God is always doing something new. Therefore, as His children, our lives should reflect this truth as we are presented with opportunities to embrace change. To make room for what God is doing, we must often rid ourselves of the things that no longer serve God’s purpose in our lives. Thus, to increase our spiritual capacity, we must clear out the old to make way for the new.

I’m reminded of a dream I had in 2020. In the dream, I walked into my barn. Inside was a kitchen with two refrigerators. When I opened one, I saw it was overflowing with food. As I looked through it, I noticed some items had been there so long they were about to expire. I decided to clean out both refrigerators. While doing so, I found two bottles of grape juice without lids. Because they were uncovered, I worried they had gone bad, so I threw them away and planned to replace them.

In Scripture, a barn represents a storehouse—a place of God’s provision and our spiritual stewardship of what He has given us. Much like a physical refrigerator, the one in my dream was a place to keep spiritual food fresh. Considering these insights, a few things stood out to me in the dream.

First, I had an overabundance of food. In reality, I was hoarding it. Spiritual hoarding creates clutter that distracts us from God’s plan and forms obstacles that detour us spiritually.

Second, much of the food was about to spoil. When we keep spiritual blessings to ourselves instead of sharing them, they go to waste. Others miss out on the blessings God intended for them through our generosity.

Finally, the grape juice had gone stale and had to be thrown away. In Scripture, fermented grape juice (wine) often symbolizes the Holy Spirit. While we are filled with God’s Spirit, we need continual spiritual refreshing—it is not a one-time experience. Thus, we must put off the old and receive the new so we can carry a greater measure of His presence.

In the dream, I threw out the old wine because it no longer served its purpose. That matters because Scripture says:

“Besides, who would patch old clothing with new cloth? For the new patch would shrink and rip away from the old cloth, leaving an even bigger tear than before.

And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the wine would burst the wineskins, and the wine and the skins would both be lost. New wine calls for new wineskins.”

(Mark 2:21-22, NLT) 

In the Gospels, Jesus reveals what happens when we try to mix the old and the new. It just doesn’t work. This is a reminder that when we hold on to something for too long, it no longer serves its purpose. Consequently, refusing to let go can hinder us in several ways:

• It keeps us focused on the past instead of moving forward. We cannot move backward and forward at the same time.

…the one thing I do, however, is to forget what is behind me and do my best to reach what is ahead. So I run straight toward the goal in order to win the prize, which is God’s call through Christ Jesus to the life above.

(Philippians 3:13-14, GNT)

• It weighs us down spiritually. When we accumulate stuff—whether physical, emotional, relational, or spiritual—it can hinder our walk with God. Even good things can become burdens when they accumulate beyond what God intended.

…Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in.

(Hebrews 12:1–2, MSG)

• It distracts us from God’s best. Clutter steals our focus and creates unnecessary obstacles, keeping us from pursuing God wholeheartedly.

Then Jesus told them this parable: “There was once a rich man who had land which bore good crops. He began to think to himself, ‘I don’t have a place to keep all my crops. What can I do? This is what I will do,’ he told himself; ‘I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, where I will store the grain and all my other goods. Then I will say to myself, Lucky man! You have all the good things you need for many years. Take life easy, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself!’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night you will have to give up your life; then who will get all these things you have kept for yourself?’”

(Luke 12:16–20, GNT)

• Our capacity is limited. To receive what God wants to give us, we must first empty ourselves of what no longer serves a purpose. Even Jesus had to empty Himself in order to fulfill His Father’s good plan.

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

(Philippians 2:5–8, NLT)

The truth is, if we do not prepare for the increase, we will not have the capacity to receive it. Thus, spiritual preparation is key—it is time to clean out the spiritual refrigerator.

Like moldy food stuffed in the back of the fridge, are there things tucked away in the corners of our hearts that need to be removed?

Like an overfilled fridge, have we accumulated so much that we cannot clearly see what we have or use it as God intends?

Like a freshly stocked fridge, do we need a spiritual restock to be better equipped for this season of life?

To increase our capacity, we must prepare our hearts. We need to take inventory, assess our current needs, and clear out the clutter. Then God brings the increase:

Therefore if anyone shall have cleansed himself from these, he will be a vessel for honor, having been sanctified, useful to the Master, having been prepared for every good work.

(2 Timothy 2:21, BLB)

Friend, God has set you apart for His good works. Don’t settle for less than His best by refusing to let go or take the time to do a spiritual cleanout.

Start with some honest self-reflection. Ask yourself:

• Is there anything in my life that no longer serves God’s purpose—such as certain relationships, habits, traditions, or beliefs?
• What is weighing me down or holding me back—insecurities, fears, pressures, wrong expectations, or faulty mindsets?
• What is distracting me from God’s priorities and stealing my time, focus, or energy —unnecessary obligations, creature comforts, or misplaced pursuits?
• What areas of my life need purification—attitudes, addictions, unhealthy coping mechanisms, or hidden compromises?
• Where is there excess that needs to be cleared away? Even good things, when accumulated beyond God’s intention, can become unhealthy.

Preparing for Increase: Use the following checklist to help you expand your spiritual capacity for what God desires to do in your life currently.

1. Assess your heart. Invite the Holy Spirit to reveal God’s desires and help you take inventory.
2. Refocus on God’s priorities. As you shift, He will give clear direction and reveal what needs to be removed from your life.
3. Stop hoarding. Fear often drives us to hold tightly to what God intended us to share. Step out in faith and begin sharing the spiritual wealth God has given you in a greater capacity.
4. Declutter spiritually. Clean out the spiritual junk and reorganize your life around God’s present direction.
5. Empty yourself. Sometimes a fresh start is needed. You may need to undergo a major spiritual overhaul. Remember: the more room you make for God, the more He will fill you spiritually.
6. Put off the old and embrace the new. When spiritual preparation is complete, your capacity increases, enabling you to fulfill God’s current desires for your life.

I shall run the way of Your commandments, For You will enlarge my heart.

(Psalm 119:32, NASB)