by Tracy Gordon
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they
may have life, and have it to the full” –John 10:10
Many of you know my daughter Holly is leaving very soon for a year-long mission to Iraq. After much discernment, she felt the Lord calling her there to help bring much needed medical and spiritual care to people living in refugee camps and the surrounding communities in Kurdistan (Northern Iraq).
For the past few weeks, she has been going through all of her belongings, getting rid of or donating most everything except what she is actually taking with her. As I began to realize how minimal she was being, my Mama’s heart began to panic! I kept questioning her, asking, “Don’t you need this nice warm jacket? It’s going to be much colder in the winter there (as if she didn’t already know that). And more pants. You’re going to need more pants and sweaters! And why have you taken out some of the shoes that were already packed?!”
Even though my Mama’s heart meant well, I could see I was exacerbating her stress. Finally she said, “Mom, I’ve got this! I appreciate you wanting to help, but I don’t need all of this. Jesus’ disciples took nothing and I’m taking more than that!” Well, she was right, but was that supposed to make me feel better? Ha ha! She actually got me thinking, though. How much do we really need?
Sometimes we hold onto things because we are afraid of what life might feel like without them. An overflowing closet, a crowded calendar, or the next purchase can become a quiet promise: perhaps this will finally be enough. But what if enough is not something we acquire? What if it begins with receiving this day as a gift and trusting God to meet us in it?
Living minimally can be a spiritual practice of making room. Not because possessions are bad, or because an uncluttered home makes us holy, but because we want our attention, time, and resources to serve what (or whom) we love most. The question is not simply, “How little can I own?” It is, “What helps me love God and my neighbor better?” and “What keeps getting in the way?”
We live in a consumer society, but as Christians, we know that our life’s meaning is not wrapped up in material things. Our lives have meaning through Jesus Christ, through what He did for us by dying on the cross and through His resurrection. Minimalism helps us cut through the clutter and busyness, refocusing our attention on our Triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—and on the aspects of life that truly matter.
In John 10:10, Jesus says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” Living with a Christian minimalism mindset can help us live the life God wants for us: a life full of joy and peace, marked by generosity and love. With this mindset, we begin to focus on what matters most and let go of what distracts us from it.
Perhaps simplicity begins with one small act: giving away something useful, declining a commitment that leaves no room for rest, or letting a quiet moment remain quiet instead of filling it with another scroll on our phone. We release a little so we can become more available to prayer, to people, and to the needs we might otherwise overlook.
This is not a contest in self-denial. Necessary possessions, meaningful keepsakes, and ordinary comforts need not become sources of guilt. Simplicity is an invitation to gratitude rather than a new standard to achieve. We can enjoy what we have without asking it to provide our identity or peace.
Today, let enough be enough. Leave room to notice a neighbor, offer a generous gift, or sit with God without an agenda. A life with less to manage may leave more room for love. Take a few quiet minutes to reflect on what truly matters. Consider these things…
Faith: What clutter or busyness distracts me from time with our Triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?
Relationships: Who needs my presence and attention rather than another purchase or a hurried reply?
Service: How could I use the time, energy, or resources I free up to meet someone’s need?
Choose one small thing to set aside today and use that space to pray, connect with someone, or offer practical help. End this time by thanking God for the abundant life you receive through Jesus Christ.
Lord Jesus, thank You for coming that we may have life, and have it abundantly. Help me receive that life not as a promise of more possessions, but as an invitation to deeper fellowship with You. Teach me to enjoy Your gifts with gratitude and release what crowds out prayer, rest, and love. Free me from measuring my worth by what I own or how much I do. As I choose simplicity, fill the space I make with Your presence, joy, and peace. Let the abundance I receive overflow in generosity toward others. Help me live with less to hold and more love to give. In Your precious Name I pray, Amen.