Essentialism

Greg McKeown is the author of an excellent book entitled essentialism.   Greg contends that the disciplined pursuit of less is a major key to success.   Lin Yutang says, “The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of non-essentials.”  From this premise, McKeown lays out a compelling case which helps us understand why it is important to: say “no” and not overextend; prioritize our lives; exercise the power of choice; discern what is important; know when to make tradeoffs; know when to play and to sleep; know what to select and what to eliminate; set boundaries and focus; etc. ​

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​Meditation
Luke 9:25--What is a man benefited if he gains the whole world, yet loses or forfeits himself?
 
Jesus ties our success to our pursuit of Himself combined with the letting go of whatever pulls us from Him.  On numerous occasions He taught His disciples to deny themselves (their desires, ambitions, worldly thinking) and follow Him.  The Christian essentialist sets aside or eliminates anything that will interfere with knowing and obeying Jesus.  
            
Beware of pursuing material possessions. They will demand your time, distract your focus and steal your energy.  Beware of saying yes to everything people ask of you.  Before long, you will end up chasing your tail and experience debilitating stress.  Daniel Pink, the author of To Sell Is Human and Drive, writes, “Do you feel it, too?  That relentless pressure to sample all the good things in life?  To do all the ‘right’ things?  The reality is, you don’t make progress that way.  Instead you’re in danger of spreading your efforts so thin that you make no impact at all.”  
           
Spiritually, the best way to do less and accomplish more is to invest our time in God’s Word, in prayer and in obeying the Holy Spirit’s promptings.  Busyness is the great robber of spiritual maturation.  To choose everything is to gain nothing.  The paradox of life is to cease striving in our own strength and trust God.  So, if you are feeling the strain of an unbalanced life, slow down.  Choose only what is essential.  Set your mind on what is eternal.  It won’t take long to notice a difference, to gain balance, peace and the joy of Jesus.  Something to think about . . . in reveration!
 
Inspiration 
Essentialism, is not about how to get more things done; it’s about how to get the right things done.—Greg McKeown in essentialism
 
©2019 Daniel York  ARR.  Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)