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Power of Simplicity: BFG Handbook Chapter 55 (Finding Strength in the Simple)
Discover the highlights of this chapter shaping the New Evangelization today: https://www.builtforgreatness.com/tao-te-ching-chapter-55-power-of-simplicity/
Have you ever noticed how the most profound truths often come wrapped in simplicity? When life feels overwhelmingly complex, there's something magnetic about stripping away the noise to find clarity.
This deep dive into Chapter 55 of the Built for God movement explores spiritual simplicity through a fascinating lens—a Christian perspective on the ancient wisdom of the Tao Te Ching. Far beyond mere minimalism or decluttering, we're talking about a spiritual simplicity that restores inner harmony and connects you directly to divine truth.
We unpack powerful paradoxes that challenge conventional thinking: how spiritual infancy creates mature strength, how apparent weakness contains unshakable power, and how finding fulfillment in God frees you from anxious striving after worldly desires. These counterintuitive principles offer a refreshing alternative to our culture's endless pursuit of more, revealing how alignment with divine purpose creates an effortless impact no amount of force could achieve.
The practical Mindset-Aim-Practice framework gives you concrete ways to embody these principles daily. Whether it's approaching situations with childlike trust, building inner strength through spiritual practices, or ensuring your ambitions align with eternal purposes, you'll find actionable guidance for your journey.
Perhaps most fascinating is how these principles of spiritual simplicity echo across faith traditions. The parallels between Christian scripture, Buddhist teachings, Islamic wisdom, and Hindu texts reveal a shared human understanding of what truly leads to flourishing. As St. Thomas Aquinas noted, "Truth cannot contradict truth."
Ready to discover how simplicity might become your pathway to greater spiritual strength? Join us in exploring how letting go of complexity could be your first step toward finding what truly matters.
You know, with everything going on in modern life, all the noise, the complexity, it feels like simplicity has this real power, doesn't it?
Speaker 2:Oh, absolutely. It's like this deep human craving for clarity emits the chaos.
Speaker 1:Right, and today we're actually diving deep into a really unique perspective on that. We've got Chapter 55, Power of Simplicity from the Built for God movement.
Speaker 2:The BFG movement. Yeah, and what's interesting here is how it uses a Christian perspective to look at the Tao Te Ching.
Speaker 1:Exactly so. It's not just about you know cleaning your desk.
Speaker 2:Definitely not, although that might happen. This is deeper. It's spiritual simplicity, getting back to truth through a new expression of God's love, as the chapter puts it.
Speaker 1:Okay, so that's our mission for this deep dive, then Really unpack what this chapter means by simplicity and how it connects to well to you listeners, your spiritual strength, your inner harmony.
Speaker 2:And the source gives us a pretty clear roadmap. Restore, looking at simplicity's power. Then renewal, which has mindset, aim and practice.
Speaker 1:MAP got it.
Speaker 2:Right and finally respond, which is fascinating. It looks at parallel teachings in other religions.
Speaker 1:Okay, great structure. Let's jump into restore the power of simplicity. It kicks off with this really vivid analogy those filled with the spirit are like newborn infants. What's the insight there for us?
Speaker 2:Well, it immediately taps into core Christian ideas, doesn't it? Innocence for one, Humility, complete trust, utter dependence. Like a baby relies on its parents. The chapter even points to scripture, like 1 Peter urging that craving for spiritual milk.
Speaker 1:Like infants.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:About the spirit's presence right from the start.
Speaker 2:Exactly so. For you listening, it's less about theology and more about maybe approaching things with fresh eyes, letting go of cynicism and just trusting.
Speaker 1:Trusting the process. Okay, that image of reliance is strong, but then it gets well, almost counterintuitive. It says venomous serpents are no danger, wild beasts no threat. Birds of prey don't attack those in harmony with the spirit. Sounds a bit like a magic shield.
Speaker 2:It does sound like that initially. Yeah, Think about it in terms of faith. It's really about divine protection.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:The source links it to passages like Isaiah 54.17, no weapon formed against you shall prosper and, of course, Psalm 23, the shepherd protecting the flock. So the idea isn't necessarily that you're physically bulletproof. Maybe it's more about an inner security. When you're aligned with the spirit, those external things, they lose their power over you.
