Don’t complicate your lives unnecessarily. Keep it simple. I CORINTHIANS 7:29 THE MESSAGE 

One of the greatest things about camping is being forced to pare down our lives, if only for a few days, to what we absolutely need. And the best part of the adventure is ending the day around a campfire with the ones our lives wouldn’t be the same without. Camping is comforting that way. It removes what matters least so we can see, by the light and warmth of a fire, who matters most. It’s a perfect re-minder that God created our hearts to be fulfilled by who we love, never what we love. 

Are there things complicating our lives unnecessarily? Are we stressing about something we can’t change? Do we have a list of to-dos that don’t really need a deadline? What’s distracting or detouring us from spending our time with the ones we love most—or loving those who need it most? In I Timothy 2:2 we’re urged to pray for everyone, including all those in authority, so that “we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” (NIV). God chose each of us to be there for one another—in prayer and in presence. Whatever it takes to pare down the busyness of our days for the ones we love is worth doing. If it takes a camping trip and quality time around a campfire to practice putting things in place, then all the better! 

We can only live peaceful, quiet lives one day at a time. We can only put things that matter most in their proper place one step at a time. Maybe there’s a part of our busy schedule we can rearrange in order to move love into first place. Maybe there’s something that can wait so we can shift our attention to a person rather than a project. Maybe having godliness and holiness is taking time to listen to the brokenhearted. It doesn’t take a lot—it only takes a decision to put love in its proper place a little more often every day. 

Dear Father, Show me how to simplify my life in ways honoring You and preferring others. Give me a heart ready to love first and let go of the lesser things. 

This is an excerpt from The Campfire is Calling: 90 Warming Devotions for the Simple Life – a devotional now available on DaySpring.com. Shop all books, journals, and devotions from DaySpring here.