The Art of Simple Living

The Art of Simple Living

Is the call for simple living a chore or a privilege? Something you have to pretend or something you embrace wholeheartedly?

Simple living is not the easiest task to accomplish in our hectic world. Our attention as consumers is constantly wanted. It takes a lot of practice to successfully navigate between needs and wants. It takes a lot of prayer to maintain a lifestyle that is focused on God and not on stuff.

A God-loyal life keeps you on track;
sin dumps the wicked in the ditch.
A pretentious, showy life is an empty life;

a plain and simple life is a full life.
(Proverbs 13:6-7, MSG)

Simple living is not about money, about how much or little money we have. Simple living is not about asceticism. It’s about living in solidarity. It is about embracing the motto “less is more” and/or “less junk, more Jesus”.  It’s about living responsibly. It’s about letting God change our priorities.

He has told you, human one,
what is good and
      what the LORD requires from you:
         to do justice, embrace faithful love,
         and walk humbly with your God.
(Micah 6:8, CEB)

Simple living is about uncluttering our lives from all unnecessary distractions that keep us from living Christ-centered lives. Only you know what the things that need to be eliminated from your life are. Sometimes we even refuse to recognize them. In any case, prayer is the key to change. Only by the power of God we can change our lives. But the Holy Spirit is indeed powerful. Do you dare to ask God what kind of life style God desires for you?

 

Gracious God,
Thank you for calling us closer to you.
Show us how our life style is out of sync with you.
Show us how to live simply.
Guide us to focus on you!
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: What are your best tips for simple living?

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you live simply and walk humbly with your God!

Giving thanks today for
#31 being alive
#32 for sunshine
#33 light
#34 butterfly kisses
#35 random acts of kindness
#36 morning newspaper
#37 prayer walks
#38 solitude
#39 board games
#40 living without TV

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Do you want to win a copy of the Common English Bible softcover edition? Just leave a comment on any blog post this week (or any week during the blog tour). The winner will be announced again on Monday!

All these CEB give aways are possible because I am participating in the Common English Bible Blog tour. Until the end of January I will mostly be using the Common English Bible (CEB) on my blog posts. Let’s check out this fresh new Bible translation!

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Image courtesy of Travis Silva. This post was refurbished from 2010. Linking up today with

2 thoughts on “The Art of Simple Living

  1. I’ve been striving to learn this art of simple living.  I truly want to walk in the reality of knowing that He is enough.  Love your list of simple gifts!

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