. And I don’t just mean the kind piling up on your kitchen counter. Clutter is anything that sidetracks you, keeps you from being present, or prevents you from experiencing life the way God intended.

For many of us, life feels cluttered in ways we can’t always see. Our minds are overloaded, our schedules are packed, and our hearts carry more than they should. We tell ourselves, “I’ll get to it someday,” but the clutter keeps piling up—physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

That’s why decluttering is about more than just cleaning up—it’s about living intentionally.

So, how do we start decluttering? The key isn’t just cleaning out your closet (though that can help!)—it’s about intentionally removing what no longer serves God’s purpose for your life. Let’s look at a simple, four-step process to help you declutter your life—God’s way.

Step 1: Decide What Needs to Go

You have to make a decision. You have to look around and say, “What is cluttering up my life today?’ Is it my mental space? My schedule? My relationships? Even my spiritual walk with God? Maybe there’s something that’s blocking His movement in my life.” Whatever it is, you have to identify it first.

We often get stuck because we feel overwhelmed—there’s so much to fix, we don’t know where to begin. But God doesn’t expect us to tackle everything at once. The question is: What’s ONE area of your life that feels the most cluttered right now?

• Maybe it’s financial clutter—debt that keeps piling up.
• Maybe it’s mental clutter—constant worry or negativity.
• Maybe it’s relational clutter—people who drain you rather than build you up.

Once you decide where to start, you’re already on the path to freedom.

Step 2: Discover What God Says About It

The second step is seeking God’s wisdom on what to do next. Clutter isn’t just about getting rid of things—it’s about replacing them with what truly matters.

We don’t just declutter for the sake of getting rid of things—we need to replace them with what truly matters. We have to ask, “What does God say about this? What is His truth?” The Bible speaks to every one of these areas—our emotions, relationships, finances, and even our thought life.

Refuse to believe lies about your clutter.

The problem is, we often believe lies about our clutter:

• “I have to stay busy to be valuable.”
• “I can’t set boundaries—I’d be letting people down.”
• “I’ll never get out of this mess.”

But what does God actually say about:

• Mental clutter? Philippians 4:8 reminds us to think on what is true, noble, and praiseworthy.
• Financial clutter? Proverbs 22:7 warns us that debt is bondage.
• Relational clutter? Proverbs 13:20 says we become like those we surround ourselves with.

Once you align your life with God’s truth, it becomes much easier to know what needs to go.

Step 3: Do One Thing Today

Once you know what to declutter and why, the next step is taking action. You don’t have to fix everything at once. Just do ONE thing. If you started today and did one small thing every day for the next 30 days, you’d be amazed at the change.

• If you’re dealing with physical clutter, that one thing could be cleaning out a single drawer.
• If you’re dealing with emotional clutter, that one thing could be choosing to forgive.
• If it’s digital clutter, maybe today’s step is turning off your phone for an hour and reconnecting with God.

Sometimes, we get stuck because we think it’s all or nothing. We try to declutter everything at once, get overwhelmed, and give up. But real change happens in small, intentional steps. So, what one thing can you do today to move toward freedom?

Step 4: Declutter Daily and Build a New Habit

Decluttering is something to build into your life. When you make decluttering a daily habit, it creates lasting change.

Life isn’t about quick fixes—it’s about small changes over an extended period of time. The same way we manage our finances wisely or exercise for our health, decluttering is a habit that brings freedom over time.

Think of it like this: If you walked two miles a day for a year, you’d be healthier, right? The same principle applies to decluttering your life.

Every day:

• Choose ONE thing to remove.
• Choose ONE truth from God’s Word to replace the clutter.
• Move one step closer to the freedom God has for you.

So let’s take the first step today. Decide what’s cluttering your life. Discover what God says about it. Do one thing to move forward. And commit to decluttering daily. Because on the other side of clutter is freedom—and that’s exactly what God wants for you.

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