Daily Rhythms (Simplicity & Contentment) - #021

In this episode, we explore the beauty of simplicity and the freedom of contentment. In a world that constantly tells us to strive for more, we look at what Scripture teaches about slowing down, letting go of unnecessary burdens, and finding deep satisfaction in Christ. Join us as we discuss practical ways to cultivate a life of peace, gratitude, and trust, discovering that true abundance isn't found in having more, its found in knowing the One who is enough.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:02

Welcome back to Pockets of Paradise Podcast. This is Larson Griffith with Megan Tenner. Let's jump right in. Let's go.

SPEAKER_00 0:17

Hey guys, welcome back to the Pockets of Paradise podcast. We're so excited to have you with us today. We're continuing our conversation on daily rhythms. And like we do at the beginning of every podcast that we've done for Daily Rhythms is just a little disclaimer that we believe that you are saved by grace through faith. That salvation is a gift. It's not something you can earn, it's something you receive. And it's a gift that's given freely to anyone who's open to it. So you can't lose it. You can't lose it. Yeah. So that's what we believe about salvation. However, we also believe that that's the bare minimum of the good stuff that you get to enjoy as a Christian. And so that's just where your faith walk starts. That's the moment your soul is saved and your spirit begins to start the process of sanctification and you start walking out life with God. And so Larson and I have been talking about daily rhythms because we are passionate about helping others learn how to cultivate a relationship with the living God. You get to know the Savior now. You don't have to wait to die to meet him. Right. You get to do life with him. You get to learn his voice. You get to have um purpose and calling and partnership with him. He died to pay your debt and rose again to reunify us to him. And so how sad would it be if we just took the gift but didn't actually enjoy it? Right. Right. Like we the gift is actually being able to be in relationship with him, not the salvation. The salvation is the bare minimum, like I said. The gravy and the sprinkles and the cherries on top are getting to do life and know him intimately. And so daily rhythms is a way of doing that. There's no um secret code or favorite children of God. Like we're all very different. We have different personalities, different seasons where different rhythms are gonna be different. We're just just it's just what it is. So Larson and I are just kind of talking about different rhythms that have been tried and true over the course of Christianity and they're modeled after Jesus Christ Himself.

SPEAKER_01 2:31

Yeah, and it's so good to look at them again and study them because there's so many that I know personally like I've gotten away from that I need to put back into practice. Or like you want to. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, have a desire to get to this one, especially the one today. Simplicity.

SPEAKER_00 2:48

Yeah, because simplicity. Because Jesus isn't like he doesn't have this clipboard of the list of disciplines and checking off, well, Larson does this and this, but she doesn't do this. No, like that'd be a crazy no, but he these are just ways, it's just like with my children, like they're two, they're two very different individuals, but I do things with Dawson to connect with him in an intimate way, and I do different things with Lena to connect with her in a different way. Right. So a lot of this is going to be experimentation about your personality and your unique relationship with the Lord in this season. He never changes, but we do. And so these are just different tools that you can use to be intentional about growing your relationship with him. So yes. Yes. So today we're talking about two things that go hand in hand simplicity and contentment. Um man, I feel like uh the Western world, we don't even know this is a thing most of the time. Yeah. Um, because we're numb to it, it seems like. Yeah. Um, and I know there's like a craze going around about minimalism, minimalism.

SPEAKER_02 3:51

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 3:51

Um, and that is not necessarily simplicity, but um, simplicity is not prayer primarily about owning fewer possessions, it's about having one supreme affection, and that is God. And if there's anything in the way of that affection, because the the greatest commandment in the Bible is what?

SPEAKER_01 4:10

To love the Lord God with all your heart, your soul, and mind.

SPEAKER_00 4:12

And strength, right?

SPEAKER_01 4:13

Strength.

SPEAKER_00 4:14

So there's sorry, I just you're correct. But uh, but being able to say, okay, Lord, what is in the way of me doing that?

