Simple Living ~ what does the Bible say about such an idea?
Simplify is defined like this by Webster's dictionary, "to make simple or simpler; to reduce to basic essentials; to diminish in scope or complexity; to make more intelligible."
Ok, so to become less complex and to reduce to what is really necessary. Sounds to me like removing things that are just "fillers" in our lives and focus on the One thing we need to be focusing on.
Mark 12:30, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength."
What is a filler in my life? Anything that competes with my time with the Lord. If I am to do as the above passage states - I must place Him FIRST in my life. Oh, how I have failed at this.
Use this verse as a filter to test the things that are in my life. Do the things I am involved in fit in with this command to love God with all I am? Do the things I think, say, dream about, and live out line up with this?
Luke 10:38-42, "As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, He came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to Him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what He said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to Him and asked, 'Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!' 'Martha, Martha,' the Lord answered, 'you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.'"
Have I chosen what is better? Am I worried and distracted by many other things than sitting at the Lord's feet and listening to what He says. Often, yes I am.
O, Lord - give me an undivided heart.
Psalm 86:11, "Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your name."
Ezekiel 11:19, "I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh."
Remember the song, Undivided Heart, by Twila Paris?
What is necessary?
Colossians 1:10-14, "And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and my please Him in every way; bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."
Lord, please simplify my heart to be focused on YOU, not distracted and complicated with many other things. Give me tunnel vision desiring to see You and Your ways only.
5 comments:
How I too have been realizing how I need to put Him first...and not fillers! I loved this post today Monica! Thank you for sharing it! :)
I often choose what is not better. I so echo your prayer for the tunnel vision for the Lord of my salvation. Thank you Monica-tammyp
Those things have been weighing heavily on my heart and soul for over a year now. Those questions of "what am I filling my life with" and "does it glorify the Lord"?
It's sad to say I've actually had people from my church tell me I'm worrying too much about it. What? I don't think we can think and pray enough on what is right and pleasing to the Lord!
Thank you for this post! I am going to print it so I can meditate and pray on these verses! I so need a change right now in my life and heart!
Melissa
http://homeschoolblogger.com/thelordismyshepherd
Monica, Great post! I have been realizing that I sacrifice so much by spending myself on things other than Christ so now am trying to even look at relationships in light of Jesus and whether He would have me reach out to an individual and pursuit for Him. Thanks for the reminder.
Blessings to you.
Noreen
I love to think about how Jesus kept a steady pace serving others, but He was never in a hurry. He always did the things that mattered. People matter. He also knew when it was time to steal away and spend time with His Father.
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