Navigating Life by Enjoying God’s Simple Things

Sad to say, many of us will be too busy to read this. Why? Because we work…work…work; hurry…hurry…hurry and worry…worry…worry. Then we get up the next morning and do it all over again. All of us (even pastors and church workers) can get caught up in the proverbial “rat race”…me included! A few years ago, when I was fully engaged in this insane cycle, I asked myself, “Have I forgotten how to enjoy life?” I sat there for a moment in silence…stunned as if I had been slapped in the face. “Maybe I have,” I answered in a low whisper. And maybe you have too?

It should be a joy, not a chore, to follow the Lord and seek His purposes for your life. I’ve discovered that enjoying life is a DECISION you make, not a set of circumstances you encounter. Life is filled with stresses and troubles that can steal our joy. So, I DECIDED to look for the simple joys of life that God makes available to all of us. Here’s what I’ve found:

1. First of All, Get Your Priorities Right! Be sure to take pleasure in what God desires for you. The world offers many pleasures…choose those that are not passing away (1 John 2:15-17). And Jesus, knowing how much we worry about life, gave us our prime directive. “Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.”—Matt. 6:32-33 New Living Translation.

2. Slow Down, Be Observant and You’ll See God. Don’t rush through life! Take time (not just a quick glance) to savor the moment….like a cool breeze, the fragrance of a flower, a breathtaking crimson sunset, majestic mountains, the vastness of night sky, and a glorious rainbow arching across dark gray clouds. You’re not just looking at a beautiful planet, my friend. You’re getting a glimpse of God’s invisible attributes, eternal power and divine nature! (Ps. 19:1-2; Rom. 1:19-20)

3. Simplify, Simplify, Simplify! It’s amazing how enjoyable simplicity can be…like eating outdoors, laughing with friends and reminiscing with family. It’s the innocence in a child’s voice, the love in the aging eyes of a parent, and the joy on wrinkled faces at a golden wedding anniversary. God’s peace lives with those whose minds dwell on the simplicity of good things. (Philip. 4:8-9)

4. Think and Speak with Love and Gratitude in Your Heart. Nothing affects your life more than the way you think and speak. They’re like seeds planted in your soul…they reproduce after their own kind. Harsh thoughts and criticizing words produce the fruit of discontentment and frustration. Sow loving words and heart-felt gratitude in keeping with God’s Spirit, and you’ll reap righteousness, peace and eternal life. (Gal. 6:7-8; James 3:18)

Greater men than I have written on how to enjoy life. But this I have learned…it won’t happen unless you set aside TIME to make it happen! So, here’s a good way to Navigate life…make the decision to enjoy God and your loved ones in the purity of simple things He sets before you. Oh, and by the way, it’s good for you and it’s FREE…it really is like good medicine (Prov. 17:22)!

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