Simplify

Simplify.

I hadn’t given much thought to a word for 2023, but it hit me hard Sunday.

Simplify.

It was almost audible, as if I knew it was God’s command to me for 2023.

Simplify.

Do you ever feel like your life is so busy? So complicated? Do you ever wonder what you can eliminate? How you can simplify this crazy thing called life?

I know I do.

If you are a single mom (or dad), I hear you: How do I simplify? How do I eliminate excess from my life? There are so many things clamoring for my attention, and I can’t get rid of any of them!

I’ve been there. I once had a single parent of one kid tell me I needed to limit my kids’ activities. I just looked at him. My kids were really only allowed one activity each. Which children do I tell that they must cancel the one activity they chose?

Simplifying isn’t always that simple…

I see simplifying as a process of streamlining, of creating a less complex life. I think it’s a biblical principle. Scripture is full of passages emphasizing one thing. Doesn’t that sound just like simplifying our lives? Narrowing down to the most important things? Not sure what scripture refers to in these one thing passages? Here’s a few to read:

One thing I ask… (Psalm 27:4)

One thing you lack… (Mark 10:21)

One thing I know… (John 9:25)

One thing I do… (Philippians 3:13)

Do not forget this one thing (2 Peter 3:8)

As I embark on this journey to simplify, I am looking at what I need to ask, lack, know, and do.

Ask. I am asking God to show me Himself in a new way this year. I want Him to have more of me so I can have more of Him. One way I am going to give Him more of me is to add sermons to my routine.

It almost seems contradictory to simplifying my life, but I am looking to add at a minimum a sermon each day. Years ago in the midst of my darkest days, I found myself listening to sermons daily as I ran. When I ran the Oklahoma City Memorial half marathon, I listened to 2 1/2 hours of sermons every weekend on my long runs. As my life and schedule have changed, I’ve quit prioritizing feeding my soul with sermons.

This year, my goal is to listen to at least 200 sermons. I don’t know if I will keep track, but right now (on January 4), I’ve listened to five. I’m learning to add sermons in the mornings as I get ready for work. I am asking God to speak to me and draw me nearer to Him as I give more of my attention to God and His word.

Lack. In Mark 10:21, Jesus tells the rich young ruler that he lacked one thing, selling everything he owned. I think there’s one thing I lack right now: focus. There are so many distractions in this world that vie for my attention, distractions that keep me from experiencing all God has for me.

When we talk about simplifying, elimination seems to be the obvious action. We all know there are things we can eliminate that would make our lives richer, more peaceful. Years ago, I felt God calling me to eliminate cable. I did, and I honestly didn’t miss it. It has been heavy on my heart to eliminate television again.

I, personally, don’t watch much tv. I have a bad habit of falling asleep if I sit still very long (probably more than 5 minutes). But, I do have a phone, a phone that can be a time waster. Social media. Email. YouTube. Games. Podcasts. None of these things are necessarily bad in moderation, but they can steal our time and our peace.

Over the next 12 months, I am looking to eliminate (or greatly limit) many of the electronic distractions that I believe rob me of peace and time. Which brings me to the next step in simplifying.

Know. I know I need to dwell in the house of the Lord forever, focusing my mind first thing every single day on the Word of God. I know I need to prioritize my time with God in such a way that I shut down everything around me and soak in His word. I know I need to consume more of His word and books that fill my heart and mind with good things, feeding my hungry soul.

I know I need to exchange the distractions of this world for a spiritual focus, a passion for God and those things that create intimacy with Him.

Do. There are so many things I need to do, but mostly I want to be intentional in my relationships. I want to go deeper with those I love most. I want to be available to them. I want to build memories with them. I want them to feel as if they are the most important people in the world because they are the most important people in my world.

I also want to build friendships. My life has been consumed with raising kids for the last 20+ years. Now that we are on the verge of an empty nest, I find myself with few close friends simply because I haven’t had time to cultivate friendships. I want to find friendships that will spur me on to a deeper walk with Christ. I also want to find people I can encourage, people who need my life experiences to help them find a deeper love for Christ.

I want 2023 to be a year of simplifying, a year of identifying the one thing that will draw me closer to Him and closer to those I love.

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