Friday, January 20, 2017

More Room For Him

Hey Friend,

When I got married three years ago, it was like the King of clean and simple lines married the Queen of clutter.  

Yes, I admit that I am that sentimental person who hangs onto everything. Everything has meaning - from a piece of furniture, to a knick-knack, to my children's kindergarten drawings.  My attic was...shall we say....a disaster?

Enter my loving and patient husband.  He knew my "deer in the headlights" look and so he pared down a huge job into little chunks.  It's taken three years, but you could hold a small ball in our attic.  There is room to move, Praise!

He's also helped me around the living areas of our home.  I truly have adopted the truth that less is often better.  I suffer from an anxiety disorder and, not surprisingly, I found that as I cleared out the clutter and over abundance of stuff, my anxiety levels went down.  

Was it hard to part with some things...you bet.  After numerous garage sales, I found, however, that I was happy that some of my "beloved" things were going on to a new home and would be appreciated by someone else.  It was time for them to move on.  Other stuff simply needed to be pitched.

I've been reading this month in the Gospel of Luke.  In chapter 9, Jesus speaks to this very issue.  Listen carefully to what He says after He commissions the twelve to go out and proclaim the Kingdom of God...

"Take nothing for the road,"  He told them, "no walking stick, no traveling bag, no bread, no money; and don't take an extra shirt."  (Luke 9:  1-3)

Jesus would definitely not approve of how I pack my bag for trips - with extra outfits "just in case".  

Jesus is clear when He tells the disciples to live simply and travel light.

He really breaks it down to bare bones.  Why so?

I believe that Jesus wants His disciples to learn to lean on Him for their sufficiency and not their "stuff".  In the unknown up ahead, Jesus wants His disciples relying and depending on Him, not the comfort of their belongings. He wants them to trust that He will provide for their needs.

I've asked myself why I hold onto my stuff?  

Does fear of the unknown make me hold onto what's comfortable around me like a security blanket?  I can see it, touch it, grab hold of it, whereas God is a lot less "tangible" at times.  

Even harder questions...

Do I want "fear" to be my anchor in the storm or do I want "Faith" to be my anchor?

Am I willing to trade the "known" for the "unknown"?

Do I really trust that God will be sufficient for ALL my needs?

Further on in Luke 9, Jesus talks about the twelve taking up their cross.

Then He said to them all, "If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me."  (Luke 9:23)

Think about it realistically.  Can I realistically pick up my cross and follow Jesus if I'm dragging along all this baggage?  

I have this vision of me fumbling to carry my cross (which is what really matters), because I am schlepping along suitcases filled with physical and emotional stuff and baggage.  

Some time, some where, I have to leave some thing behind...

My mounds of stuff may temporarily sooth my feelings of insecurity, but eventually they will rot and rust and turn to dust.  

Can I wrap my little pea brain around the fact that God is enough?

God is even MORE than enough.

I am finding that as I clear out the clutter in my home, in my mind, in my heart...as I leave the comfortable but useless baggage behind....

I have more room for Him.

How about you...do you find it hard to part with stuff?  What are you clinging to that God would have you let go of?  Is there something hindering you from leaving it all behind to take up your cross and follow Him?

Dear Heavenly Father, how I thank you for your patience with me.  You coax me to leave the "known" behind, take your hand, and step into the "unknown".  Help me to trust you and not to live in fear.  Help me to leave the comfortable behind and trust in your "enoughness".  Guide me to live with only what I truly need.  Enable me to trade in my chaos for the sake of Christ.  Show me the way - your way - and help me to walk in it.  Help me to travel and live light so that there will always be more room for You.  In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Be blessed....


ps.  Speaking of living simply, the children at our school in the Middle East live SO simply.  We take for granted that when it's cold we hike up the thermostat or when we're hungry we raid the fridge or the pantry.  Not so for the children of Redeemer Christian School.  This  blue jug of propane barely takes off the chill in the classroom in the winter.  This meal in school is the only meal they will get for the day.  