SPEAKER_01 4:24

I like how this one when I was looking up stuff as well, it says resisting the constant pull toward more busyness, positions, approval, and in putting those things as like idols in front of the Lord. Yes, in your relationship with him.

SPEAKER_00 4:39

Yes. So simplicity is kind of um an outward lifestyle, but contentment is an inward posture, right? So contentment is being happy in any circumstance you're in. And so I was thinking about like when you think about simplicity or someone practicing simplicity, do you have an example of that in your mind?

SPEAKER_01 5:03

Well, no, not really, to be honest. Like, I think it's from what I've looked up and read, it's a little different, but like removing, intentionally removing all the distractions. Right. So, like, like you were kind of saying, like stripping it back too too simple. I don't know another word, too simple. Yeah, stripping it back. I'm I'm trying to think of like people personally in my life and truthfully, like around where I live and people I interact with. No, I think we have we're like numb to it. We're pretty comfortable, yeah. Yeah, yeah, we are pretty comfortable.

SPEAKER_00 5:42

We're pretty fluffy in America. Yeah. But there are some some, right? And so, and I know um I love to talk about my great-grandmother because she's just like she was such a rock star of a human. But she um was 99 when she passed away. I was 17. And um, she was my dad's grandmother, my great-grandmother, but she was just a saint of a human being. She has an incredible testimony, but she grew up on a farmhouse, they had nothing, but they had everything. They had six kids. She was always positive, always laughing, always joyful, um, content, like just simple and content. And so um my dad actually asked her this question when she was getting up towards the end of her life, and he said, You know, what do you think is different about my generation versus your generation? Yeah. And she said, Well, I just think you traded your time for things. Like we didn't have a lot. Yeah, she said, we didn't have a lot, but man, we had time to be together. Yeah. And that was enough.

SPEAKER_01 6:52

Um it it does remind me of like um other countries or like orphanages. You know, that like I think that was my first encounter with the most simple of a lifestyle, was my first mission trip I went on. And where did you go? Uh my first one was Jamaica, actually. It was in, it was above this Mount Cap, which is a a mountain above Kingston that kind of looks over it. And it was just, I mean, we were pouring concrete floors for an expansion of the children's home. And the kids, I mean, they they had some stuff to eat, but they barely even had food.

SPEAKER_00 7:30

And they weren't saying, I don't want this.

SPEAKER_01 7:32

No, and they didn't say, Where's my screen time? You know, like I mean, truthfully, like it's it's incredible like how they were so full of joy.

SPEAKER_00 7:42

Yes, and it was contagious joy, like overwhelming.

SPEAKER_01 7:46

Yeah, and it really like in our culture, in the Western culture, I feel like that kind of experience really puts things into perspective, but also something that like I need to be reminded of all the time.

SPEAKER_00 7:56

Yeah. I remember I was in Haiti and a similar experience where we were way up in the bush and um that like this little community was off the grid and they were so poor that little boys did not get shorts until they were about seven years old.

SPEAKER_01 8:15

It was wild. Yeah. Right.

SPEAKER_00 8:16

So can't even imagine. Yeah. And so like that was a privilege to have shorts. Right. So they would be in like little underwear or nothing. But um, you know, they're barefooted, they're most of them are malnourished and hungry and happy, like so happy to see us. We had a Gatorade bottle, like an empty Gatorade bottle. They spoke a different language than me. Um, but they wanted to kick the bottle around. And we ended up playing soccer in an open field with a Gatorade bottle for hours. Yeah, and it was fun. And it was a blast. Yeah. But it was like the most precious thing. And um, and so I we actually, uh you know, when you're on mission strips, they huddle up and they're like, okay, let's reflect on the day, you know. And so many of the Christians were like, I just feel so guilty for having so much, and I feel blah, blah, blah, blah. And I finally said, Okay, stop. I said, first of all, guilt is not from the Lord. And I think a lot of times take people take simplicity and they make it an idol, or like they're they do poverty for they're they're poor on purpose, like um, and they flaunt that. And so, and that's a totally different end of the spectrum of this. But like, I looked at them and I said, No, you should not feel the weight of guilt, you should feel the weight of responsibility and thankfulness, and thankful gratitude. Yes, because the Bible says too much is given, much is required. And us in America, we have been given so much, and one day we're gonna have to take an account for what we've done with what we've been given. And so that it's a weight of responsibility, but also we get to steward these things that God has given us. And if the things become more important than the God, get rid of it. That's what simplicity is. Take it out. There's no guilt and like God, yes, he came for the poor, but he also made David a king, right? Like, so there's money, all money does is show what was already in your heart, right? And so, for example, my parents grew up pretty poor. Um, and they did better off when I was like in high school, they started to really do well for themselves. What I loved about them was that they never changed. Yeah. Right? Like they they were were the same person they were when we lived in a double white as they were when we lived in a much nicer home. And so, and their heart posture was generosity, yeah. And that's what contentment and simplicity is too. Like you don't hang on to your thing so tightly that you can't just give it to someone.

