There are some chores that I would rather forget about. One such is the arduous closet cleaning. UGH!
For some of you, perhaps this is a means for excusing oneself from entertaining the needs of others, to attend to the call of a chaotic space. And for others, it’s the opportunity to get in and reorganize and hit a refresh button (I pray that will someday be me).
However, there are those of us who can take one look at the enormity of the task and simply exhaust ourselves out of the room.
Why must I regularly suit up and face this giant of a project? Notice the word ‘regularly.’ As much as I hate to admit it, it’s one of those chores that must happen on an ongoing basis.
My answer to this embarrassing question is that I tend to go over and above in this area of life. That part of my people-pleasing tendencies which morphs based on the present circumstances. Overspend and over-anticipate the (possibility of a) need that might arise and leave me lacking an item (that could have been purchased earlier at a cheaper price, I might add – my default justification) … for what? (Default) In case of an emergency. Seriously?!
The result is generally an overabundance of stuff ~ not needed in this moment ~ who knows when it will be needed ~ hopefully there’s not an expiration date to it ~ possibility it will still be of good use when actually needed ~ overflowing in the tiny confined space to which it is all stored (jammed into).
I’ve come to accept this peculiar way of thinking as my scarcity mindset.
That was hard to admit. So, please … be kind to me 🫣.
Can anyone relate?
Then Jesus said to them, “Be careful and guard against all kinds of greed. People do not get life from the many things they own.” Luke 12:15 ERV
Notice in our Scripture verse here the words: “get life from.” As if to say, that breath and purpose are (mistakenly) found in mere objects.
Wait, I know better than that!
And I’m sure you do, too, Friend.
Nonetheless, the traps and lies are all around us. Our eyes can be so easily deceived by the shiny things. Those shiny things can be the career we pursue to be recognized by others and wear the badge of authority, or it can be the house we live in and the car we drive so that the world will consider us acceptable and desirable to have as company (or community), and it can even be the lie we tell ourselves that being owner of whatever is currently trending elevates our (personal) worth.
GOD doesn’t scold us for having possessions. Nor does He tell all of us to sell everything and go live in a cave. He gives us safe boundaries ~ emotional and mental boundaries ~ to contain our values that define the importance of these possessions ~ not the other way around.
There is not enough room in our lives for too much of a good thing. It can literally make us sick.
If you find honey, eat just enough—
too much of it, and you will vomit. Proverbs 25:16 NLTIf this isn’t clear enough for me to shift my perspectives on acquiring more possessions moving forward, I don’t know what is. After all, these things ~ no matter how good they innately are ~ do not breathe life into my lungs.
The Lord is my shepherd.
I will always have everything I need. Psalm 23:1 ERV
I really like the translation of this well-known verse. For me, it captures two important issues of my own ❤️ ~
(1) I will always have ~ there won’t ever be a moment where I need to panic or plan so far in advance for fear of lack; (2) everything I need ~ GOD has already thought of all my necessities, both present and future.
The main idea to wrap our minds around is the fear of lack. That’s where the scarcity mentality takes us hostage.
When we daily remind ourselves that the GOD we serve is the Shepherd who provides for all the minute details of our lives, the less we feel the compelling desire to go out and fill the spaces in our lives ~ need for relationships and companionship, need for ownership of what is popular and esteemed by others, need to be validated through our positions in the workplace or community (or even our local church), need to possess objects in response to a potential need that may never manifest ~ that only HE can fill.
If you’re walking this out alongside me, I invite you to chime in with your comments and we will encourage one another in the days to come.
I have to address the closet that is calling my name …
I love you to Heaven and Back, Girlfriend ~
LindaRJohnson, TitusTwo Visionary
Titus Two 