My heart is for simple things. I can’t stand clutter. I want less all the time. I am always looking to get rid of “stuff.” Often times that “stuff” is mental clutter as well. Information overload. My mind can be on overdrive about so many trivial things.There is just so much noise drawing our attention away these days.
Yesterday we walked into the mall for about 10 minutes. The whole time, out loud I kept joking to my family,“I’m going to combust.” Seriously. I felt so overloaded by the sight of stuff. It was actually sad at one point as I looked around and saw people frantically shopping for more things. I saw sadness in their eyes. It was like they are trying to fill a void. I think the mall would be a great place to evangelize. 🙂
Anyway, so many things can be just like that shopping mall. Everywhere we look is something bigger, better, fancier calling for us. It is so hard to be still in our world.
“…be still and know that I am God.”
Psalm 46:10
Better yet, how is this translation from the NASB…
“Cease striving, and know that I am God…”
That is why I will continue to press on and write about simplifying here. So much distracts from the One who is calling for us each day. We need only to focus on Him, and all of our needs are met. We don’t need to search elsewhere.
In my next book, I will focus on how we can listen to God alone and let Him lead us in our homeschools. Yet, the same principles apply to so much more than just homeschool.
When we seek first HIM, all of our needs are met. Sure it is fun to have extra things, but we can never, ever let anyone or anything take the place of God alone. He is first. Nothing else can fulfill us like He can. We live for Him alone because without Him we have no hope, no promise, and no eternity.
My hope is to make Simply Living…for Him something that continues to point anyone who read this, to HIM. To glorify Him in all of my works. This life is too short to be wasted on the frivolous. My dream is to develop a ministry that can truly focus on ministering to others in all aspects of simplifying.
Yet, I can’t get ahead of myself in my dreams. I must seek His will first in all I do. Each day I must submit to His plan and be open to wherever He calls me. My plan is not always His plan.
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Matthew 6:33
So right now I am eliminating as much of the excess of life that draws me away from Him.
Anything that hinders me from running the race He has set before me.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross,scorning its shame,and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
Hebrews 12:1-3
My eyes are on Jesus, and my life will be a mission to simply live…for HIM.
Will you join me?
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