We all crave to receive revelation. Sometimes we even desire something more dramatic and more complicated than what has been shared before. We pray to God to reveal Himself. We pray for dialogue between ourselves and God. Every so often we engage in complicated conversations. We read our Bibles hoping that we will make a miraculous discovery of something never seen or read before. While all along the answer often lies in the simple things! “For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.” – 1 Corinthians 14:33 (a)
Not sure where I am going with this? Well, let me use the example of the rich young man (I’m borrowing this awesome revelation from a friend!).
Not sure where I am going with this? Well, let me use the example of the rich young man (I’m borrowing this awesome revelation from a friend!).
Not sure where I am going with this? Well, let me use the example of the rich young man (I’m borrowing this awesome revelation from a friend!).
“And as He was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before Him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” And he said to Him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” – Mark 10:17-22
When we read this story, we usually jump to the conclusion that the only reason Jesus wanted the rich young man to sell his possessions, is to live in complete dependence of God, and to live by faith and not by sight? But there is more to it! If this young man sold his possessions, he would have been able to simplify his life. Because for everything you own in life, you need to share some thought to manage and to maintain it. And eventually all your ‘things’ can take up so much of your time, that you just don’t have any time left in a day to spend with God. But if you simplify your life, you will be able to do better time management, and automatically you will be able to focus your thoughts better. Think about it!
“But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.” - 2 Corinthian 11:3
Practical examples of simplifying our everyday lives: Delete yourself from all sorts of email lists you are subscribed to (it clutters your Inbox and it clutters your life). Move your Facebook shortcut to a screen you don’t need to see the whole day (yes, it is possible to survive without Facebook!). Switch your unnecessary Whatsapp groups to silent (you will be relieved if you have less ‘ping’ notifications to listen to everyday!). Watch less television. Don’t try to be everybody to everyone, choose your group of friends. Surround yourself with positive people. Simplify your household – maybe it is time to clean out your closet and donate everything you don’t use to a shelter? Stop committing yourself to things that only takes up time, but don’t have any real value in your life, or the lives of others. Allow yourself some ‘me time’. Learn to relax (you really don’t have to be busy 24/7). And most important: MAKE time to spend with god! “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” – Matthew 6:33
The main things are the plain things in the Bible! So if you wish to receive revelation, and you if you wish to have dialogue with God, and if you wish to discover all the hidden gems in the Bible; you will have to simplify your spiritual views as well. Start with the fundamental truth that God loves you more than anything else, and that you were created to have a love relationship with Him. Jesus Christ already paid the price at Calvary. Accept your salvation. Seek first the kingdom of God, and then God will slowly but surely start to reveal all His hidden treasures in the Bible to you! And you will gradually realise that you receive more and more direct revelation. And who knows, you might just one day make that miraculous discovery in the Bible of something never revealed before? Start with the basics, believe it, and live it!
Greeting you with simplicity and peace.
Yolandi
“And as He was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before Him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” And he said to Him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” – Mark 10:17-22
When we read this story, we usually jump to the conclusion that the only reason Jesus wanted the rich young man to sell his possessions, is to live in complete dependence of God, and to live by faith and not by sight? But there is more to it! If this young man sold his possessions, he would have been able to simplify his life. Because for everything you own in life, you need to share some thought to manage and to maintain it. And eventually all your ‘things’ can take up so much of your time, that you just don’t have any time left in a day to spend with God. But if you simplify your life, you will be able to do better time management, and automatically you will be able to focus your thoughts better. Think about it!
“But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.” - 2 Corinthian 11:3
Practical examples of simplifying our everyday lives: Delete yourself from all sorts of email lists you are subscribed to (it clutters your Inbox and it clutters your life). Move your Facebook shortcut to a screen you don’t need to see the whole day (yes, it is possible to survive without Facebook!). Switch your unnecessary Whatsapp groups to silent (you will be relieved if you have less ‘ping’ notifications to listen to everyday!). Watch less television. Don’t try to be everybody to everyone, choose your group of friends. Surround yourself with positive people. Simplify your household – maybe it is time to clean out your closet and donate everything you don’t use to a shelter? Stop committing yourself to things that only takes up time, but don’t have any real value in your life, or the lives of others. Allow yourself some ‘me time’. Learn to relax (you really don’t have to be busy 24/7). And most important: MAKE time to spend with god! “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” – Matthew 6:33
The main things are the plain things in the Bible! So if you wish to receive revelation, and you if you wish to have dialogue with God, and if you wish to discover all the hidden gems in the Bible; you will have to simplify your spiritual views as well. Start with the fundamental truth that God loves you more than anything else, and that you were created to have a love relationship with Him. Jesus Christ already paid the price at Calvary. Accept your salvation. Seek first the kingdom of God, and then God will slowly but surely start to reveal all His hidden treasures in the Bible to you! And you will gradually realise that you receive more and more direct revelation. And who knows, you might just one day make that miraculous discovery in the Bible of something never revealed before? Start with the basics, believe it, and live it!
Greeting you with simplicity and peace.
Yolandi