Barbra Gentry-Pugh

HEALING FROM WITHIN ~ Cleaning Out the Clutter of the Soul

June 7, 2026

^“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.” Psalms 51:10

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts.” Psalm 139:23

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

Spring is almost over, and summer officially arrives on June 21, 2026. Many of us began cleaning weeks ago. If I am honest, I still have a few things I haven’t thrown away because they hold memories and are difficult to part with.

Yet as I thought about unfinished closets, crowded drawers, and boxes tucked away, God reminded me that sometimes the hardest things to clean out are not in our homes, they are in our hearts. We hold on to old hurts, disappointments, fears, regrets, and unhealthy patterns long after they have served any purpose. Just as a cluttered house can hinder our ability to function, a cluttered heart can hinder our spiritual growth, healing, and usefulness in God’s Kingdom.

The Bible does not explicitly command us to maintain a spotless physical house, but it does promote principles of diligence, stewardship, and order. More importantly, Scripture often uses physical cleansing as a picture of spiritual cleansing. Rather than emphasizing outward perfection, God is concerned with the condition of our hearts. David understood this when he prayed in Psalm 51:10:

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

You have probably heard the saying, “Cleanliness is next to godliness.” Although it is a well-known proverb, it is also not found in Scripture. The Bible’s focus is not merely on outward cleanliness but on inward transformation. God desires that we examine our hearts, remove what does not belong, and make room for His presence, peace, and purpose.

The following poem by an unknown author offers a powerful picture of what spiritual housecleaning can look like with the clutter of the soul. As you read, consider whether there are some things on the shelves of your own heart that need to be discarded to make room for God’s healing and wholeness.

Spiritual Cleansing

Last week, I threw out WORRYING;
It was getting old and in the way.
It kept me from being me;
I couldn’t do things God’s way.

I threw out those INHIBITIONS;
They were just crowding me out.
Made room for my New Growth,
got rid of my old dreams and doubts.

I threw out a book on MY PAST
(didn’t have time to read it anyway).
Replaced it with New Goals,
started reading it today.

I threw out HATE AND BAD MEMORIES,
(remember how I treasured them so)?
Got me a NEW PHILOSOPHY too,
threw out the one from long ago.

Brought in some New Books too,
called I CAN, I WILL, AND I MUST.
Threw out I might, I think, and I ought.
WOW, You should’ve seen the dust.

I ran across an OLD FRIEND,
haven’t seen him in a while.
I believe his name is GOD,
Yes, I really like His style.

He helped me to do some cleaning
and added some things Himself.
Like PRAYER, HOPE, and FAITH,
Yes, I placed them right on the shelf.

I picked up this special thing
and placed it at the front door.
I FOUND IT – it’s called PEACE.
Nothing gets me down anymore.

Yes, I’ve got my house looking nice.
Looks good around the place.
For things like WORRY AND TROUBLE
there just isn’t any place.

It’s good to do a little HOUSE CLEANING,
get rid of the old things on the shelf.
It sure makes things brighter;
maybe you should TRY IT YOURSELF.

Some of us have become caretakers of things God intended us to release. Old hurts. Old fears. Old disappointments. Old regrets. Perhaps the greatest cleaning project this season is not in your home but in your heart.

“What are you still holding onto that no longer belongs in your heart?” What are you continuing to feed and not release for healing? Stop chasing symptoms; confront the root problem(s) and allow God to heal the wounds of your heart!

As you continue on your journey of healing, wholeness, and transformation, may the Great Physician continue to help each of us in our “Spiritual Housecleaning” and discover the freedom that comes from making room for Him. We do not clean the clutter of the soul alone. The Holy Spirit lovingly reveals what needs to go and then replaces it with what is life-giving: faith, hope, peace, wisdom, and spiritual maturity.

God has helped me to do some cleaning, and He added some things Himself. Isn’t that the beauty of Sanctification?

