I’ve mentioned how I’ve been working to clear the clutter in my life. This is another area that God has been really working in my heart over the past few months. Saturday, Jeff and I donated four bicycles to the Rescue Mission and four bags of clothing to another local ministry. As we dropped each of these items off, I felt something leave with them… some of the weight of excess, part of my burden of “too much.”

You see, I have been an over-consumer. Admitting that is hard. It’s not something I’m proud of. In fact, as I’ve been sorting through piles of possessions, I’ve felt sadness, knowing how often I’ve held onto things I didn’t need, but with every bag carried out, every shelf cleared, I’ve felt something else too: freedom.

I was reminded of Jesus’ words in Luke 12:15: “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

Jesus is reminding us that more stuff doesn’t mean more life. In fact, it can distract us from the life God is truly calling us to live. I’m starting to see that living simply isn’t about living without. It’s about living with intention. It’s about making space, both physically and spiritually, for what matters most: people, purpose, and the presence of God.

By clearing out “stuff” and especially giving away these items, I’m not just helping others, I’m being helped. I’m learning to hold things loosely and to live more generously. God is reshaping my heart to trust that I don’t need to own everything to have everything I need.

I want to live simply. I want to live generously. I want my life to reflect the truth that Jesus taught: that our worth isn’t measured by what we own, but by how we love, how we give, and how we trust Him with every part of our lives, right down to our closets.

God never meant for our identity or security to be found in things. When we hold tightly to our stuff, our hands are too full to receive what God really wants to give us: peace, purpose, and the joy of giving.

In clearing out the clutter, I’m seeing more and more what really matters. I want to live open-handed. I want to be a giver. It’s not just about making space in my closets. It’s about making space in my heart for others, for God’s priorities, and for the kind of life that reflects His love.