| Good morning everyone, Our theme for this month: “Selfcare” Our Bible verse for today: “But we encourage you, brothers and sisters, to do this even more, to seek to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, so that you may behave properly in the presence of outsiders and not be dependent on anyone.” 1 Thessalonians 4:10-12 (CSB) Our thought for today: “Maybe you should downsize and simplify” In recent days we have been considering the idea that good selfcare often involves narrowing our focus for the purpose of going deep in all areas of life. Deep rather than wide, intimate rather than impersonal. I have introduced you to two great little books that will help in that effort, Chuck Swindoll’s “Intimacy with God” and John Mark Comer’s “The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry.” And I have been sharing a bit of my personal story with you regarding my own decades-long effort to bring about quality over quantity in my own life. Today I will conclude that part of our study by sharing one more important evolution that needed to take place in my own life. It involved an intentional decision made more than a decade ago by my wife Linda (who is now in heaven) and myself regarding the need to downsize and simplify our lives. We realized we owned far too much stuff (most of which we didn’t use) and our lives were entirely too busy (filled with too many activities and responsibilities). We owned a large house that was entirely too much living space for only two people, on a large piece of property that required a lot of upkeep. So, we sold that house and bought a home less than half the size of what we had, on a smaller piece of property that required much less upkeep. We also sold or gave away approximately 75% of our possessions – most of which were going unused and sitting in storage anyway. Professionally, I narrowed my focus to being a pastor, a writer, and my jail/prison ministry, and I resigned from all other boards, committees, and ministry activities. In my personal life my focus narrowed to mostly my wife, my immediate family, and a circle of close friends. It was amazing how much space that created in my life. Head-space, for one thing, but also, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually I discovered how much more relaxed and peaceful my entire life became. My life still included much meaningful service for the kingdom of God, along with plenty of focus and interaction with the people who were most important to me. And we still owned the possessions that we needed and which were most important to us. But everything else went. And the difference was tangible. In some respects, it was remarkable how much more enjoyable our lives became. And I would not go back. That’s exactly the point both Swindoll and Comer were making in their books, and it’s the point the Apostle Paul was making in 1 Thessalonians 4:10-12. Simple is often better than complicated, small can be better than big. It’s also the point Solomon was making in the TEV version of Ecclesiastes 7:29 that we considered that other day: “God has made us plain and simple but we have made ourselves very complicated.” Sometimes an important part of good selfcare will involve simplifying and downsizing in life. Are there some ways in which you could create more space in your life? God bless, Pastor Jim (If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00 – in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville |
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