Category: MINIMALIST LIVING

THE MINIMALIST MIND

I had been wasting hours trying to gain points on a video game with nothing to show for it.

One night I was bored and resumed an activity I had done during COVID – a video game on my Kindle. I am a total idiot with math puzzle games but give me anything visual and I’m all in. One night I was so enthralled that I didn’t go to bed until 1AM. Time just raced by.

THE WAKEUP CALL

Shortly after that late night, I read Voice of the Martyrs “Global Prayer Guide”. Each day’s reading is devoted to a different country. It gives a brief snapshot of the persecution taking place in that country and how we can pray for it. I read about the #1 country in the world for persecution of Christians (and anyone else who doesn’t agree with the state). The state requires all citizens to function as informants – even young children are taught to spy on their parents from a young age. When a Christian is discovered, the government punishes the entire family. Those “lucky” enough to not be executed suffer in prison and labor camps.

THE GIFT OF MEMORIZATION

What caught my attention was that “few people ever have access to Scripture because of the regime’s unceasing efforts to restrict access. Most of the underground Christians find memorization the safest and most effective way to keep God’s Word.”

Wow – is that convicting! I had been wasting hours trying to gain points on a video game with nothing to show for it. I just got off the Minimalist Challenge with physical things. Could I do it with mental/spiritual items? What does it take to move to a minimalist mind?

CHANGING TO A MINIMALIST MIND

I deleted the game from my Kindle. In its place, I have a notebook I carry with me containing handwritten memory verses. If ever there is a time in my life I need to carry God’s Word in my mind and heart, it is now. Knowing the location of the candlestick in the videogame room on my Kindle is just not going to help me get it through my day.

So, the deal is, the notebook travels with me. On my commute to work the notebook on the passenger seat so that at red lights I can find hints for any Scripture I am saying out loud and am stymied. (Yes, I actually am a careful driver). Right now, I’m working on I Peter 4:7-11. It is an applicable passage considering it begins with “The end of all things is near.”

Do you also need to begin working on a Minimalist Brain and Spirit and to clean up the clutter? Delete those things that side-track your mind from Christ.

Take heart from the words good old Minimalist Apostle Paul: “You learned Christ! My assumption is that you have paid careful attention to him, been well instructed in the truth precisely as we have it in Jesus. Since, then, we do not have the excuse of ignorance, everything—and I do mean everything—connected with that old way of life has to go. It’s rotten through and through. Get rid of it! And then take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you. (Ephesians 4:20-24)

EVEN THE BEARS ARE HIS

I sprinted over the finish line for my month-long Minimalist Challenge.

I sprinted over the finish line for my month-long Minimalist Challenge. Miraculously, it seemed to get easier to let go of stuff, even when I got to day 31 (I let go of 31 things that day). I wished it had been more palatable for my husband when he realized that I was going to give away most of my Boyd’s Bear collection. That assortment of stuffed animals was the embodiment of our dream – that someday we would have grandchildren to share the bears with.

GRANDCHILDREN NOT ON THE HORIZON

Our plans for grandchildren do not appear to be part of God’s plan. However, I recently came across a family with two little girls who definitely needed something to brighten their summer. A box of assorted delightful bears was just what God ordered.

CHANGING DREAMS CAN BE PAINFUL

Yes, giving up or changing dreams can be painful, but giving into the dreams of my Heavenly Father is much more rewarding. It’s funny how I can squirrel away portions of my life safe-guarding segment which I think are mine alone. God does not view it the same way. He doesn’t want just a little piece of me. God wants all of me. He already owned all the bears, silverware, pens, and appliances even when they exited my home during August. Everything is His.

THINGS I THOUGHT WERE IMPORTANT

In Philippians 3, the Apostle Paul writes: “I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ.” Paul probably was not writing specifically about bears or even dreams, but they all can go under the category of “Things I Once Thought Were Important”.

WHAT TO MAKE ROOM FOR

I’ve discovered a little life lesson: The more tightly I hold on to something, thinking that it is mine, the less room I have for Jesus in my life. The more I limit room for Jesus, the more room I provide for useless things in my life. Paul is correct. Everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Live as a Christian Minimalist.

Listen to Susan Vinton’s story

HERE AM I, DO YOU WANT TO SEND ME?

