Living Simply Part 1 (of 3)

This three part series is lifted from thoughts in Richard Foster’s book Celebration of Discipline.  (I would highly recommend it). 

“Contemporary culture lacks both the inward reality and the outward life-style of simplicity…we are trapped in a maze of competing attachments…we have no unity or focus around which our lives are oriented.” – Richard Foster (Celebration of Discipline)

This quote challenges me in a few different ways.  It causes me to reflect over what ambitions, dreams, goals, and passions are competing for my time, energy, and money.  Our resources are finite.  I think Foster makes a good point to challenge us to analyze whether or not our lives focus on God’s kingdom, or if our lives are scattered in multiple directions.

I challenge you:

1.  Take 30 minutes and make a list of what ambitions are pulling from your life’s resources (time, energy, money, talents, etc.)

2.  Honestly reflect over whether or not one or more of them prevent you from seeking God first and foremost. 

3.  Pray over whether or not the Lord wants you to cross any goals off of your list (often the spiritual emphasis is always about adding things onto our list).