11 Mar Hungry For Simplicity
It’s one thing to change your diet, it’s another thing to change your heart. Throughout this experience, we’ll be reflecting on scripture and exploring our deepest hungers and how they can be most truly satisfied. We pray that they give you a taste of the spiritual significance behind Rice & Beans Month, and that you receive generous portions of God’s love and grace.
He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters.
… He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me. (Psalm 18:16, 19)
Deep breaths. A clear schedule. A long hike. A burning candle. What images does simplicity bring to your mind? It’s different for everyone, yet we are all drawn to it. When was the last time you heard, “I just wish my life was fuller, busier, and more complex?”
The psalmist speaks of God as a rescuer, bringing him out of deep, dangerous waters and into a “spacious place.” It sounds like a place where you can see farther, think more clearly, and ponder God’s goodness. Simplicity is a deeply spiritual craving. Our choices toward simplicity are important, and yet there are times that we need a divine rescue.
This month, we are moving toward simplicity in our diets. Though it may not be easy, limiting our options is beneficial both spiritually and physically. And we are not the only ones to benefit. Vulnerable families need to be rescued from the stressful daily burden of hunger. It affects every area of life. We choose less so they can have more. More food, more health, and more “spacious places” that remind them of God’s provision. Let’s lean in to simplicity together, inviting God to rescue us all, in body and soul.
Reflection Questions:
What areas of your life feel like “deep waters” where you’re in over your head?
What would simplicity look or feel like in those areas?
Hungry for more? Check out our devotional book called A Common Meal. Full of daily devotions for adults and kids, inspiring stories, and simple recipes—it’s a great way to enrich and deepen your Rice & Beans Month experience.