I have tasks which overwhelm me, but are they in the Father’s plan? I worry and fret over my inadequacies.

Day 25 and so 25 items exit my life. Some of them go to the trash heap. How many plastic mats advertising businesses does one need? Other items are tools that may be invaluable to strangers. So, to the donation site they go. My apartment only has limited space. How did I accumulate so many items?

In the same way, I only have limited space in my heart and mind. What’s taking up all this mental real estate? I have tasks which overwhelm me, but are they in the Father’s plan? I worry and fret over my inadequacies. Finding peace is challenging.

I am not the sharpest knife in the drawer. God gives many opportunities, but am I really obeying Him when I say “yes”? There are more qualified people. What did I get into when I said, “Here am I, send me”?

Indeed, He sent me. I look at what God is doing. All those conversations which bless both me and the other person. The work of the Holy Spirit displayed in lives I see being changed. I said, “Here am I, send me.” God is filling my life with opportunities that are not to be discarded.

My apartment is emptying out, but my soul is full and overflowing with the graciousness of God. I am not the wisest, the most intelligent, or the most gifted. However, I continue to say, “Here am I, send me.”

Listen to the story of Rebecca Stanley 

MINIMALIST LIVING

Over 200 items have either left my home. This led me to reflect on behaviors in my life, what I cling to, “just in case.”

Oh yes, I am doing the Minimalist 30 Day Purge with a friend. I got rid of one thing on the first day of the month. Two things on August 2nd. Three things on August 3rd. So forth and so on. The rules are explained: “Anything goes! Collectables, decorations, kitchenware, electronics, furniture, bedding, clothes, towels, tools. Whether you donate, sell, or trash your excess, every material possession must be out of your house—and out of your life—by midnight each day.

THE CHALLENGE OF “THE PURGE”

“It’s an easy game at first. Anyone can purge a few items, right? But it grows considerably more challenging by week two, when you’re forced to jettison more than a dozen items per day. And it keeps getting more difficult as the month progresses.” (Look up the Minimalists for further instructions)

Today I drove to the drop-off at the local Reuzit Shop and the volunteer who was handling donations looked at me with horror when I explained my plan. Not sure if the horror was from him having to take continued donations from me or horror if he ever had to do it in his own life.

OVER 200 ITEMS HAVE LEFT THE HOUSE

I’m now on day 17. Okay, I’m an over-achiever, had some extra time, and now have worked ahead to day 21. So that means that over 200 items have either left my home or are waiting to make an exit. Some items have been small, such as the pens that no longer work, but then some have been larger, as in that lawn chair which has gathered dust in the storage locker.

WHAT I CLING TO “JUST IN CASE”

It’s amazing when given a great challenge, one can let go of items. I guess I needed a good excuse. This led me to reflect on behaviors in my life. The things I have clung to, “just in case.” Under the excuse of wanting to defend myself, I have clung to anger. Under the premise of desiring to have the last word, I have clung to sarcasm. God wants to empower me to purge the way I do life.

LETTING GO OF BEHAVIORS

In the words of the Apostle Paul: “You learned Christ! My assumption is that you have paid careful attention to him, been well instructed in the truth precisely as we have it in Jesus. Since, then, we do not have the excuse of ignorance, everything—and I do mean everything—connected with that old way of life has to go. It’s rotten through and through. Get rid of it! And then take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you.

THE TRUCKLOAD OF “DON’TS”

“What this adds up to, then, is this: no more lies, no more pretense. Tell your neighbor the truth. In Christ’s body we’re all connected to each other, after all. When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself. Go ahead and be angry. You do well to be angry—but don’t use your anger as fuel for revenge. And don’t stay angry. Don’t go to bed angry. Don’t give the Devil that kind of foothold in your life. Did you use to make ends meet by stealing? Well, no more! Get an honest job so that you can help others who can’t work.

DON’T BREAK GOD’S HEART

Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift. Don’t grieve God. Don’t break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don’t take such a gift for granted. Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:20-32)

EACH WORD IS A GIFT

Hmm…. I think God is telling me to get rid of much more than physical items in my home. I can not do this on my own strength. My new mantra has to be “Say only what helps, each word a gift. Don’t grieve God. Don’t break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don’t take such a gift for granted.” Amen!

And now for Day 22…..