Speaker 1:Okay, that makes more sense. It's an internal state, not necessarily an external force field.
Speaker 2:Precisely A deep confidence that circumstances can't easily shake.
Speaker 1:Got it Now. Here's another bit that made me pause. Bones appear fragile and muscles weak, yet their grips are firm. That sounds like a contradiction. How do you make sense of that, especially for yourself?
Speaker 2:That's a great question because it challenges our usual ideas of strength, doesn't it yeah. We think muscles power.
Speaker 1:Right Outward appearance.
Speaker 2:But this flips it. The chapter links it straight to 2 Corinthians, where Paul talks about God's power being perfected in weakness.
Speaker 1:Ah, when I am weak, then I am strong, strong exactly that.
Speaker 2:So the idea for you is that your spiritual power isn't tied to your physical condition. Sometimes, maybe, your weaknesses are actually the places where god's strength shows up most clearly in your life so the firm grip is spiritual spiritual resilience, faith holding on to the god's power, not your own.
Speaker 1:That's a powerful reframe. Okay, another delicate one being unconcerned about sexual unity, yet complete and full of strength. How should you interpret that without you know diminishing relationships?
Speaker 2:Yeah, context is key here. It references 1 Corinthians 7, paul on singleness and 1 John 4 about God being love, the source of love. Okay, so the point isn't anti-relationship, it's about where your ultimate fulfillment comes from.
Speaker 1:Is it only from earthly connections or primarily from your connection with the divine?
Speaker 2:So unconcerned means free from anxiety about it Could be Free from the pressure that you need that specific thing to be whole, finding completeness first in God. So relationships become an addition, not the foundation of your strength. For you, it's about where you anchor your sense.
Speaker 1:Anchoring your wholeness. That makes sense. Okay, then there's the idea that their shouts are heard from afar without their voices getting hoarse. How does harmony with the Spirit lead to that kind of effortless, powerful communication? It mentions Romans 8.
Speaker 2:Right, the Spirit interceding with wordless groans. It suggests that when you're truly aligned, your communication, your whole presence really carries a weight that goes beyond just your own effort.
Speaker 1:So it's not about yelling louder.
Speaker 2:No, not at all. It's about clarity, resonance, authenticity that comes from that deep connection Less straining, more flowing. For you, think about impactful communication. It's often not the loudest right, it's the one spoken with conviction, from that place of inner alignment.
Speaker 1:Effortless impact. I like that. Okay, moving on, knowing harmony is to know that which is unchanging, and this unchanging knowledge is wisdom. It links to proverbs 9.10. How does simplicity help you find that unchanging wisdom?
Speaker 2:well, simplicity, in this spiritual sense, is about cutting through the noise, isn't it? Stripping away the temporary, the superficial stuff to get down to the core, the eternal truths, truths about God, about reality. Those things are unchanging. Simplicity clears the path for you to perceive that reality more clearly and that perception, the chapter says, is wisdom for your life.
Speaker 1:Okay. Finally, in this section there's a warning Don't lust after a greater life with excessive force that invites misfortune, and don't overuse the mind or force things against the harmony of God. References Psalm 37, 1 John. This feels very relevant today.
Speaker 2:Extremely relevant. It's a direct pushback against that constant hustle culture, the pressure for more, defined by worldly standards.
Speaker 1:Right Striving. That isn't aligned.
Speaker 2:Precisely Trying to force outcomes, manipulate things out of ego. The chapter warns that this creates imbalance, brings trouble into your life. True growth, it suggests, comes from aligning with God's flow, God's timing, not your own forceful effort.
Speaker 1:And the overusing the mind part.
Speaker 2:Could mean getting stuck in anxious loops, overthinking, analyzing everything instead of trusting God's guidance for your path, Relying solely on your own intellect instead of spiritual intuition.
