EMBRACING SIMPLICITY IN A COMPLEX WORLD

“Speaking to the people, Jesus went on, ‘Take care! Protect yourself against the least bit of greed. Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot.’”  (Luke 12:15 MSG)

The path of spiritual growth often requires us to walk through valleys of discomfort, but it is there we find clarity and deeper connection with Christ. The discipline of simplicity calls us to evaluate the layers of our lives, peeling away the excesses that cloud our spiritual vision.

In a world driven by materialism and social pressures, it is easy to lose sight of what truly matters. Our possessions, status, and the expectations of others can form barriers between us and our Savior. The call to discipleship is an invitation to shed these barriers and realign our focus on Christ.

Simplicity is not about deprivation; rather, it is about intentionality. It means regularly assessing our lives and making conscious choices to remove the clutter, both physical and spiritual. This could mean donating items we no longer need, limiting time spent on social media, or even simplifying our schedules to create more space for prayer and reflection.

As we practice the discipline of simplicity during Lent and beyond, we may find that our lives become lighter and our spiritual vision clearer. The process may not always be pleasant, but the reward is a deeper, more intimate relationship with Christ. Let us embrace simplicity, allowing it to guide us toward a life centered on our faith and purpose in Him. 

-- SOUND BITES Ministry, compiled from a variety of sources

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THINKING ABOUT WHAT WE’RE THINKING ABOUT

“We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”  (2 Corinthians 10:5b NIV)

One of the greatest revelations of my life is: I can choose my thoughts and think things on purpose. In other words, I don’t have to just think about whatever falls into my mind. This was a life-changing revelation for me because as Proverbs 23:7 (AMP) says, “As [a person] thinks in his heart, so is he.” I like to say it like this: Where the mind goes, the [person] follows.

Now God is concerned about the hidden [person] of the heart, which is our inner life. Our inner life is what we think about. And like the scripture above says, the way we think determines how we live and who we are. That’s why we need to think about what we’re thinking about.

It’s so important for us to understand this because if we don’t learn how to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (see 2 Corinthians 10:4-5), we won’t live the life Jesus died to give us – a life of peace with God, peace with ourselves, great relationships, real joy and the ability to become all God has created us to be. It comes down to choosing to believe what God says (the truth) more than we believe our feelings, what other people say or our circumstances.

-- Joyce Meyer, from her Everyday Answers blog


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GOOD OUT OF EVIL

Joseph said to his brothers, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.”  (Genesis 50:20 NLT)

Although Joseph’s brothers had wanted to get rid of him, God used even their evil actions to fulfil His ultimate plan. He sent Joseph ahead to preserve their lives, save Egypt, and prepare the way for the beginning of the nation of Israel. God is sovereign. His plans are not dictated by human actions. When others intend evil toward you, remember that they are only God’s tools.

God brought good from the brothers’ evil deed, from Potiphar’s wife’s false accusations, from the cup-bearer’s neglect, and from seven years of famine. The experience in Joseph’s life taught him that God brings good from the evil for those who trust God. Do you trust God enough to wait patiently to bring good out of bad situations? You can trust Him because, as Joseph learned, God can overrule people’s evil intentions to bring about His intended results.

-- from The Life Application Study Bible

EDITOR'S NOTE: This has been reported by Snopes.com as an urban legend.

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INTENTIONALITY IN OUR DISCIPLESHIP

"We are not meant to remain as children ..." (Ephesians 4:14 Phillips).

As I write this I am just coming off of a 3-day photography workshop that helped me understand the importance of intentionality in capturing an image. The instructors emphasized the need to be very purposeful about what is included and what is excluded in every capture. They helped us see differently, to see with intentionality.

They invited me to consider how my photography and my spirituality are related. In doing so I realized the importance of intentionality in my personal discipleship and in my ministry.

In order for us to grow spiritually we need to be intentional. God's goal for you and me is to mature and develop the characteristics of Jesus Christ, living a life of love, humble service, and witness.

Sadly, there are far too many Christians who grow older but never grow up. They're stuck in perpetual spiritual infancy, drinking only milk and remaining in diapers. The reason is because they never were intentional about growing spiritually. Growth in our faith life is not automatic; it takes an intentional commitment. You must want to grow, decide to grow, make an effort to grow, and persist in growing. That's intentionality.

Discipleship is the process of becoming like Christ -- being intentional about what is included and what is excluded in every aspect of our spiritual life.

-- Rev. David T. Wilkinson, www.davidt-wilkinson.pixels.com

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