SPEAKER_01 10:54

Right. Or like if you cannot get rid of it, then it probably is. Yeah, it probably is above what it should be above.

SPEAKER_00 11:02

Yeah. And so if you want to read the Bible story in Matthew, yes.

SPEAKER_01 11:09

Let me pull that back up real quick. Um, the whole thing.

SPEAKER_00 11:13

Um, yeah, just the encounter and then him walking away at the end.

SPEAKER_01 11:16

Okay. Um, and behold, a man, this is Matthew 19. It says, and behold, a man came up to him saying, Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life? And he said to him, Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments. He said to him, Which ones? And Jesus said, You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not bear false witness, honor your father, mother, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. Um And then the young man said to him, All these I have kept, why do I still lack? Jesus said to him, If you would if you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess, and give to the poor, and you will have treasures in heaven, and come, follow me. When the young man heard this, he went away sorrowful sorrowful sorrowful, for he had great possessions. And Jesus said to his disciples, Truly I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.

SPEAKER_00 12:21

So in that encounter, you have to remember that Jesus is love. Right. And the man came to him genuinely wanting to know what he needed to do to be saved, right? And he said, I've kept all these commandments, what am I lacking? Like, yeah, and Jesus knows this man, he knows what he what his crutch is, and so he called it out. Yeah, and he said, Go home, sell all of your things and give away what you make, and and called out his idols, right?

SPEAKER_01 12:52

And he even the disciples were like, Wait, what? Because they said, Who can who then can be saved? And Jesus says, With man, this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible.

SPEAKER_00 13:04

Right. Yeah. And so it's a it's a change of your heart posture of Lord, if you want everything I have, it's yours anyway. Yeah. We think we do. We our kids aren't even our own. Yeah. Right? So it's like our kids are on loan from him to us and we're giving them back to him one day. Right. Everything we have is the Lord's. And so that's the posture of simplicity too, of like, Lord, if you call me to do something crazy and give a crazy generous gift that doesn't make sense to anyone but you, I'll do it. Or Lord, um, you know what? Social media has really stolen my affection for you. I'm gonna delete that for a while or maybe forever. Yeah. Like, or Lord, my closet is so full. I don't wear 75% of this. I'm gonna strip it down to nothing and give it away, yeah. Um, and be happy with the pieces that I have, right? Like it's just a a stripping down to just getting cutting the fat, trimming the fat, and getting to what matters.

SPEAKER_01 14:17

I think what you said with it being a heart posture, like it's it's very different when someone um displays, and I think we could talk about this with all the disciplines that we're talking about or the daily rhythms of like br bragging on themselves about it. It's so different when your heart is in the right place, meaning humbled by like to God and and following Him, where someone I've I've seen someone do that. I've seen someone take 98% of their stuff and just either give it away or they will sell it for some money for food.

SPEAKER_00 14:56

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 14:56

And like it's it's so different than what we are using. It's countercultural.

SPEAKER_00 15:02

Yeah. And there's a freedom in it. Yeah. Because you're not defined by your things. Yeah. And you're not tied to them.

