HOW DO I SIMPLIFY MY LIFE?

“I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay. You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” – Psalm 16:8-11.

In a world filled with constant demands and distractions, the call to simplify our lives is a spiritual practice that involves prioritizing what matters: our connection with God.  Talking about simplifying our lives and doing it is to separate things. The need to balance work, family, and other commitments can be overwhelming, leaving people who want to be more like Jesus exhausted and drained.

To tackle this issue, we have to prioritize our spiritual life. Jesus said in Matthew 6:33, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” As we make our spiritual life a priority, we ensure that time is set aside for prayer, Bible study, and seeking God’s presence. Everything else may still be important but is secondary to our relationship with God.

Psalm 16:8 states, “I keep my eyes always on the Lord.” That statement seems obvious. Maintaining a constant focus on Jesus Christ is essential because it helps you stay grounded in faith, find strength through difficult times, and avoid distractions from worldly concerns by centering your attention on His guidance and example. Hebrews 12:2 says, “We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith….”Before you can simplify your life, take a moment to be still before God: “Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world” (Psalm 46:10).

We need to love more intentionally if we are going to simplify our lives and focus on what matters most. Although this is difficult to master, the more you practice living for what you value, the easier it becomes. Try carving out a day a week when you intentionally take time to focus on what matters and let everything else fall to the wayside.

When we make abiding in Jesus our number one priority, we see our other responsibilities in light of that. As we go about our day, He’ll show us what to do and what to let go of. The Holy Spirit will lead us. When obeying in Jesus becomes our first concern, we can handle challenges more gracefully. Jesus renews our peace, gives us wisdom for our next right thing, and enables us to navigate our priorities step by step.

“If you want your life to have impact, focus it! Stop dabbling. Stop trying to do it all. Do less. Prune away even good activities and do only that which matters most. Never confuse activity with productivity. You can be busy without a purpose, but what’s the point?” – Rick Warren.

Discussion Questions:

1. Which areas of your life could benefit most from simplification?
2. How can focusing on your relationship with God help simplify other aspects of your life?