Spiritual Disciplines: Simplicity and Solitude - Charlaine Martin

A simpler life and having peaceful moments for ourselves seem to be novel ideas, don’t they? I’ve noticed that the elegant designs of our grandparents have given way to simpler, less expensive décor. Hairpin legs, clean lines. Less. The Agreeable Gray of the millennials started a new trend of neutrals. Less clutter. Less noise. Just less. Shouldn’t our spiritual lives also become less cluttered—less complicated? We yearn for a simpler uncluttered life and a greater connection to God but have difficulty finding them.

I’ve also noticed church trends are more basic when it comes to ministries. The Christian social clubs have vanished, opening the door for greeters to welcome you, online bulletins, simpler platforms, Bible studies, and small groups. Missions focus on doing and giving rather than games like silent auctions and Bingo. Just give. Your time. Your resources. Your prayers. Simple.

Yet, we can’t find the uninterrupted time and space to pray, meditate on God’s Word, and fast—just be with Jesus. We crave it, yet it eludes us. Someday, Lord. Someday, I will sit with You. Yes, someday. After the kids get older. How about after I retire? Someday. But someday never comes. I’ve watched with dismay as some Christians go to yoga and tai chi classes, participate in mindfulness meditation, and more, all in search of Simplicity and Solitude. Satan offers us a facsimile of what we seek, but at what cost? He leads us further and further away from God.  

In this post, I’d like to share how you can find these two disciplines and make them a reality in your spiritual life.

Simplicity

Simplicity means living an uncluttered life free of too many activities, appointments, etc. It becomes a lifestyle that opens up inviting room for God. According to Richard Foster in The Celebration of Discipline, Simplicity is freedom! This freedom takes away distractions and excuses, giving way to free time. No stuff shuffling. No scurrying here and there. Bliss!

However, Foster tells us that Simplicity comes from an attitude—a mindset—of Simplicity (p. 80). We must renew and refresh our minds to lead a simpler life to find contentment in our lives. Reading the Bible will help us renew our minds (Romans 12:2) so we can set the tone of Simplicity. The Apostle Paul talks about contentment with whatever situation we find ourselves in (1 Timothy 6:7-9, Philippians 4:10-12). Then, the outward expression of Simplicity will become our new reality.

Ways to Unclutter Life

We must intentionally set our minds on living life with God daily. We can begin by:

• Reduce the alerts on your smartphone to only those that are necessary. When you remove distractions, it helps you simplify your life, whether they are sale alerts, social media alerts, etc. Keep what’s only necessary.
• Clear out activities and appointments that drain you. Have you said yes to activities you dread or aren’t your “thing”? Those activities will continue to drain you. Let them go.
• Clear clutter that you have to shuffle around. Sort areas of your home in 15-minute segments: trash—donate—keep boxes. Reduce your mail by unsubscribing from mailings that you no longer need. Pitch junk mail, deal with the mail that matters rather than pile it on your counter.
• Find a space that invites you to pray, read your Bible, and reflect on the goodness of God. Mine is a recliner in my office with decorations that help me focus on the Lord. Where can you spend around 15 to 30 minutes uninterrupted time with God?
• Organize your life, making time and space with God a priority.
  • Set a day and time you will spend in prayer, fasting, Bible study, and Christian meditation.
  • Create your space with a comfortable chair, a table, physical
  • Bible, notepad, and pen, and with décor that draws you into your time with God.
• When you find clutter settling back into your life, repeat the process.

Solitude

Solitude is another foundational spiritual discipline we struggle to find. When my children were little, the rare moment of quiet time to read devotions and pray was fleeting. Now that they live elsewhere with their families, I have more time and quiet moments, but somehow I managed a few minutes during their naps, in the bathroom, or while in bed. Solitude is more readily available now in terms of quiet time. It’s the mental quietness that’s more of the challenge.

Although we can set the stage for Solitude, our to-do lists, concerns, and other mental clutter often crowd out the stillness we desperately need. I can assure you that it is possible. We must cultivate Solitude in our minds and hearts. It doesn’t just happen. When we quiet ourselves inside, we are now open to listening to the Lord’s voice.

Stilling the noise in your head takes effort. Here are some ways to quiet your heart and mind:

1. Ask God to help you. Give it to God and let go. You can “cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7.
2. Write down, with pen and paper, what’s on your mind in a bullet list. Physically writing your to-do lists or other intrusive thoughts gets it out on paper. You can check your list in the morning or at another time that is convenient for you.
3. Avoid going to bed angry. Instead, try to work out relational problems beforehand. If not, agree to table the issues until a better time for both of you.
4. Reduce the notifications on your smartphone with social media and ads. Also restrict your texts and phone calls by silencing them during prayer time, bedtime, and other times when they are intrusive. I screen my calls and texts.
5. Do devotions at night to set your thoughts on God. God’s Word permeates our thoughts as we drift off to sleep.

A Dynamic Hub

When you put Simplicity and Solitude together and anchor them with Prayer, this hub holds all the other spiritual disciplines in our lives together. They work synergistically bringing greater connectedness with God. This hub is essential to hearing Him. I can assure you that Simplicity-Solitude-Prayer when cultivated properly, will bring the connection to God you seek. It takes time and practice. If you’ve ever wondered why God doesn’t speak to you like some other Christians you look up to, build this hub into your life. It makes all the difference.

I would love to hear your thoughts on spiritual disciplines. Feel free to contact me at charlaine_martin@yahoo.com. Blessings to you!

Resource: Celebration of Discipline by Richard J. Foster.