Speaker 1:Okay, that really lays out the restore framework. Fascinating stuff. Now let's shift to renewal this MAP idea, mindset, aim, practice. Let's tackle mindset first. Seven points how can these shape your perspective? Listener First, embrace a spirit of innocence and trust in God's protection. Back to the infant idea.
Speaker 2:Yes, yes. This is about consciously choosing that mindset for yourself, choosing childlike trust, letting go of the cynicism, the fear, the need to control everything and trusting god's protection exactly. The application suggested is simple enter situations with an open heart, with faith, rather than immediate suspicion or defensiveness. A A conscious choice for you.
Speaker 1:Makes sense. Second mindset point Focus on inner strength over outward appearance. Links to the fragile bones, firm grip thing we discussed.
Speaker 2:Right. This calls you to value that spiritual resilience, that inner conviction, more than how powerful or successful you look to others.
Speaker 1:So how do you apply that daily?
Speaker 2:Well, maybe it means letting your actions, your integrity, speak for themselves, not feeling the need to constantly project strength or put on a show for people. Your strength is internal, rooted in god okay.
Speaker 1:Third mindset find fulfillment in god, not in earthly desires. Echoes the unconcerned about sexual unity point in matthew 6.33. How do you actively cultivate this focus?
Speaker 2:it's about intentionally shifting where you look for satisfaction. Are you chasing fleeting pleasures, status, possessions, or are you seeking lasting contentment in your relationship with God? So the application for you is Find purpose in things like service, spiritual growth, connection, rather than just piling up material things or achievements for yourself.
Speaker 1:Got it. Point four for mindset Let your actions speak with a quiet power like the shouts heard afar. References Matthew 5,. Let your light shine. What are the practical steps here for you?
Speaker 2:The emphasis for you is on the source of your impact. It comes from being connected to the spirit, so it's about living authentically, reflecting God's love and truth in how you act.
Speaker 1:So your character becomes the witness.
Speaker 2:Exactly Often, without needing loud pronouncements, your daily so, your character becomes the witness, exactly Often, without needing loud pronouncements, your daily interactions, your kindness, your integrity. That's the quiet power.
Speaker 1:Okay, mindset five Anchor in God's unchanging wisdom, back to harmony and unchanging truth. Hebrews 13.8,. Jesus Christ the same. How do you find that anchor in your life?
Speaker 2:This is about grounding yourself, not getting swept away by every changing trend or opinion.
Speaker 1:Which happens easily today.
Speaker 2:So easily. So the mindset is to consciously turn to God's eternal truths, his word for guidance. Make decisions based on those solid, timeless principles. That's your anchor.
Speaker 1:Okay, sixth mindset Resist, overambition and trust in God's plan, linked to the warning against force. James 3.16 on selfish ambition-causing disorder. How do you practice that balance?
Speaker 2:It's a call for you to check your motivations. Is this ambition coming from ego, from wanting more just for yourself, or is it aligned with God's leading?
Speaker 1:So trust the timing.
Speaker 2:Trust the timing, practice patience. Avoid that relentless striving that tramples other values or ignores God's guidance. It's about balance for you.
Speaker 1:And the seventh mindset align with God's enduring purpose. Force things fade, psalm 127,. Unless the Lord builds the house, how do you discern and align with that purpose?
Speaker 2:This calls you to think bigger picture. What is God's overall plan? How does your life fit into that? It's about building something lasting, something aligned with his will, not just your own temporary goals how do you apply that? Consider your gifts, your passions. How can you use them to serve something beyond yourself? How can your life contribute to god's enduring kingdom purposes?
Speaker 1:okay, that covers the seven mindsets for renewal, focusing on you, the. Now let's look at aim Similar points, but with a focus on direction, a goal. First aim aim for spiritual purity and trust in God's protection. Again, the infant link. How do you make this a conscious aim?
Speaker 2:It's about intentionally striving for that state, making it a goal to cultivate that childlike faith and dependence in your daily life.
Speaker 1:So not just a mindset, but an active pursuit.
