Janelle Esker There is an exciting movement flowing through the nation to live The Simple Life. A back-to-basics, live like your grandparents, reuse, and recycle kind of movement. Depending on who you listen to it can mean a whole host of things to different people. It is a perfect opportunity to head to the Bible and employ a Christian Worldview on this subject. Here are 4 Ways To Experience The Simple Life.
It causes one to ask, what is “The Simple Life”, anyway?
4 Ways To Experience The Simple Life
- Engage in the Beauty of Work
- Interact with Nature
- Simplified Organization
- Christ-Centered Slow Living
As a recovering busy person, I am all, about living The Simple Life! It sounds so idyllic and freeing. While I love the principles of this lifestyle and have made it my business to learn and change various aspects of my life, the components do not all conform to a Christian Worldview. Instead, I have chosen to pursue the Spiritual Discipline of Simplicity. It has been freeing and healing and I have treasured the intentionality this life brings to oneself and one’s family. It brings stability to life that feels secure and safe.
One concern is glaringly obvious in the simplicity movement, one thing is missing from its core elements. You cannot live without it and have a truly simple life. Jesus must be at the center. Simplicity can not be actualized unless you have a personal relationship with the Prince of Peace.
There you have it. We can not achieve simplicity in our souls or minds or hearts without the peace that passes all understanding that only our Heavenly Father can give us. No amount of outward simplicity can give us what we ultimately need, the internal blessing of a simple life with Christ. Simplicity must flow from the heart, mind, body, and soul outward. It must start with Christ renewing our minds with the truth of His Words. It can’t take place otherwise. No way…No how.
Does the Bible even speak about The Simple Life?
But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one. 1 Thessalonians 4:10-12
You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, set your hearts on it. Proverbs8:5
All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. Matthew 5:37
As you can see the Bible does illustrate The Simple Life. It is filled with verses about valuing people over things, stewardship over possessions, the beauty of work, and experiencing God through natural revelation. Mostly the Bible tells the story of the redemption of man and how a simple relationship with God’s Son gives you the only thing you need. As you grow in your relationship, you will gain the mind of Christ which will guide you in all things. The Bible simplifies everything, no more worrying about what you should or shouldn’t do. The Bible’s laws and principles speak to all things and all people, it simplifies all of life!
Do you have a relationship with Jesus Christ, find out how HERE.
YOUR TURN…
Where does your peace come from?
Blessings,
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“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them.If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’ Mt 6:25-31
I just need to read this about a dozen times a day! 🙂
That is a good one Barbara! Thank you for sharing it!!
I agree Janelle. I think Jesus was a big advocate of simplicity – focusing on people rather than things. I’m working to simplify our life. Its definitely a journey, not a one time thing!
Hi Angela,
I agree with you that it is a journey to simplify our lives…slowly thinking through all areas of our life. I also agree it is not a one time thing, I get easily off track. Thanks for stopping by and for your thoughtful comment!
Lovely blog! I am loving it!! Will come back again. I am bookmarking your feeds also!
Thank you, Amanda!
One of the ways I am simplifying my life is by limiting my time on the internet. I have pared down the blogs I read to 3, yours being one of them! I find the internet to be a huge distraction/time stealer, so for me, limiting my use of it is essential. Your blog and 2 others (A Quaint Life and Quiet in the Land) are the only blogs I read now. Thank you for being a calming voice in this loud, busy world.
Oh Patti,
I so appreciate your encouraging words! I completely agree with limiting internet. God made us with limitations and when we don’t listen it leads to overwhelm. I’m so thankful The Peaceful Haven made the cut!