SPEAKER_01 15:09

Yeah. And um Yeah, whether you like it or not, you're not defined by your things. You just think you are sometimes.

SPEAKER_00 15:15

Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 15:16

Yeah. Just like yourself.

SPEAKER_00 15:18

I remember um like as a kid, I was much more high maintenance than I am now. And I'm still like simplicity is still something. I was just looking at my house the other day and I was like, all right, we need to break out the black trash bag for the kids' toys again. Because this is getting crazy.

SPEAKER_01 15:32

The hardest one for me, the toys.

SPEAKER_00 15:34

Man. Um, but I like I remember as I was preparing for this, the Lord reminded me of the most content and at peace I'd ever been when it came to possessions, was when I lived in Honduras. And everything I owned fit on a shelf that was like three feet wide. And I had two pairs of shoes.

SPEAKER_01 15:59

I don't even know if my skincare could fit on there at this point. Yeah. I know we've talked about that in the past. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 16:05

But yeah, I mean that's the reality. Right. But it was like I had I was forced to strip down. I had like four shirts, two skirts, two dresses, a pair of pants, a pair of pajamas, I feel like my undergarments would be easier if I just had to. And two shorts. And I loved all of the pieces. I can mix and match them. It was I didn't have decision fatigue. I was able to focus on the mission I was there for. And I think that's the bigger picture. Is like, okay, what is hindering you from the mission that you are on assignment for? Because you don't have to go to Jamaica or Honduras.

SPEAKER_01 16:39

Right.

SPEAKER_00 16:40

You are on a mission where you are now.

SPEAKER_01 16:42

Yeah. Everywhere you turn.

SPEAKER_00 16:44

Everywhere you go, you are on a mission.

SPEAKER_01 16:46

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 16:46

And we are in this like satanic lullaby of thinking we're just in this comfortable bubble and we only go to church on Sunday, and that's just not the case.

SPEAKER_01 16:54

It's full apathy. Yes.

SPEAKER_00 16:56

And it's and it's by design from an enemy, right? So your life matters and and it is potent to the kingdom of darkness, and it is um influential for the kingdom of God. And so simplicity is stripping back the things that are hindering you from running the race well.

SPEAKER_01 17:18

Yeah. I I like even like what it practically can look like. Uh had like a list and even choosing gratitude over comparison is something like living generously like you were talking about instead of just for ourselves. We talked about the decluttering of possessions, being content instead of constantly chasing more.

SPEAKER_00 17:40

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 17:40

Like the Lord Yeah. That one's that one's one that like even with accomplishments and stuff like that, like feeling like well, I just have to do more. I have to the busyness. I think I'm guilty of that in the past. Oh, me too. Yeah. I I can feel like I can I can recognize it now and stop it. Whereas I was like, oh, I'm just miss I'm not doing enough. Yeah. And I'm like, there's literally not even a day in the hour that I'm not doing something. But I just I think back on that time and I'm like, man, Lord, I hope that some of that was effective. Yeah. You know, because I I think of like the sweet time that I have now with the Lord and how it is simple. Like, and it's not this. I mean, study guides are great and stuff, but like I can open my Bible and just read it and not have to be in 15 different groups.

SPEAKER_00 18:40

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 18:41

You know, like one is one is healthy.

SPEAKER_00 18:43

Not saying it's not, but like community is good, but yeah, but it doesn't have to be complicated. It doesn't have to be a chore.

SPEAKER_01 18:49

Yes. When it becomes the checklist is when it I feel like it loses its effective.

SPEAKER_00 18:53

I've had I've I know you've had days like this too, where I'm like, I couldn't do any daily rhythm except just sit with him. Like like Lord, I just which is what silence and solitude is about. And it got deleted last week. We're really sorry, we're gonna re-record it. But just like sitting in silence in his presence and just saying, Lord, I just want to be close to you right now. I don't even have the energy to to move. Yeah. I just want to be near you, right? Like that's what's so beautiful about the daily rhythms is they kind of open you up to what a relationship can really look like with him.

