In the last few weeks after much discussion, prayer and searching of the scriptures, we have officially begun 'The Jaffrey Family Simplifying and Minimizing Project'.
Our Goal: Part 1. The Vision & Goal
Our family goal is to simplify and minimize our lives in as many areas as possible in order to bring our focus to Christ and raising our children with as few distractions as possible. This includes the things we own, what we use, how and what we eat, how and what we spend our money on and what we prioritize and value as a family.
The idea behind simplifying is to get the distractions from everyday life out of our way. Media, the world, the idea and drive for entertainment and focus on having fun is slowly destroying our walk with Christ individually and as a church and a body. We don’t want our hearts and eyes being drawn to or to be held captive by the things of this world anymore or in the future. So the first step in this process as a family it to start weeding out the things in our lives that take our thoughts and focus away from Christ and our family.
This is going to be a process and a journey: the first step is identifying the problems, the second step is to pray and ask God for a solution, and the third is to walk and live out the solution with the constant help and guidance of the Holy Spirit. In all of this recognizing that He alone can help us walk this kind of lifestyle for the sake of our walk with Him.
As we go and discover what is pulling us away or distracting us from God we have to honestly ask ourselves if we are willing to let go and put that detraction away from us for the sake of our relationship with God and our family. If media, games, movies, TV, even some books or relationship are pulling us away by any means from the walk and relationship we could have and need to have with God, then are we willing to part with it? If we hesitate it is a pretty good sign that maybe it is a little too important to us. We need to find ways as a family to force ourselves to rise above the modern day world and to live the simplest life we can by eliminating and controlling our distractions.
Our first step in identifying our distractions and the chaos in our lives has been to ask ourselves the following questions:
Questions to Ask Ourselves As We Go:
Our first step in identifying our distractions and the chaos in our lives has been to ask ourselves the following questions:
Questions to Ask Ourselves As We Go:
1. Do I find myself thinking about this throughout the day?
2. Does it draw my attention and thoughts towards God or my family?
2. Does it draw my attention and thoughts towards God or my family?
3. Does this honor or bring Glory to God?
4. Is this helping my relationship with God, my family, the church, or the lost and needy?
5. Is this edifying me, my family, the body, or drawing others to Christ?
6. Does this have any value spiritually?
7. Is this a want or a true need?
8. Does this reflect the heart and attitude of Christ?
Honestly answering these questions has really opened our eyes to how many areas in our lives have been drawing us away from our relationship with God, each other and the body of Christ. Everyday things,that have become a part of our lives have been slowly destroying our vision and passion for Jesus. The three biggest struggles that we are up against is how and what we spend our money on (and most importantly the way we think about it), the way we spend our time and entertainment, and how we eat and what we think about food. While there are many more areas we will be working on but these three are the first areas we are going to start working on as a family.
After just a few weeks, it has become painfully apparent that this is going to be a forever, ongoing lifestyle commitment that only God can work in us. We will always be learning and hopefully growing through this, and in the end we pray that our walk with the Lord will grow, deepen and continue to be a living passion in our steps. I'm just glad He is a patient God, because this is not going to be easy!
More to come on our project soon!
(Please pray for us! ;) We are going to need it!)
Love,
Leah
5. Is this edifying me, my family, the body, or drawing others to Christ?
6. Does this have any value spiritually?
7. Is this a want or a true need?
8. Does this reflect the heart and attitude of Christ?
Honestly answering these questions has really opened our eyes to how many areas in our lives have been drawing us away from our relationship with God, each other and the body of Christ. Everyday things,that have become a part of our lives have been slowly destroying our vision and passion for Jesus. The three biggest struggles that we are up against is how and what we spend our money on (and most importantly the way we think about it), the way we spend our time and entertainment, and how we eat and what we think about food. While there are many more areas we will be working on but these three are the first areas we are going to start working on as a family.
After just a few weeks, it has become painfully apparent that this is going to be a forever, ongoing lifestyle commitment that only God can work in us. We will always be learning and hopefully growing through this, and in the end we pray that our walk with the Lord will grow, deepen and continue to be a living passion in our steps. I'm just glad He is a patient God, because this is not going to be easy!
More to come on our project soon!
(Please pray for us! ;) We are going to need it!)
Love,
Leah
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