In an attempt to live simply, might you give to those who barely have anything?  Heat, food, shelter...we need your help today.



28 comments:

  1. I, too, am reading Luke this month! Are you by chance following the Daily Light Reading Plan from www.heartlight.org? Our church is using that this year, and January readings include Luke, the first seventeen psalms and two chapters of Proverbs. I, too, was impressed with Jesus' instruction to "take nothing for the road." That's not the way I travel either!! And I appreciate your paraphrase: Live simply, travel light, trust God. Also this: Less baggage makes more room for Him. Amen, my friend! Practically speaking, perhaps it could mean: less stuff means less time required to take care of said stuff, and more time to spend with Jesus.

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    1. Nancy,
      I am reading along with Deeper Waters - they are doing a Luke study on line. That hit me too - that if we less baggage, less "stuff" then that makes more room for Him. So true...less dusting knick knacks means more time in His Word :) (practically speaking),
      Blessings,
      Bev xx

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  2. Wow, Bev. You and I are definitely on the same journey of simplifying and decluttering. I appreciate your questions to ask myself. So good!

    I about laughed out loud when I thought about how heavy my suitcase is when I travel. I, um, ahem, usually reach the max limit the airlines allow. ;) I think you're right. God doesn't want us carrying a bunch of baggage as we walk through this life with Him. I am being challenged to trust Him with things as well. I'm finding that when I let go of some of those heart things, I'm learning to live life more lightly.

    Great post, my friend!

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    1. Jeanne,
      Yes, we're both on the same page this month. Hopefully we can keep urging each other on!
      I, too, confess that I've stood at the baggage scale, pulling things out so that I can meet the 50 lb. weight limit...sad lol. Here's to living life more lightly. Thanks for sharing!
      Blessings,
      Bev xx

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  3. This is beautiful and so fitting for me. I have been hearing the voice begging me to get rid of my own clutter. I am good at ignoring it. I know it is a big job so I don't even start as a result. Jeanne's words from her posts have also been speaking into me in this same area. I think it is a sign!

    Since I have a goal of trying to move I need to make this a reality. It just takes the first step. I know I will feel such freedom if I do. Weekend blessings!

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    1. Mary,
      When I looked at my "mess" all at once it seemed insurmountable, but when my sweet husband broke it into doable chunks for me then I made progress. Sometimes it was literally one drawer at a time. Like you said...one step at a time.
      Blessings,
      Bev xx

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  4. Bev, I totally get it. My husband and I are opposites in this respect also. I'm writing about keeping/throwing away on my blog on 1.25.17, and I'd love your comment!

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    1. Sarah,
      I need to get over to your place...I guess maybe that's why opposites attract. Otherwise, I'd be up to my eyeballs in clutter lol...sad but true.
      Blessings,
      Bev xx

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  5. This is so great, Bev. Thanks for sharing about how the Lord is teaching you about your STUFF, but I'm even more impressed that you are willing to give in and give up your "rights" as a means to the end of making a more peaceful home. So often we waste valuable life minutes by insisting on our own way.

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    1. Michele,
      Oh, Michele, I can be a stubborn one and so true that life is always better when I do it HIS way and stop insisting on my own way. This whole living lighter truth has really convicted me and I am seeing God really knows what He's doing (lest I ever think otherwise).
      Blessings,
      Bev xx

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  6. Great post. I am sure the clutter in my home contribute to my anxiety as well. I started a declutter challenge in January, only to have fallen off the wagon. But I am going to try to keep making strides to lighten my load. Thanks for sharing at #glimpses this week.

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    1. Barbie,
      I truly believe clutter does not help anxiety and can, in fact, exacerbate it. Don't get down on yourself for "falling off the wagon". I have lots of bruises from all the times I fell off. The important thing is to get back on in His strength.
      Blessings,
      Bev xx

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  7. Hi Bev, I'm definitely one of those individuals that tend to hold onto things. In fact it's one of my aims for the year to let go of some things.

