Freedom from Anxiety and Simplicity

     ...Freedom from anxiety is characterized by three inner attitudes.  If 

what we have we receive as a gift, and if what we have is to be cared for 

by God, and if what we have is available to others, then we will possess 

freedom from anxiety.  "This is the inward reality of simplicity."

      ...To receive what we have as a gift from God is the first inner atti-

tude of simplicity.  We work but we know that it is not our work that 

gives us what we have.  We live by grace even when it comes to 

"daily bread."  ...What we have is not the result of our labor, but of the 

gracious care of God.  When we are tempted to think that what we own 

is the result of our personal efforts, it takes only a little drought or a 

small accident to show us once again how radically dependent we are 

for everything.

     To know that it is God's business, and not ours, to care for what we 

have is the second inner attitude of simplicity.  God is able to protect 

what we possess.  We can trust Him...Simplicity means the freedom to 

trust God for these (and all) things.

     To have our goods available to others marks the third inner attitude 

of simplicity.  Martin Luther said somewhere.  "If our goods are not 

available to the community they are stolen goods."  The reason we find 

these words so difficult is our fear of our future...But if we truly believe 

that God is who Jesus said He is, then we do not need to be afraid. 

 

                                               Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline

Who is Richard Foster?   Foster is a Christian theologian, educator, 

and author in the Quaker tradition.  His best know work is the 

Celebration of Discipline, which offers instruction on a variety of 

inward and outward spiritual disciplines, such as, prayer, fasting, 

simplicity, confession and worship.  It was named by Christianity 

Today as one of the top ten books of the twentieth century.

To visit the Lenten Meditations site, click here.

To visit The Practical Disciple, click here.