SPEAKER_01 19:26

Yeah. And I feel like he can show you then with your time, talents, and treasures what you can do to honor him. Yes. And what you can do to bring glory to him. Yes. You can hear it more clearly.

SPEAKER_00 19:36

Yes. And the energy and the impact, because we think we can, you know, VBS is going on in the background if you hear that the bump puts on bubble danger.

SPEAKER_01 19:48

Um, but like, what was I saying? Talking about the time, talents, and treasures and being able to like glorify him and hear his voice more clearly of like what he wants us to do.

SPEAKER_00 19:57

So when you have, when you simplify your life and you slow down, you actually when you do do, yeah, right, it comes out of a full place. Right. Whereas we believe this lie that we have to do do do do do and then like take little sips of water here and there. Uh-huh. Like Jesus is like, no, like you need to sit down and drink and nourish yourself so you can run this marathon.

SPEAKER_01 20:21

Like And not just have enough just to maybe get you by. Yes. Because that's, I think that's the that's the culture we're in. Yeah. Right. Oh, yeah. I five minutes.

SPEAKER_00 20:30

I got five minutes this morning, which five is better than nothing. Agreed.

SPEAKER_01 20:33

But however, however, the sprinkles in the whipped cream. Right. You miss out on so much.

SPEAKER_00 20:39

Right. Yeah. You miss out on so much. And if you genuinely desire more of him, you have to make time for more of him. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 20:46

Well, you also crave it.

SPEAKER_00 20:48

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 20:48

Yeah. Once you start this process.

SPEAKER_00 20:50

Once you realize it, it doesn't, it's not hard.

SPEAKER_01 20:52

No, because you're like I get frustrated when I don't have more time. Yeah. Yeah. Like forget the show. Forget the smut that you're reading. Forget. I'm I don't. I'm someone asked me the other day, they were like, Are you reading smut? I was like, I got no room for that in my life. Like, what are you talking about? I'm like, but my TV shows are pretty much that, just on a screen. So, like, you know, gotta get rid of those things. Like, I don't want to do it. I don't want even a little bit to hinder or to be in the way of a relationship with him and hearing his voice clearly. Right.

SPEAKER_00 21:25

And and that's what the Bible talks about when it says he'll give you the desires of your heart. Yeah. He doesn't give you everything you want. Like, people take that out of contact. What he does is when you align your heart with his and you spend time with him, your desires change towards him. And there are things like that I used to do that don't even sound appealing to me now. Yeah. Like things I used to drink that really my body, I don't even like the taste of anymore. It's so weird. Like I used to thoroughly enjoy some things that weren't inherently bad. They just hindered me. From him.

SPEAKER_01 22:00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 22:01

You know?

SPEAKER_01 22:01

I think one of the things like you can practically filter um this through is like if if it has something to do with like purchasing, do I truly need it? Will it help me serve God and others? I feel like that that's one question that like you can pr pretty much use for anything that you are taking part in. You can ask that question. But um yeah, I just I feel like you have to set up and practice your filter. Yes, to be able to use it.

SPEAKER_00 22:30

This makes me laugh because before I was married, um I I am very blessed in the sense that I have never really struggled with greed. I've never struggled with hoarding my things. Like, no, yeah, like my mom used to I I got a job in college just so I could like do not ask my parents for money and do fun stuff, and they didn't want me to get a job. But my mom, and I was mostly like, I was buying everybody coffee, and like mom's like, Megan, why is your food bill so high? I'm like, I bought everyone dinner, and mom's like, why? You don't have the money for this. Like, so you know I stressed her out to the max, but it was out of a good place in my heart, but I still needed to steward things better. But, anyways, what's funny is before I got married, I never thought twice about oh, I'm gonna go to Marshall's and get this dress, or oh, I'm gonna like get this coffee or whatever. And then you I joined bank accounts with my husband, who is quite the opposite. And so, and he's what is this one dollar at the gas station? I'm sorry, it was an icy and couple of ice. Yeah, he broke down the spreadsheet for me the other day, which I've been asking for because I'm like, can you give me parameters here so I know what I'm working with? So I don't go crazy, and he's so sweet to me, like he's so good to me. And I'm like, but it's hilarious because now I'm like much better about stewarding my money well because I know that it's not mine.