Speaker 2:Exactly Directing your focus towards trusting God's care, especially when things feel uncertain, maybe setting an intention each day. Today, I aim to release my anxieties to God.
Speaker 1:Okay, aim two Aim for inner strength rooted in God, not external power. Fragile, firm grip again, nehemiah 8.10,. Joy of the Lord is your strength. What steps can you aim for?
Speaker 2:The aim is to intentionally build that inner strength through your relationship with God. Make it your goal to draw power from his spirit, not from worldly status or approval Spiritual practices, things that specifically nourish your soul and connect you to that divine source of strength. Aim for consistency.
Speaker 1:Gotcha 30 aim Aim for wholeness and fulfillment in God's presence, unconcerned about worldly desires. Psalm 62.1,. Rest in God alone. How can you aim for this daily?
Speaker 2:Here, the goal is to actively pursue your satisfaction in God. Make it your aim to find your deepest needs met there, rather than endlessly chasing things the world offers.
Speaker 1:Application.
Speaker 2:Aim to prioritize time for prayer, meditation, worship, whatever connects you personally to the divine presence. Make that connection the central aim.
Speaker 1:Okay, aim for. Aim for quiet influence powered by the spirit, shouts Hurtifar. What can you aim to do to cultivate this?
Speaker 2:The aim is to intentionally live in a way that reflects the spirit's presence. Make it your goal that your life itself, your actions, your character become the main way you influence others for good.
Speaker 1:So aiming for integrity in action.
Speaker 2:Exactly Aim to act with love, kindness, honesty in every situation. Let that be your targeted influence.
Speaker 1:Aim five. Aim for wisdom rooted in the unchanging truth of God, knowing harmony. James 1.5. Ask God for wisdom how to make this a tangible aim.
Speaker 2:The aim is to actively seek out and embrace God's eternal truths. Make it your goal to align your understanding, your decisions, your entire worldview with his unchanging principle. Aim to regularly study scripture or sacred texts. Aim to reflect on how these truths apply to your life. Aim to ask God for wisdom, specifically.
Speaker 1:Okay, aim six Aim for balanced ambition, aligned with God's will, resisting over ambition. Proverbs 16.3. Commit plans to the Lord. How can you?
Speaker 2:aim for this balance? The aim is to intentionally check your goals against God's purposes. Make it your goal to ensure your aspirations are submitted to His will and timing.
Speaker 1:So aiming to seek guidance.
Speaker 2:Yes, aim to regularly seek discernment in prayer about your ambitions. Aim for goals that honor God, not just serve your ego.
Speaker 1:And finally, aim seven. Aim for lasting impact. Align with God's timeless purposes. Force things fade. Matthew 6, treasures in heaven. What can you aim to build that lasts?
Speaker 2:The aim here is to intentionally focus your energy on things with eternal significance. Make it your goal to invest your time, talents, resources in ways that align with God's enduring purposes.
Speaker 1:What kind of things?
Speaker 2:Aim to contribute to causes that reflect kingdom values. Aim to build relationships grounded in faith and love. Aim to create a legacy that goes beyond the material.
Speaker 1:Okay, that covers mindset and aim. Now for the P in MAP practice Again parallels, but focused on active ongoing implementation for you. First practice Practice trust and innocence in God's protection. How do you practice this regularly?
Speaker 2:This is about making it a habit, actively cultivating trust daily, making it a regular practice to consciously surrender your worries, your anxieties to God, like a Exactly Practice, approaching situations with that sense of childlike faith, even when it feels hard. Maybe make it part of your morning routine, consciously practice releasing fear. This involves the ongoing commitment for you Prayer, bible, study, worship, maybe fasting, fellowship. These are the practices that build your inner resilience.
Speaker 1:So practice means dedication.
Speaker 2:Yes, Dedicate regular time, practice showing up for these disciplines, even when you don't feel like it. That consistency builds strength.
Speaker 1:Third practice Practice seeking fulfillment in God, not earthly desires unconcerned Psalm 62.1. How do you actively practice this shift?
Speaker 2:This is about the active choices you make throughout the day. Practice turning to God first, for comfort, for joy, for satisfaction. Intentionally prioritize your relationship with Him over chasing worldly highs.
