I have a friend (at this awesome blog) who has recently expressed a desire to live more simply. I think it's something we can all do better, and I'm encouraged by her to seek new ways to do that. I was reading through Matthew 6:19-34, and it offers some great wisdom on things we look to for happiness and about the temptation to worry.
So, I have three tips on how to simplify life (including our thought life):
Clear your space.
Clutter, stuff everywhere, projects all around. Clear it out! Do you really need four of that thing or that pile of old stuff? Donate! Sell! When you start clearing out your surroundings, you’ll notice immediately a simpler feeling. A place for everything and everything in its place.
Clear your mind.
Worry, negativity, stress. We are constantly bombarded by things that would cause us to do these things, but we have a hope in Christ that allows us to take time each day to "cast our cares upon the Lord" (1 Peter 5:7). Begin a daily practice of giving your mind to the Lord. Set aside 5-10 minutes to pray and let the Spirit take the controls. Doing this on a regular basis will help you feel more in tune with the Holy Spirit.
Clear your schedule.
It's totally okay to have a weekend where you have no plans. It opens up opportunities for God to work. He might have plans for you that you would otherwise miss if you try to fill your whole week and weekend. One thing Brent and I love is having friends that we can call on a given night and say, "let's have dinner!" In general, most people are too busy to do such things on a whim ... but those who live simply seem to have the time!
Repeat as needed.
There will be busy seasons in life. It happens! We get caught up in things, events, stuff. It's fine. Just try to keep simplicity in the back of your mind. Just like Spring cleaning, learn to Spring Simplify.
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