I Don’t Need More Things, Just More Jesus.

I’ve always hoped for a simple and beautiful life.

I never needed a big fancy home.

I never cared about portraying to the world what looked like a “perfect” family- I just wanted us to be a family that gives and loves well.

I never dreamed of my kids looking put together in cute outfits or having the coolest things.

I never needed glamorous, I never even wanted it.

To my core, I like simple.

I was raised with simple.

I was taught to look for the small beauties in each day. I was taught to thank God for all the blessings that aren’t usually even “things”.

And when I do that, to this day, I’m my happiest and most peaceful self.

I don’t know when the shift happened.

I imagine it was a slow shift but I didn’t realize it until I was in the thick of it.

Suddenly, I realized the simple things of life weren’t even on my radar anymore.

My kids giggles didn’t bring tears to my eyes like it used to.

I didn’t feel the joy I once did just sitting outside watching the clouds in the sky.

My body became tense and my thoughts scattered.

Peace went missing.

And suddenly I wanted more.

More home, more decorations, more perfection, more compliments, more money... more more more.

I’ve never been so aware of the fact that the more I want and try to get, the emptier I feel.

I don’t want a life of wanting.

It seems almost unfair how much the world spews the idea that we need more to be happier.

It’s SO believable.

Many of us are convinced.

And quite honestly, the idea of fighting every single message we get about material things making us happy, is exhausting.

Yet, I know it’s worth the fight.

It’s worth grounding myself each morning with the reminder of what’s important and what’s not.

It’s worth it to pray every time I’m tempted to engage in the ways of the world.

In our culture, living simple isn’t easy.

It means taking thoughts captive and fixing our eyes on Jesus.

But my goodness, the joy the comes with just focusing on Him, and being obedient to His calling in the present moment...

Rather than thinking about what’s next, or achievements, or “more”...

It’s so freeing.

It’s the best way to go.

In the depth of my heart, I know what I’m hungry for is a simple life with Jesus.

Maybe you are, too?

The choice is ours to make.

I’m going to choose Jesus and simplicity.

Because I’m tired of the emptiness that comes with “more”.

I don’t need more than Jesus.

~Kelli Bachara, The Unraveling Blog