Speaker 1:So practicing choices.
Speaker 2:Conscious choices. Practice choosing spiritual nourishment over empty calories, so to speak. Practice gratitude for God's presence.
Speaker 1:Practice four Practice quiet influence through actions powered by the Spirit. How do you practice letting actions speak?
Speaker 2:This is about consciously striving, day in and day out for your life to reflect God's character Practice embodying kindness, patience, integrity, forgiveness in your interactions.
Speaker 1:So the practice is in the doing.
Speaker 2:Absolutely Practice being the message. Let your actions be the primary way you practice, influence and witness.
Speaker 1:Practice five. Practice wisdom by aligning with God's unchanging truth Harmony James 1.5. How can you actively practice this alignment?
Speaker 2:This involves actively applying God's truth to your life. Practice measuring your thoughts, your decisions, your reactions against His Word. Practice regular study and reflection, asking how does this truth change how I live today? Practice seeking counsel that's rooted in that truth. Make it an ongoing practice of alignment.
Speaker 1:Okay, practice six Practice balanced ambition, aligned with God's purpose. Resisting over ambition Proverbs 16.3. How do you practice this daily?
Speaker 2:This is about intentionally pursuing your goals in a God-honoring way. Practice regularly evaluating your motivations. Practice seeking his guidance before launching into new ventures.
Speaker 1:Practice discernment.
Speaker 2:Yes, practice balancing your drive with submission to his will. Practice using your gifts and opportunities in ways that serve his larger purposes, not just your own advancement.
Speaker 1:And the final practice, number seven practice building lasting impact rooted in God's timeless purposes. Forced things fade, Matthew 6.1920. What can you consistently practice here?
Speaker 2:This is your ongoing commitment to invest in the eternal Practice, intentionally focusing your efforts on activities, relationships, service that contribute to God's kingdom.
Speaker 1:So practice prioritizing.
Speaker 2:Okay, so that covers restore and the three parts of renewal mindset, aim, practice, all focused on you, the listener. Now the final framework respond. This is where it gets really interesting. Talking about dialogue across faiths, yeah, the idea is that this renewal process empowers you to respond, to live out holiness, make disciples, but also engage respectfully across boundaries.
Speaker 1:And it does this by showing parallels for those seven mindset points across Christianity, buddhism, islam and Hinduism. This is quite something. Let's take the first one again Trust and protection and simplicity of faith. We have Matthew 18.3, dhammapada 278, quran 3.159, bhagavad Gita 9.22. What's the unifying thread here for you?
Speaker 2:It's really striking, isn't it? Across the board, there's this emphasis on humility, on relying on something bigger than yourself. Faith in God, embracing simplicity, submitting to Allah, trusting Krishna. It all points to a dependence that brings inner peace.
Speaker 1:So how does this unite us?
Speaker 2:It shows a shared human understanding that we find security not in our own control, but in reliance on the divine or a higher principle, the application for you. Actively, practice that trust, that childlike simplicity, whatever your path.
Speaker 1:Second point inner strength through spiritual practices.
Speaker 2:Again, a common recognition True inner strength isn't just willpower, it's cultivated. Prayer, meditation, devotion, self-discipline these practices are seen everywhere as vital for building resilience and connecting to that source. The shared value placed on intentional spiritual effort to build inner fortitude. The application for you Commit to your spiritual practices, whatever they are, to build that strength daily.
Speaker 1:Third, fulfillment and wholeness through the divine Unifying principle for your fulfillment.
Speaker 2:The core idea uniting these is that lasting satisfaction, genuine wholeness, isn't found in chasing material things or fleeting experiences.
Speaker 1:But in connection.
Speaker 2:Connection with the divine. Yes, transcending those earthly desires is presented as the path to true contentment. Across these traditions, the application for you Focus on cultivating that relationship as your primary source of fulfillment.
Speaker 1:Point four Quiet influence guided by the spirit. Matthew 5.16,. Dhammapada 181, Quran 16.125,. Bhagavad Gita 3.35. Common ground for influencing others.
