How Decluttering and Minimalism Helps Cultivate My Faith

I’m a sentimental person, and over the years I’ve collected more than a few trinkets: Great Aunt Ethel’s handkerchief and pill case, Grandma’s gold initial necklace, the rocking chair Mom used when I was just a baby. There’s nothing wrong with keeping a few sentimental items, but if I’m not actively using something on a daily or weekly basis, I need to think hard about whether I should keep it or whether someone else would appreciate it more. 

This also applies to the artwork my kids have drawn over the years. Do I really need bins of their childhood keepsakes, or might it be better to keep a few precious items, arrange others into a neat little scrapbook, and toss the rest?

Not only is my house neater without so much stuff in it, but as I like to donate most of my giveaways, I have the happy knowledge that someone else is benefiting from it. 

(Or, for times I’ve sold some of the items, I get a little bit of extra cash in my pocket.)

As Jesus says in Matthew 6:19, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.”

2. Food

Believe it or not, most of us can be pretty wasteful when it comes to our pantries. Often this comes because we go to the grocery store and buy something that seems appealing at the time rather than what we need. We end up having a pantry full of things we want instead of things we actually use. 

Consider minimizing in this area. Be intentional as you plan your menu for the week. Think about whether you can share some items across multiple meals. You might have chicken with rice one night, then the next night decide to use the leftover portion of that rice with some vegetables and beef for a soup, and then the next night some of that beef can be used in a stir-fry or quesadilla. 

Planning your meals out helps you minimize what you buy, which in turn reduces waste.

This can have a nice impact on your wallet, too — meal planning typically helps us spend less.

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This is the area that taught me about minimalism in the first place. I heard about people slimming their closets down to what they called the “33 Closet,” a closet that contains just 33 items. My closet at the time was rather overstuffed, so it made a lot of sense for me to start there. 

Minimizing your closet forces you to take a look at the items of clothing you own. Look at every piece. Do you wear it on a weekly basis? If so, keep it. If you haven’t worn it in a year, donate it. (You can also sell gently used items online or at local consignment stores, if you prefer.) 

If there’s a piece of clothing that you’re keeping because you think you like it, but every time you wear it, you take it off because you don’t like the color or the cut and you’re keeping it around “just in case” it fits one day or you change your mind, pass it on. There’s really no reason why you should have this item hanging in your closet still.

Having fewer things to wear can be liberating, even if it seems ironic. You start to genuinely appreciate simplicity. Not having as many choices can allow some people to experience fewer feelings of overwhelm and even more creativity in their fashion style.

This concept also applies to items like shoes, makeup, hair accessories, body care products, ties, coats, and scarves. How many of these items do you actually need, realistically? Keep your favorites and get rid of the rest. 

There is no sense saving something just in case. Pass it on to someone else who can enjoy it.

As Acts 4:32 said about the early church, “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.”

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We tend to keep a lot of paperwork in our society. We keep bills, utility statements, receipts, you name it, all in the name of keeping our records straight. But is this necessary? Is it creating too much clutter? 

When my printer broke at home, I went for a while without printing anything, which made me realize I used to print things far too frequently. Not only was this expensive in terms of paper and ink, but it was a colossal waste, taking a toll on the environment. 

Save some trees, literally, and consider how you can reduce the amount of paperwork in your home. If you don’t pay your bills online, consider starting. Consider switching so that all of your statements and other billing are electronic only. It’s much easier to store things on your computer than in a file drawer or bin, and it takes up far less space. Besides, during tax season, most accountants appreciate having as much information online as possible (at least mine does.)

Even children’s memorabilia can apply here. I used to save all of my kids’ old artwork or school papers. Instead, consider saving just the most meaningful things. You can take a picture of the others and have a digital record when you want to go down memory lane. (Plus, a digital picture lasts forever.)

As Jesus tells us in Luke 12:15, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

5. Your Structures

Consider the spaces in which you live, work, and interact. If your kids are grown, do you really need a 2,000-square-foot house? Do you really need an SUV? Would you benefit from downsizing?

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Many of us could really use a financial downsizing — I certainly did. 

Take a look at what you spend your money on. How many streaming services are you subscribed to? Do you need seven of them, or could you just pick the two you use most often?

Do you really need to go out and buy new clothes just because something is trendy? Can you recycle what you wore to the Christmas party last year (and would anyone even notice)? 

Do you find yourself swinging through a drive-through or eating out often? 

On the surface it’s not a problem, but slowing down to take a look at your finances and what you spend money on helps you build intentionality. It helps you slow down and really think about your choices and your actions. 

Our culture tends to get so caught up in the idea of convenience, but sometimes convenience isn’t actually, well, convenient.

7. Your Time

Are you always busy, always on the go, with very little downtime? Minimalism can also apply to your schedule. 

Take a look at your day, your week, and how you are generally spending your time. Consider what you do throughout the course of a day and get intentional about planning your schedule in a way that maximizes your passions and what God is calling you to do. 

Chances are, most of us are spending more time on social media or mindless diversions than we think.

Intentionality is a good thing. As Jesus said in Matthew 5:37, “All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.”

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Many people struggle with being overweight, and when they decide to get in shape, they might experiment with fad diets or special exercise programs or so many supplements they can’t even remember all of their names. 

But often, simpler is far more effective. Pick one nutritious eating style that works for you and stick to it. Figure out one activity that you like and do that, whether it’s walking in your neighborhood or taking a kickboxing class at the gym.

In 1 Corinthians 14:33, the apostle Paul reminds us that “God is not a God of disorder but of peace.” Simplicity is a good thing. Slow down and be intentional. What’s the rush? Why the constant changing? 

Steadiness can be a virtue and a blessing.

Minimalism might not be for everyone, but it has helped me deepen my faith by helping me focus on what really matters in life. 

Perhaps it will help you, too.

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