List It And Conquer
The beginning of the year I start getting to a place of, “ok, it’s time to declutter!” How about you? Neither my husband or I like clutter. We like more of a minimalistic approach, and love to keep it simple, yet homey! Christmas we have a lot of decor out and love it! After the New Year though, we take down Christmas, and leave up more of a winter look. I still want that inviting look of a magazine, but at a price I can afford. So we don’t go overboard on buying, but we do find great deals! Then I am ready to clean, toss, and simplify again. How? I make a list and conquer it!!
Lists
Where to start? We take the first week to write down goals, make our calendars, plan and then the second week, we look over what needs to be done at home. Do you have drawers, junk drawers, closets, and areas that need a good cleaning, some things need throwing away, or need to be given to others? Sometimes you can find a printable pdf that is for decluttering, each day of the month you do something different. I like to look at those, but don’t always have time that day to do that thing it suggests, so I use it as a reference. I know that from Jan-March we have a lot of items coming out of our bank that don’t normally, taxes are coming, and we need to schedule changing vents, etc. These are just a few lists you can make. What do you need to make a list for? What goes undone?
Outside
Outside, we are already thinking about spring, and what that looks like for this year. We will have a garden for the second year, flowers, and will do a little more landscaping. Brent and I want a deck out back, but that all depends on cash flow. We don’t do credit, so if we are going to do something for our home, or any area, we use cash. We also need to do some work on getting a new van, so all of this goes on a list. Along with all of the other adventures we have written down and are planning that the Lord laid on our hearts. In marriage you have to make a plan before you start, making lists, tossing things you don’t need so you can have room for what you do need.
Inside
Home improvements are needed as well, trim, a bathroom renovation, and some touch ups. Lists, are a great way to remember all that you need to do. Then we look at furniture, what we can fix, and what we need to buy. We have been blessed with so many things that have been given to us over the years, but some of the things we bought many years ago need to be updated. Being grateful, we will keep what we have until we can get some new things. It’s all apart of being a good steward.
Conquer
Once you have made the lists find your calendar and write in dates that you will do these things, and when you intend to buy them. Make a plan on how, when you will have the money, and then conquer. Take action, move, get it done! If you just have a list and never do anything with it, you are just good at making lists. You have to seize the day, move with purpose, and complete what you set out to do. This is a great thing for marriages to work on. Doing it together, learning to take on new things, and seeing it through. You will grow personally, and grow closer together when you do.
Agreement
You will not always agree on everything you do, but decluttering will make your life more peaceful. Making lists may not be your thing, but it will help you both to know what needs to be done. Agree on a date, time, and the way you will accomplish it, but have patience, and be flexible. Early on in marriage you learn that you both don’t do things the same way. You may think your way is the right way, but remember you both are on this journey with one another. So, give space for grace if your spouse doesn’t get it done when you would like. You will have a lot more peace if you do!
Declutter
“It’s just things right?” You are right, it is just things. You may have some sentimental connection to something, but when your house is cluttered physically, it is a good indication it’s cluttered spiritually. Having your home in order is a very important part of your walk with God. He prunes us, He does surgery on us, He wants to rid us of every weight and sin that so easily besets us. Why? So we can run with patience the race that is set before us! Where to? To be forever with Jesus in heaven. Putting away what keeps our attention too long, what pulls us away from prayer, fasting, and His word. Get rid of it before it has a hold on you, and if it already does, ask God to help you to get it out of your life. Things will greatly improve when things, money, and entertainment don’t have you. I challenge you to take the rest of this month, and year if needed to make some lists and declutter your home, and get rid of what distracts you from your marriage and heaven. You will be so glad you did!!
Scripture
Monday: 2 Kings 20:1 says, “In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.” Why declutter? God wants our house to be in order because we won’t live forever. This is just part of what God is saying here, unfortunately the King didn’t take this to heart once healed, he may have set his affairs in order but his heart was far from it.
Tuesday: Hebrews 11:3 says, “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” I like to think God has a lot of lists. We know that He has order and set up things in a perfect way, so I can imagine He has a list for all of it! He is a God who set up a plan and accomplished it.
Wednesday: Hebrews 13:5 says, “Let your] conversation [be] without covetousness; [and be] content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Don’t try to keep up with the Joneses as you work on your home. Be content, but also do your best to be a good steward. When you get rid of clutter this helps so much, even on the outside.
Thursday: Romans 12:2 says, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Do your best in making your house a home, but don’t buy into the consumer mindset that more is better.
Friday: Colossians 3:23 says, “And whatsoever ye do, do [it] heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;” Get moving and do it as unto the Lord, with heart! When you do it makes the work so much more rewarding as we serve Jesus.
Saturday: Amos 3:3 says, ” Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” I use this scripture a lot when we discuss marriage because its so important. You need to be walking in the same direction, on the same page, and working together for a good marriage.
Sunday: Hebrews 12:1 says, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,” Declutter everything, your home, your car, your life. Not just the physical, but the spiritual also. Your marriage will be so blessed when you do!