Today I was going to give you an update on my Making Things Happen power-sheets, and goals that I have set for the year. But something else has been tugging on my heart lately, and that is doing a contentment challenge. I first learned what this was when I stumbled upon Lara Casey’s blog. I thought it would be really neat to do something like that, but a couple years have past, and I found myself buying more, and more things. If I had money designated for just shopping, I would use all of that, and found myself taking money from other areas such as food/grocery, and gas.That’s not a healthy money habit to form.

That’s why for the next 3 months I want to really dig in deep as to why I chose to buy. What void am I trying to fill? Jesus should be the one who comes in, and fills that void.

So here’s how it is going to go, and I’m tweaking this list from Lara Casey’s blog to fit my needs, and lifestyle.

The Guidelines:

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• For the next 5-10 days: Prepare your heart, organize your closet, and make any necessary purchases that you might need during these months or plan for them. (This is not a last minute shopping spree! This is one final trip to the store for items you will need, and the opportunity for you to say your goodbyes to Target, and Thrift Stores.)

• I am fasting from buying new clothes (Unless they are tattered, and start falling apart), household items, accessories and general stuff.  The stuff part is what I am focusing the most on, I have bought so many organizing boxes that I honestly don’t have a place to put them at right now. That’s bad right?

• I’m also focusing on giving during this time.  I’m trying to give something away every day.  Whether something physical, a prayer or encouragement.  Just something that is given to someone else.

• I am hoping to do this through October. Now items such as birthday presents, Christmas presents, necessities,etc.  are excluded from the fast, but will be closely monitored. Those gifts are focusing on other people. Mostly I’m fasting from buying myself stuff. I don’t want to be selfish, and spend all my money on me all the time. It’s okay to pamper yourself from time to time, and buy something you’ve been wanting for a while. But if you do it all the time, every time you get money, that’s when it becomes a problem. 

• Choose something to read during this time. This isn’t just for fun, although all reading is fun for me, but read on topics that are related to the challenge, like: The Bible (look for verses on contentment), 1000 Gifts, and Compelled By Love.

• Gifts are okay! (See above statement)  Remember the heart of this. It’s not about rules. If someone gives you a new dress or piece of decor during that time, receive it graciously.  If you need to buy someone else a gift, by all means, do so.  The point is to learn more of ourselves and the Lord.

• Necessities are okay!  If you lose your glasses, buy a new pair. Just don’t start justifying new purchases for items that you already have. (“I really NEED this cool t-shirt, even though there are 8 in my closet already.”)

• Actively pursue something good that helps to replace your tendency to buy stuff as a source of comfort.  Something that points you back to what matters most.  For me, that may be simply to listen to worship music, have a dance party in my room, go out, and explore with a friend, spend more time with family, work more intently on my business, and the heart of it, pursue other hobbies, etc.
  

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To be 100% honest with you, my heart is actually dreading this challenge, but I know something needs to change. I’ve always wanted to give, more and more to people, and that’s not the issue I have with this, it’s the need to buy “stuff”.  —I’m scared of not buying any stuff. Doesn’t that sound odd? For the longest time, whenever I would buy things, I felt really giddy about it. It’s always been a comfort to buy things, rather than save my money to gain something greater. Now that I type it all out, it sounds so backwards. Why did I ever start doing this in the first place?

That’s going to be the toughest part of this challenge, but I know something amazing will come out of this. It’s been pressing on my heart for a long time to do something like this. As of right now my head can’t make sense of this challenge, but my spiritual heart knows that it needs help.

I hope you will get involved with this challenge as well. I will be posting various updates on Instagram using the hashtag, #contentmentchallenge  I can’t promise to update you every week on this challenge, but I will try to post a monthly update via Instagram, and here on the blog.

Have you ever done a contentment challenge before, or is this your first time doing one? Let me know in the comments, because together we can encourage each other in this challenge. 

Love,