Speaker 2:It's about the power of living authentically in alignment with divine will or principles. True influence isn't force, it's embodying qualities like love, wisdom, integrity. Your life becomes the message, shared belief in the power of example, of living truth quietly and effectively, the application for you. Strive for that spirit-led, action-based influence in your daily life. Let your character speak 5.
Speaker 1:Wisdom rooted in God's unchanging truth.
Speaker 2:The common thread is that real wisdom connects to something fundamental, unchanging, transcendent, not just shifting opinions. Seeking God's wisdom, understanding impermanence, living by divine revelation, recognizing the eternal soul, unites us in seeking truth beyond the surface level. The application for you. Actively seek that higher wisdom, Align yourself with that fundamental reality as you understand it.
Speaker 1:Six balanced. Ambition aligned with divine will Matthew 6.33,. Dhammapada 221,. Quran 2.286,. Bhagavad Gita 3.19. United perspective for your goals.
Speaker 2:Across these faiths, there's a caution against unchecked selfish ambition. The unifying idea is the importance of aligning your personal desires with a higher purpose, with divine will, with the greater good, trusting divine provision, acting without attachment to results, seeking God's kingdom first. It unites us in seeing ambition within a larger spiritual context Application for you, pursue goals that align with your deepest values and a sense of purpose beyond just yourself.
Speaker 1:And finally seven, Pursue lasting impact rooted in God's purposes Matthew 7.2427,. Dhammapada 181, Quran 2.264,. Bhagavad Gita 9.22. Common thread for your legacy.
Speaker 2:The uniting idea is clear.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:True Lasting impact comes from aligning your life and actions with eternal divine purposes. Not self-serving deeds, but things with spiritual weight.
Speaker 1:Building on the rock, not sand.
Speaker 2:Precisely Investing in things that contribute to a greater good, things that last beyond your lifetime. It unites us in valuing the eternal over the temporary Application for you. Focus your energy on creating a legacy that reflects your deepest spiritual beliefs.
Speaker 1:It really is remarkable seeing those threads and the chapter drops that St Thomas Aquinas quote. Truth cannot contradict truth.
Speaker 2:Which beautifully underlines this whole section, doesn't it?
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Suggesting that these fundamental spiritual insights, though expressed differently, point towards a shared underlying reality. It offers you a basis for understanding and connection.
Speaker 1:It really does. Well, this has been quite a deep dive. So much to think about regarding simplicity and how it relates to you.
Speaker 2:Absolutely.
Speaker 1:So, just to quickly recap for everyone listening, we looked at restore, how that childlike simplicity brings spiritual strength, protection, how inner resilience rooted in God matters more than outer appearance.
Speaker 2:Right, finding fulfillment in the divine, not just chasing worldly things, and the power of that quiet, spirit-led influence through your actions.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and anchoring yourself in unchanging wisdom, keeping ambition balanced and aligned with a higher purpose.
Speaker 2:And aiming for that lasting impact, building something rooted in God's eternal values.
Speaker 1:And then, crucially, seeing how these core ideas resonate across different faiths in the response section. That sense of shared human experience, seeking something beyond ourselves.
Speaker 2:It really fosters a sense of connection. I think Definitely.
Speaker 1:So maybe the final thought, the takeaway question for you listening, is this how can you actively, practically cultivate more of this spirit of simplicity in your own life?
Speaker 2:Mm-hmm, where can you let go of complexity, of striving to connect more deeply with your source of strength, your truth, however you define that?
Speaker 1:Yeah, maybe reflect on some of those parallel teachings. Could they enrich your own perspective, your own journey, your interactions?
Speaker 2:Food for thought and for anyone wanting to dig deeper into the source material again. It's chapter 55 from the Built for Greatness, built for God. Bfg movement.
Speaker 1:Ultimately, it feels like this deep dive really highlights that maybe the greatest strength isn't in complexity, but in that profound, simple connection to something larger.
Speaker 2:Well said, it's an ongoing journey of discovery.