God never asks us to empty our hearts simply to leave them empty. He removes what is harmful so He can fill us with what is holy. This reminds me of the “Put Offs and Put Ons in Biblical Counseling. Every hurt released creates room for healing. Every fear surrendered creates room for faith. Every burden laid down creates room for peace. God never asks us to empty our hearts simply to leave them empty. He removes what is harmful so He can fill us with what is holy. Ephesians 3:19 reminds us,” To know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

HEART CHECK: Spring cleaning requires us to open closets, pull things off shelves, and honestly evaluate what needs to stay and what needs to go. Spiritual spring cleaning requires the same honesty before God.

Take a moment to ask yourself:

Am I holding on to hurts that God is asking me to release?
Have I allowed worry, fear, bitterness, or disappointment to occupy space in my heart?
Are there old mindsets, unhealthy habits, or limiting beliefs cluttering my spiritual growth?
Is there something from my past that I continue to carry even though God has already forgiven, healed, or delivered me?
Have I made room for God’s Word, prayer, hope, and peace in my daily life?

Remember: What we refuse to release today may hinder what God desires to do in us tomorrow. “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts.” Psalm 139:23

HEART CHALLENGE: This week, ask the Holy Spirit to help you identify one thing that no longer belongs in your heart. Perhaps it is:

Worry
Unforgiveness
Fear
Resentment
Regret
Self-condemnation
A painful memory
A limiting belief

Then intentionally replace it with God’s truth. Don’t simply remove the clutter, fill the empty space with:

Prayer
Faith
Gratitude
Hope
Peace
God’s Word

Just as an empty shelf invites new treasures, a surrendered heart invites God’s transforming work.

STANDING ORDERS FROM THE MASTER PHYSICIAN!

Diagnosis: Spiritual and emotional clutter obstructing growth and peace.

Prescription: Daily surrender and renewal.

Instructions for Use: Follow God’s orders as prescribed!

♥Examine your heart before God daily. “ Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. “ Psalm 139:23.

♥ Discard thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors that no longer align with God’s truth. ”Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2

♥ Replace worry with prayer. “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7.

♥ Replace Fear With Faith. “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” Isaiah 41:10.

♥ Replace Bitterness With Forgiveness. “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:31-32
♥ Replace Discouragement With Hope. “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

♥ Renew Your Mind With God’s Word. ”Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2

♥ Make Room Daily For God’s Presence Through Prayer and Worship. “I am grateful to God, whom I worship with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did, when I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day.” 2 Timothy 1:3

♥ Practice Gratitude For What God Is Doing Now Rather Than Dwelling On What Has Already Passed. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

Refills: Available daily through time spent with the Great Physician.

“A clean house may bring order to our surroundings, but a clean heart brings peace to our souls. When we surrender the clutter of yesterday, we make room for God’s healing, God’s presence, and God’s purpose for tomorrow.”

“The goal of spiritual housecleaning is not simply to remove what is old, but to make room for what God wants to do next.”

May the God of peace help you clean out every corner of your heart that no longer serves His purpose. May He remove what hinders, heal what hurts, restore what is broken, and fill every empty space with His love, peace, and presence. May this new season find you lighter, freer, stronger, and more deeply rooted in Him than ever before.

LET’S PRAY: Father God, thank You for Your authoritative, inerrant, and inspired Word that gives us clear instruction as to how to do spring cleaning. Thank You for loving us enough to help us see the areas of our hearts that need attention. Just as we clean and organize our homes, help me to examine our hearts and remove anything that hinders our relationship with You. Show us what no longer belongs: old hurts, fears, worries, bitterness, regrets, and anything else that occupies space reserved for Your peace and presence. Give us the courage to release what we have been carrying and the wisdom to replace it with Your truth. Fill every empty place with faith, hope, love, and peace. Renew our minds, strengthen our spirit, and continue Your healing work within us. Help us to become a vessel that is clean, useful, and available for Your purposes. May our hearts reflect Your character and our lives bring glory to Your name in the Precious, Powerful, and Preeminent Name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, Amen.