Out of Moab
Celebration of Discipline - Simplicity
This is the latest post in my Celebration of Disciplineseries.Click hereto check out the other articles in the series.
Foster’s work has been foundational to my journey – we can only get a taste of it here, but it’s very worth checking it out if you haven’t read it!
Simplicity
Living in such a way as to be inwardly centered on Christ. When we have this focus, this frees us from attachments to possessions, so that we are free to receive and enjoy them as gifts from God but can hold them loosely and release them when necessary.
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33
To avoid legalism while practicing this discipline, our focus is on seeking His kingdom, not on seeking the simple life. Faithfulness and legalism can often produce the same works and can look identical from the outside. But the difference between the two is in the heart focus.
Inner Simplicity doesn’t have to do with either abundance or lack of possessions – it’s having little concern or anxiety about your possessions, being able to trust God regardless of your possessions.
“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”
Philippians 4:11-12
Attitudes of Inner Simplicity
· Living in freedom from anxiety
· Everything we have received is a gift
· What we have is to be entrusted to God
· What we have is available to others
My Experience with Simplicity:
The simplicity exerciseI provided last week wasn't about recommending certain actions. Since what hinders simplicity can be different for everyone, I recommended that we take time to pray through some questions which could help us discern what steps might be necessary for each of us to take to pursue simplicity in our own life.
While I did caution earlier that simplicity isn’t just about defaulting to getting rid of your possessions, in my case, that's what it's going to look like! I’ve been feeling the need for a while to purge some of my stuff, especially in my bedroom. I’ve accumulated so many things over the years which have ultimately cluttered up my environment – CDs from years ago that I no longer listen to, clothes I no longer wear, even books I don't plan to read anymore! The current atmosphere in my room doesn’t exactly lend itself to calm and rest.
So in my case, pursuing simplicity will mean getting rid of stuff - not because stuff is inherently bad, but because decluttering will help to create a peaceful environment more conducive to meeting with God and resting in His presence.
This will be my project in the near future – feel free to ask me about it and help keep me accountable! 😊
Questions for Reflection:
Are there any steps that you need to take to pursue simplicity? How might your life be different if you lived out simplicity more fully?
Comment below or contact me – I’d love to connect with you!
Next week we will be focusing on the discipline of Solitude – subscribe, and I will send you the worksheet so you can journey with me this week!
Hey, I'm Deanna!
I'll start with the typical introductory details - I live in Wisconsin and work as an Administrative Assistant for a non-profit organization - but those are the least interesting things about me!
I love reading (theology, spiritual formation, biographies), baking and cooking, hiking and exploring the the beauty God has created - in all 4 seasons! All of these things bring me life, and they are all things I will be writing about here - so if any of that is interesting to you, subscribe and stick around for a while!
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