My family has been riding the highs and lows of our debt free journey for some time now.

Today we reached another milestone.

We now owe $29,945 on our mortgage.

Glory to God!

We have scrimped and saved, looking for each and every penny we could throw at our consumer and vehicle debt, then my student loan debt, and now our mortgage over the past three years.

We have moved and downsized twice.

I’ve learned so much during this time. I am so grateful for each and every lesson.

I used to have little self control when it came to spending. I didn’t make any effort to change my habits, because I thought they were normal.

But God. God nudged my spirit and showed me how I was not being a good steward of the resources He gave us.

He showed me American consumerism wasn’t all it was cracked up to be and how I lacked patience. As I mentioned earlier, I had little self control, especially when it came to family activities and my children’s extracurricular interests. Oh, and clothes. I really liked buying clothes for my little girls.

A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.

Proverbs 25:28

The Bible Hub Pulpit Commentary for this verse states, “To such a city is compared the man who puts no restraint on his passions, desires, and affections; he is always in danger of being carried away by them and involved in sin and destruction; he has no defence when temptation assaults him, having lost self-control.”

My desire is to follow after my God, and to obey His commandments. The first step towards true biblical womanhood is fear of the Lord. And yet only three short years ago I wasn’t taking the whole of His Word seriously.

Lacking self control with our finances, or anything really, endangers us to be “carried away in sin and destruction.”

I’m very grateful my blinders have fallen off, and I now have a much better grasp on needs versus wants. I still struggle and fail at times, but God has been faithful to help me along.

$29,945. After three years, we are almost there!