Simplicity: the state, quality, or example of being simple.
As the time passes and seasons changes, the more I try to be more simple. I try to stop being so extravagant and just go back to the beginning. To try and remember all the important things in my life before all the materialistic things started to consume me. Now I must say I am not that old but the difference between early twenties to now pushing thirty is truly a new chapter. To described it better in one word, I would say GROWTH.
I remember as I young adult I was engulfed in His presence. Everything I did was a reflection of Him. I was in the church 6 of 7 days of the week. I was in many bible studies and on my way to being a part of leadership within my church. There was so much passion in everything I accomplished so I could thrive for Him to shine. I was at the top of my the mountain with Him to the point I never wanted to leave.
One of crucial moments in my life was about to begin. Little did I know, It made me step back and look at my life. I remember one of my youth pastors was very blunt. He wanted every teen around him to not make the mistakes he had or has witnessed in his life. He was specifically hard on me because was raised with my mother and knew all she has been through in life.
One day I was about to read my bible right before our fine arts competition. Now fine arts was big within my church. There was many categories such as human videos, singing, photography, ect. that you could compete in. So as I'm sitting there he looked at me straight in my eyes and told me that my love and passion, the way I expressed my love for god was my idol. I was heartbroken that someone wanted to tell me where my walk with god was. Like I stated earlier, there was nothing pulling me away from the love of god. To this day I truly believe, that it wasn't my idol it was just that clutch for the lord to draw me nearer to him at the time.
Needless to say that the next season of my life, I was about too fail. I was going into college meeting new people and being in new places. I was starting to be intrigued by the mess and sin around me to the point I was starting to get lost. Now this portion of my life I will save for another say because I'm still working on myself from the sin I allowed to enter my life.
On top of all the readings, we have certain people that will like to follow. They intrigue us because of their character, realness, and openness that is bestowed upon them. So I have being watching a FB episode from the real co star, Adrienne Ballon Houton. This girl is one the REALEST CHRISTIANS I have come across. She has the faith but is not ashamed to share her weakness and her story. She does at lot of make up , lifestyle, and home decor episodes but I happened to come across a little different video she had made.
The video was about her weight loss journey. Lets be real, I was waiting on her to say she worked out an hour a day and watched her food intake ect but man was I so wrong. She went on to take about her 555 routine. Now I was like come on 5 minutes ? She proceeded to explain what each 5 meant. They were 5 minutes of reading her bible, 5 minutes of prayer and 5 minutes of worship. In my mind I was thinking what in the world is she talking about. How is this 555 routine really going to make you lose weight and be healthier.
So I decided to embark on the journey myself to see what this the talk was about. I had done so many of the advertised pills and work out plans, I was desperate and willing to try anything. Well let me tell you one thing, within just a week I lost weight and felt better than ever. I was questioned by co workers on the difference and I honestly had no answer for them. It started getting my mind going in circle and questioning myself on what I was doing different. Then it hit me! This was a spiritual battle I am to fight. The mind is the center of everything in your body. We have to have a positive mindset to even being to set a goal or to have the drive and ambition in life.
The Lord will take us from the inside and start to rip us slowly. He will take away all the layers we have built up and bring back the simplicity of our existence. He wants to restore and rejuvenate our mind body and soul but we have to allow Him to come and start the process. We have to take that 15 minutes with him daily and sit in his presence so he can remove all the crud and impurities we have allowed to enter our lives.
Im sure Adrienne will never read this, but just one simple routine that she shared and allowed God to speak through her has now made me realize that all the glitz and glam of the world is nothing without Him. The simple things such as the renewing of the mind and spending that quality time with him is all we need.
My prayer for all reading is that you allow god to strip you back to what he has created you to be.
That simplicity isn't always a bad thing. To allow Him to pull you back to the beginning and rebuilt what we need in our lives and to be a light in the darkness. To suppress the worldly mentality of perfection. A time to reflect on His goodness and mercy and praise the one true God. As one of my favorite songs states , "I want to be tried by fire purify, to take what ever you desire, Lord here's my life." Surrender all to him and start with the simple routine that will be life changing. Just 15 minutes a day to spend with him will embark you on the next journey of restoral and I promise you will truly never look back!
Much Love,
Alecia