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    1. Wanda.
      Great goal - I highly recommend it. But be realistic...one step at a time. I'll be cheering for you!
      Blessings,
      Bev xx

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  8. I can completely relate to you! I'm a clutter collector, over-packer as well. I definitely hold onto my stuff for those just in case moments. I love this call to live more simply and to do so so that we can rely more fully on Him. Thanks for sharing this!

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    1. Nicole,
      Start now while you're young!! Lol. As you get older more and more stuff piles on. I wish I had learned the art of streamlining long ago!
      Blessings,
      Bev xx

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  9. Good words, Bev. I have a LOT of stuff I could get rid of. I go in cycles of doing just that ... I need to do that again. Especially since I came across two bags full of ... yes ... BAGS! ... that have never been used. But they are so pretty! argh!! Thank you for this challenge to declutter so my mind can be free!

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    1. Dianne,
      I can sometimes be impulsive in my purchases...because yes, they look so pretty, but unless I have a mansion, there will be no place to put it all. I have really, truly found that as I have let go, it's freed up my mind. Cheering you on girl!
      Blessings,
      Bev xx

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  10. I relate to this a lot. I definitely tend to hold onto things "just in case" even though I know the times I simplify and declutter reduce anxiety and increase peace. It is challenging to think about why we do that: do we really believe that God is enough or are we clinging to security in other things? Thanks for sharing these insights.

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    1. Lesley,
      I can relate - the things we hold onto just in case. Or the clothes we haven't worn, but won't part with just in case we decide we'll wear them one day. Sounds crazy as I type it, but I DO it...God has really been challenging me as to why I cling to my "stuff". I'm finding freedom in letting a lot of it go. Glad you found something helpful here.
      Blessings,
      Bev xx

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  11. Wow, you've convicted me for sure, Bev. I do think there's a link between clutter and anxiety as well as clutter and a need to cling to things of this world. I'm reading in 1 Peter and getting to the part where he tells us to live like strangers and aliens in the world. We certainly can't live like that if we can't pick up and go without dragging two or three truckloads of stuff behind us! ha! And I'm so impressed that you've allowed your new hubby to influence you for the better in this way. Takes a secure and humble wife to let her husband speak into her world. Hugs to you!

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    1. Beth,
      I'm not a psychologist, but I would guess there definitely is a correlation between clutter and anxiety. I have just found that the less stuff I have lying around, I feel much more calm. Lest you think I adopted my husband's ways that easily - I definitely pushed back until I realized that he was really on to something :)
      Blessings and ((hugs)) back,
      Bev xx

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  12. Well, I'm just jealous that you can stand up in your attic. :) Sweet picture of how life mirrors the heart. Lovely post, Bev. Thanks for sharing. And, thanks for your support and for linking up with #ChasingCommunity. xoxo

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    1. Brenda,
      Oh my attic was horrible!! It truly is miraculous, but it took chipping away at it one small section and even one box at a time. I love your insight about how life mirrors the heart. The more we clear out the clutter from both, the more freedom we have in Him. Love linking up with you!!
      Blessings,
      Bev xoxo

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  13. Bev, your testimony on de-cluttering and the lessening of anxiety is profound. I wish each and every person who struggles with either / both, would heed your fine words.

    So powerful ...

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    1. Linda,
      It is uncanny...now when I walk into a room that is not all cluttered, I truly breathe more easily. Now I find when I start letting things get messy and cluttered, the anxiety ramps up. Just one more way, healthy living helps with anxiety and other disorders. Always good to have you here.
      Blessings friend,
      Bev xx

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  14. Hi Bev,
    Loving your new online look here, too! I can relate to keeping too many keepsake papers and cards and knickknacks but over the past few years, I've decluttered and sent so many things to the resale shop that I can hardly imagine having it all in the first place. It felt great! And I'm so glad you experienced similar results from your garage sales. But leaving more room in our lives for God is so good! xoxo

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    1. Valerie,
      Thanks for sharing your peace of mind you found after de-cluttering...it is amazing how good it feels! Joining with you in leaving/making more room in our lives for God.
      Blessings,
      Bev xx

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