Most of us who live in the United States live a more complex life than people from many other cultures, especially those areas that we might label “third world.” It is not that everyone in any culture doesn’t need to take care of the basics – food, clothing, and shelter but most of us can hop in our car and go to the grocery store or restaurant for our food and other stores when we need clothing and other necessities. We are fortunate to have a variety of stores to choose from for these needs. Although most of us have adequate shelter, we know how quickly that can change. Hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, fires, and the like can change all of that in a few moments. Many in other countries live in very basic shelters, some of which are inadequate by most anyone’s standards.

I am sitting here in front of a warm fire writing this today. My first entry into my daily journal this morning was thanksgiving for electric heat, running water (no frozen pipes), and power for lights, etc. Convenient things most of us just take for granted! Because it doesn’t take hours to gather the food and prepare it for our meals, we have more time for other things. Because most of us can just flick a switch to turn on our heat (or air conditioning), we don’t have to go cut down a tree, chop up the wood to heat our house, or cook our food. So we manage to use our time for the many other things that may interest us including the TV, computer, and phone. I have noticed that an hour (or more) can slip by while I browse on my phone or computer.

I lived in Central America (Belize) for almost four years as a missionary in the 1990s. Surrounding our mission base, which did have a minimal amount of electricity, were neighbors who had no electricity or running water. When I arrived we were collecting water from the roofs of the buildings for cooking and drinking. Several years later we had a team come down and dig a well for us so that we then had clean, safe water to drink and cook with. These same neighbors traveled to the nearest deep well provided by the government for their water (which could be quite a distance from their home) which they then had to carry back to their homes. They cooked on wood they had gathered from the surrounding area while we were fortunate to have propane stoves. The adults woke up an hour or so before the sun rose at 5 a.m. to prepare for their day. Women made lots of corn tortillas to send their husbands off to their plot of land where they grew their food or for fortunate ones, to a day labor job which provided for some of their necessities. Life was not complex for them but basic survival took up a lot of their time.

This past year I have had to simplify my life while recuperating from two major surgeries. I have been such an active, busy person most of my life and this was quite an adjustment. At first, I felt guilty and I felt frustrated for not being able to do more, but the result has been a realization that I can live a simpler life and still feel like I was not backslidden or unproductive! The extra time I had to rest and recuperate allowed me to realize that the Lord likes to “hang out” with me – with no agenda other than to get to know Him better. I have thought about some of the Old Testament saints who developed friendships with God that were based on time alone with Him. David while still a shepherd, Moses after fleeing Egypt and then spending many years also tending sheep, and Abraham whose family were pastoral and raised animals are three that come to mind. All had responsibilities but also knew how to commune with the Lord during their times of being alone with their sheep.

I have to confess that it has taken me a while to start enjoying this new season of my life. I could probably revert to being too busy now that I am feeling better. But busy isn’t always better! If I start to compare myself to others, I might start doing things the Lord has not initiated or directed. My goal this year is to keep my life simple. That will look different for me than for others. This is not to make someone (no matter how old) feel like they have to slow down or simplify their life unless that is what the Lord has been speaking to them. I am just permitting you to consider that it is okay! Simple for me may look a lot different than simple for you. Your relationship with the Lord does not have to be complicated or laborious. It should be enjoyable.

Little children enter into a relationship with the Lord more easily simply because their lives have not yet become so complex. I have watched 2 and 3-year-olds enter into the true heart of worship with abandonment and yet seen older people struggle with being distracted by the many responsibilities they carry. Many of us no longer take a Sabbath day to rest. We fill up that day with extra activities or projects that we think have to be done. What would it look like if every believer truly honored that day by resting and spending time with the Lord?

Paul challenged the Corinthian believers to return to the purity and simplicity of devotion to Christ in 2 Corinthians 11:2-3. We are all called to simple and pure devotion to Christ. Therefore, we will need to make the habits that nurture intimacy a priority. Devotion to Christ will ultimately lead us to do things that will further the Kingdom of God. That may look different for me as a retired person. I don’t have to go to a 9-5 job or possibly spend hours commuting like many people so I can sit here at home and have a nice quiet time and read the Word and still keep my commitments. I still get up early so that I can have that quality time with the Lord before my day begins. But with smartphones and CDs, even when we are traveling, we can listen to the Word or teaching or worship and we can also pray. Trips don’t have to be tedious.

Daniel was a very busy man. He served the king of Babylon (actually four of them over his tenure of service). And yet, three times a day, he paused and prayed to his God. He lived such a spotless life that his jealous enemies had to entrap him with deceptive decrees to try to get him to stop worshipping his God. David was the king of Israel and yet he had regular times of worship daily amid his busy life. Many other biblical figures made sure that their priorities were right. Even Jesus during His time of ministry withdrew often from the crowds as well as His disciples to have intimate fellowship with His Father.

None of us have a legitimate excuse for not spending time with our God and Savior regularly. It doesn’t have to be complicated but it should be consistent! I think He loves it more than we do!