For my Spiritual Formation and Worship class this semester, we are reading the book Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth by Richard Foster. He divides the spiritual dicsciplines into the 3 categories: the inward disciplines, the outward disciplines, and the corporate disciplines. I have been reading this week in the section of the outward disciplines, and was struck by the discipline of simplicity. Foster gave 10 ways that we can practice living simply, and these really made me think so I wanted to share them.
- Buy things for their usefulness rather than their status.
- Reject anything that is producing an addiction in you.
- Develop a habit of giving things away.
- Refuse to be propagandized by the custodians of modern gadgetry, like time-saving devices
- Learn to enjoy things without owning them.
- Develop a deeper appreciation for the creation.
- Look with a healthy skepticism at all “buy now, pay later” schemes. They are a trap and only deepen your bondage.
- Obey Jesus’ instructions about plain, honest speech.
- Reject anything that breeds the oppression of others.
- Shun anything that distracts you from seeking first the kingdom of God.
A Heart Like His 
Wow, that's really profound! I like those ideas. Especially when I feel the part of a poor college student trying to save money for when I'm on my own. Those ideas make me feel happy about living simply. 🙂
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