November

My son correlates the Thanksgiving holiday with giving away his toys. Part of me giggles each time he says it, but I also appreciate the relationship he’s learned about thankfulness and giving. I’m sure his association is tied to the memory of my having both children donate lots of toys and such over a Thanksgiving break. While my main motive was to clear out space for the abundance of items they’d be receiving from family for Christmas, I did pray their seeing the excess of toys in our home and learning how many kids only have a few would initiate a child-level sense of gratitude. We also talk about how so much of this stuff doesn’t really matter or have value that lasts. Regardless, every Thanksgiving I now provide empty boxes and trash bags and ask my children to separate, sort, and release tons of toys. And it’s a time of thanks and giving.

In a recent Revelation Wellness podcast, Alisa Keeton challenged listeners to do the same thing. Yet instead of tangible stuff, she challenged us to take empty boxes and trash bags into our hearts and minds. Separate, sort, and release the items that fill our thought closets and feeling drawers and ultimately don’t have lasting value . . .

As we kick off a new month, which happens to contain Thanksgiving, let’s do some giving away (or even throwing away or maybe straight up burning at the altar) of worthless stuff that’s just taking up space. I’m not sure what junk that might be for you, but examples might be anxiety about holidays, feelings of not being enough, shame from past choices, worries about health issues, addictions to sugar or social media, obsessions with to-do lists, struggles in relationships, debates about masks or vaccines, desires to physically look a certain way . . . or maybe there’s too much ‘good’ stuff that it’s preventing any ‘great’ stuff from taking up space.

Let’s keep the Main thing the main thing. Let’s clean out our hearts, souls, bodies, and minds and fill them with everlasting truth of Who He is, Who we are, and Who He’s called us to be! As this month goes on, a simple soul check question is to ask yourself if what you’re currently thinking about will matter in 1,000 years. If the answer is ‘no’, take a deep breath, grab the trash bag, and throw the thought in! If the answer is yes, then keeping marching on and ask for His Spirit to help!

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Hebrews 12:1-3

When we breath out junk and breath in Jesus, we’re living equipped, empowered, engaged in the Armor of God. We are marching on as holy and victorious soldiers and moving forward in the powerful rhythms of His grace. We are armed and dangerous.

We are armed and dangerous in He alone. Ultimately, we stand firm in Jesus and are equipped by His Spirit. This month we are studying the Armor of God. I invite you to check out this page and follow along on Instagram.

Don’t believe the lies, which lead to shame, that you need a new plan or a new diet or a new exercise calendar or a new method to bring control or comfort into your life. Believe the truth that you just need Jesus and His Spirit today. Invite Him into your thought closets and feeling drawers.

For November, we get to thank God and give love! In response, let’s keep marching on, removing anything that hinders us, and keeping our hearts, minds, bodies, and souls free and firm in Christ alone.