Latest / First15 Devotional / The Discipline of Simplicity

Transcript

The Discipline of Simplicity · First15 Devotional

• 0:04
  [SPEAKER_00]: Today, we are going to explore the actual discipline of simplicity by answering questions like, what does it mean to simplify life?
• 0:15
  [SPEAKER_00]: How would Jesus have us actually simplify our lives?
• 0:19
  [SPEAKER_00]: How can embracing simplicity in rich our day-to-day experience?
• 0:25
  [SPEAKER_00]: May your heart and mind be open to all the wisdom and goodness God has for you today.
• 0:31
  [SPEAKER_00]: It may you find comfort in making Jesus your one necessary thing.
• 0:37
  [SPEAKER_00]: Welcome to the first 15 podcast.
• 1:09
  [SPEAKER_00]: Our Scripture for today comes from 2 Corinthians 1, verse 12, Scripture says,
• 1:17
  [SPEAKER_00]: for our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom, but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you.
• 1:38
  [SPEAKER_00]: often, we are kept from living lives marked by the joy and peace of our heavenly Father, because of our continual pursuit for more.
• 1:49
  [SPEAKER_00]: Humanities first sin was pursuing more than God intended for us, and the enemy continues to entice us with that temptation today.
• 2:00
  [SPEAKER_00]: a core value of the world is more, more money, more fame, more friends, more success, more happiness, more possessions, more of anything because we feel dissatisfied with our lives.
• 2:20
  [SPEAKER_00]: We are constantly grabbing for that which will never fully satisfy in the present or lead
• 2:32
  [SPEAKER_00]: Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 1 verse 12, for our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behave in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom, but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you.
• 2:56
  [SPEAKER_00]: Simplicity is a God-given discipline that prunes the dead branches of waste that affectionately deplete us of the energy, time, and provision with which God has blessed us.
• 3:12
  [SPEAKER_00]: When we make the decision to stop pursuing more, we step in line with the spirit and place our
• 3:26
  [SPEAKER_00]: You see, at the core of a continual pursuit for more, is a lack of faith in God's goodness.
• 3:35
  [SPEAKER_00]: If we truly believe, God provides all we need.
• 3:40
  [SPEAKER_00]: We would never step outside his provision and strive for more.
• 3:46
  [SPEAKER_00]: Adam and Eve, question God's goodness, and thereby brought the destructive nature of sin into humanity.
• 3:55
  [SPEAKER_00]: They decided for themselves what was enough rather than trusting God to know what was best for them.
• 4:04
  [SPEAKER_00]: Our own forbidden fruit takes on all sorts of forms.
• 4:09
  [SPEAKER_00]: We work our fingers to the bone for a taste of greater success.
• 4:15
  [SPEAKER_00]: All the while for getting who it is we are to work for in the first place.
• 4:21
  [SPEAKER_00]: We take God given financial provision and wasted on worldly pleasures rather than investing it into that which will actually satisfy us.
• 4:33
  [SPEAKER_00]: We take what we receive from God and use it to finance self-indulgence.
• 4:39
  [SPEAKER_00]: Rather than sharing it with those who God wanted to use us to bless from the beginning.
• 4:47
  [SPEAKER_00]: And we take the valuable resource of time and waste it on pursuits that were never God's intention to begin with.
• 4:57
  [SPEAKER_00]: We desperately need transformation and training in the discipline of simplicity.
• 5:04
  [SPEAKER_00]: In order to experience joy and peace, the transcendence circumstances, and position ourselves through faithfulness to receive more of what God longs to give.
• 5:16
  [SPEAKER_00]: We must offer our time, energy, and money to God, and follow the guidance of His Spirit and Word.
• 5:36
  [SPEAKER_00]: take time and guided prayer to place all your treasure in the only place that can truly offer you eternal reward.
• 6:12
  [SPEAKER_00]: As we begin, meditate on the importance of simplicity and the destructive pursuit of more.
• 6:22
  [SPEAKER_00]: Luke 16 13 says, no servant can serve two masters.
• 6:28
  [SPEAKER_00]: For either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.
• 6:37
  [SPEAKER_00]: You cannot serve God and money.
• 6:52
  [UNKNOWN]: Thank you very much.
• 7:22
  [SPEAKER_00]: next.
• 7:24
  [SPEAKER_00]: Reflect on the areas of your life that are not marked by simplicity.
• 7:30
  [SPEAKER_00]: Ask the spirit to convict you of anything you need to get rid of.
• 7:35
  [SPEAKER_00]: It's incredibly important to note the difference between guilt and conviction.
• 7:41
  [SPEAKER_00]: Conviction from the spirit is always done in love and will always bring you inner peace and joy as you follow through in obedience.
• 7:53
  [SPEAKER_00]: Galatians chapter 5 verses 22 and 23 says, but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, against such things there is no law.
• 8:22
  [UNKNOWN]: Thank you very much.
• 8:59
  [SPEAKER_00]: And last, commit to ending the pursuit of more by trusting in the provision and goodness of your Heavenly Father.
• 9:10
  [SPEAKER_00]: Place your trust in Him alone and ask Him to guide you into a lifestyle of simplicity.
• 9:19
  [SPEAKER_00]: Matthew chapter 6, verses 31, 233 says, therefore do not be anxious, saying, what shall we eat or what shall we drink or what shall we wear?
• 9:33
  [SPEAKER_00]: For the Gentiles seek after all these things.
• 9:37
  [SPEAKER_00]: and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
• 9:41
  [SPEAKER_00]: But the seek first, the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
• 10:31
  [SPEAKER_00]: God has different plans for each of his children, but what is always true is that he loves to bless his children.
• 10:41
  [SPEAKER_00]: To live simply, we just need to live in continual relationship with the Holy Spirit and allow Him to show us what gifts are from Him.
• 10:51
  [SPEAKER_00]: And whether they are for our benefit or pleasure or to give away to others, may you find greater depths of peace as you grow in trusting God and following the perfect and abundant leadership of the Holy Spirit.
• 11:23
  [SPEAKER_00]: Thank you for listening to today's podcast.
• 11:26
  [SPEAKER_00]: I'm Josh Miller with first 15.
• 11:29
  [SPEAKER_00]: If simplicity is something you especially struggle with, I want to encourage you that taking time to experience God like you did today is an amazing way to take positive steps forward towards simplifying your life.
• 11:44
  [SPEAKER_00]: Every day, our goal with verse 15 is to help people be rooted and grounded in the reality that all of life is about relationship.
• 11:54
  [SPEAKER_00]: So take heart today that as you make space to meet with God, he will simplify your life over time.
• 12:02
  [SPEAKER_00]: Thanks again for listening, have a wonderful rest of your day, and may God bless you as you see Kim.