Simplicity

     This past week the new discipline we focused on from Richard Foster's book, Celebration of Discipline, was that of simplicity. Simplicity is freedom and it it is joy and balance."The Christian Discipline of simplicity is an inward reality that results in an outward life-style". What it means to live in simplicity is to have an inward view of the world and our surroundings that reflects that of God, one where we can put our own ambitions and desires aside and live knowing that all we have comes from God. "Simplicity is the only thing that sufficiently reorients our lives so that possessions can be genuinely enjoyed without destroying us".

     We need to inwardly accept that all that we need will be provided by God and that we need not worry or be materialistic. Once our mindset has been changed our actions will begin to change, we will put more thought into whether we should buy something or if it is unnecessary, we will begin to see what things we have become addicted to and put them aside. There are many more outwards fruits that result from changing how we we see things, an inward renewal.

     Considering the first step to simplicity is the inner renewal I decided to go through this past week paying attention to all the things I consume or find myself wishing to buy. Pinpoint the things that I find myself addicted to and all the things in my life that are off balance. I also decided to think about what I should limit myself in and what I need to completely cut off.

     There were a few times throughout my week that I would notice something and wonder what it would look like to live out simplicity in that situation. One example of this is I tend to be prideful at times about the grades I get in school, yet to live in simplicity is to recognize that it is only through the gifts God has given me and through His guidance and help that I achieved those grades and subsequently certain scholarships. God knows that I need this monetary help and He is the one who gave it to me through these scholarships, and through my grades. It is so hard to let go of my own achievements at times... I find that it makes me feel more confident in myself but my confidence should be in Christ.

     Another way in which I noticed the lack of simplicity in my life is how much I like clothes. Yep, I'm someone who loves to shop. I don't usually go to malls and I refuse to buy anything over $20 unless it is jeans or a dress. However, no matter how good I am about getting things that are cheap, I still get too much. I believe that getting new clothes every once in a while is not bad, in fact it is a way in which I can express myself creatively and God made me creative, as He is creative. The problem is how often I go or the thought I get at times when I am growing sick of the same outfits and I "need" new clothes. Truth is I don't "need" new clothes, I already have more than necessary. This is going to be a tough one for me, I hope that God will help me improve in this area and that He will show me the things that I truly need.

     I can't say whether I succeeded or failed this week... It's a process and I am taking the first steps. I hope that it eventually gets to the point where there is an outward simplicity in my life. I'm not going to force it and I am not going to fake it. I am going to go step by step and allow God to guide me so that when the time comes outward simplicity will just flow out of me naturally. I want it to be sincere, to reflect the simplicity that I have yet to reach on the inside.