In our culture, it’s easy to get bogged down by distractions that take our attention away from what really matters. Here are some simple ways to help you reorient your heart and your mind!
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1. Consume compassionately.
When buying a new item, ask yourself these three questions:
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- Is this something I need to purchase?
- Can I buy it second-hand?
- Can I find an ethical source?
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2. Donate what you don’t need.
In Luke 3:11, Jesus said, “If you have two coats, give one away.” Take inventory of the items you and your family own. While it seems commonplace to have multiple styles of one item—like a coat—it doesn’t mean it is necessary. Consider donating items you have in multiples.
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3. Challenge yourself to only use “new technology” that is necessary for your life.
In 2019, there’s an app for everything. With the purpose of making life more convenient, they tend to clutter our minds and vie for our attention. Consider getting rid of phone apps that aren’t absolutely necessary for your everyday functioning.
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4. Make a list every day of the things you’re grateful for.
In an Instagram culture that constantly serves us up pictures of what our lives could be, it’s important to ground ourselves in the blessings we have been given and entrusted with. In your morning or evening devotion routine, set some time aside to make a list of the things you have in your life that you are grateful for.
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5. Make giving a priority.
Giving of our time, money and resources for the good of others may seem counterintuitive when talking about simplifying. But, on the contrary, when we make giving one of our core values, we realign our mind and heart to the values of Christ’s upside-down Kingdom that says “it is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). Use your unique giftings to figure out how to best serve others.
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6. Let Christ be enough.
We live in a world that tries to sell us all sorts of products and schemes that promise us happiness, but the longer we live, the more we learn that none of it truly satisfies. Dedicate a part of your day to asking God to reveal to you the ways you are looking for satisfaction in places other than Him.
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For more perspective-changing content on topics like this, download your copy of Eyes to See!