SPEAKER_01 23:58

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 23:58

Alone, right? And it's the same thing with God.

SPEAKER_01 24:02

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 24:02

Like if you literally think this is God's money, would he want me to spend it this way? Yeah. Of course he wants you to enjoy a coffee every now and then. And of course he wants you to like, you know, he doesn't enjoy life. But if he asks you to buy someone else a coffee, will you do it?

SPEAKER_01 24:18

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 24:19

If he asks you to buy someone a meal, will you do it? If he asks you to pay someone's rent for a month, will you do it?

SPEAKER_01 24:23

Right. If he asks you to let go of a clearly I have a problem. Of a of a streaming service, will you do it?

SPEAKER_00 24:31

Yeah. You know what I mean? Or if he asks you to shut down Spotify for a month, would you do it? Right. Yeah. Like exactly. And but you have to be in prayer and say, Lord, what do I need to strip away to simplify my life to hear you more? To to be in union with you more.

SPEAKER_01 24:47

Yeah, I think that sums up this this whole episode of like, what do I need to strip back?

SPEAKER_00 24:52

Yeah, man. And if you feel like you are, like, I can't do that, man. I don't know if I can do that. You know, I need all this stuff, I need all this stuff. Just pray with the Lord. He's gentle. Yeah. But also, I when I was studying for this, I knew this, but I didn't know this. Like I forgot. But you know the verse Philippians 4 13. Like, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Did you know that that verse is about contentment?

SPEAKER_01 25:18

Okay, I know it's often taken out of context. Let me pull up the whole chapter.

SPEAKER_00 25:22

It's about contentment. And it's Paul talking about um, it's basically saying, Because I have Christ, I have enough. Yeah. And I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, because I have found the secret to contentment and it is Him. That's basically what the passage is. You should you have it pulled up?

SPEAKER_01 25:42

Yeah. Do you want me to read the verses before it?

SPEAKER_00 25:45

Yeah, start at like Philippians like 4 11 or 10.

SPEAKER_01 25:49

10 says, Um, I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Now that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content, I know how to be brought low and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble, and then it goes on talking about it. But yeah, so he's saying, Yeah, whether I have a lot or I have a little, Christ is a secret to contentment.

SPEAKER_00 26:31

Man, that is so taken out of context 98% of the time. Yeah. But it's because he is enough. Right. He is everything you need.

SPEAKER_01 26:39

It reminds me of the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

SPEAKER_00 26:42

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 26:43

The 23rd Psalm. You know, the very beginning. Yes. Good, Megan.

SPEAKER_00 26:47

So yeah, simplicity is an outward lifestyle. Um, it's choosing less, it's removing distractions, it's focusing on priorities that matter, and it's creating margin for Christ in your life. And contentment is an inward posture. It's wanting less, it's appreciating what you already have, it's resting in God, it's focuses on the trust and knowing that He is enough. And it creates peace in your life. And so those two things are Christian practices and walking in the way of Jesus Christ. And in the words of my great-grandmother, we so often just trade our time for things. So, as Christians, let's trade our things for time. Let me pray us out. In Jesus' name I pray. Thank you, Lord, for all of the many blessings that we have in our lives. We are so incredibly blessed. We have food, we have homes, we have health, we have clothes, we have um community, we have freedom, we have clean water. God, we have so much that we take for granted on a daily basis. So, Father, forgive us for that. But Lord, help us to have grateful hearts for what we have and help us to simplify our lives in the areas that we need it in order to have a deeper and more rich union with you. Lord, we're so thankful for you. And you are enough to satisfy our souls. You're the only thing that can satisfy our souls. And we praise you that we get to know you, we get to love you, and we get to do life with you. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.