What's the secret to simplifying your life? It's simply this: Put God first in all things, at all times. When God is your greatest desire and God's will is your highest priority, everything falls into place. No stress, no mess.

God First

This is what the Master meant when he said, “Strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Mt. 6:33). Strive for the inner kingdom of God where faith, hope and love prevail and the outer things we tend to fret about, our physical and material concerns, will be provided as we need them – like God provides for the birds of the air and the lilies of the field.

For this simple secret to work fully in our lives, however, we must put God first in all things, at all times. Not just when we're in great need of something or during times already reserved for God such as a Sunday service or grace before meals – but throughout the day, every day.

Practice the Presence

This is the essence of “practicing the presence of God,” a spiritual discipline that originated with Brother Lawrence, a humble Carmelite monk in 17th century France.

During his 40 years in a monastery, serving mostly as a cook, Brother Lawrence discovered how to put God first in everything – not just during monastic rituals and prayers but also in the kitchen, in his conversations with others, in his writing and in every other aspect of his life. The result was a simple life of great joy and fulfillment … with God at the center.

These are the three basic steps to practicing the presence the way Brother Lawrence did:

1. Remember that God is always present and available to lavish us with love. “God has infinite treasure to bestow,” wrote Brother Lawrence. “When He finds a soul penetrated with a lively faith, He pours into it His graces and favors plentifully; there they flow like a torrent.”
2. Converse with God as continually and as intimately as possible, mostly in silent praise and thanksgiving for God's love. Brother Lawrence himself referred to this holy activity as a “habitual, silent and secret conversation of the soul with God.” It brought the saintly monk such joy that he sometimes felt the need to restrain his feelings within the sacred walls of the monastery.
3. Release your mistakes to God as soon as you become aware of them, then resolve to do better. Brother Lawrence never wasted time and energy feeling bad or punishing himself for his “sins.” He absolutely trusted in God's forgiveness and grace to help him improve. And he did.

What Brother Lawrence did, we all can do: simplify our lives with God. “Those who seek the Lord lack no good thing” (Ps. 34:10) sang the Psalmist. Whenever we're focused on God – not on the problems before us – our priorities become clearer, answers come, and difficulties resolve. When we put God first, when we practice the presence, we lack no good thing.

The Golden Key

Another simple practice has helped thousands dissolve difficulties and find harmony and happiness in their lives. Called “The Golden Key,” this spiritual technique was introduced by Emmet Fox in a 1944 Unity pamphlet.

The Golden Key is simplicity itself. All you're asked to do is this: “Stop thinking about the difficulty, whatever it is, and think about God instead.” With our thoughts on God, the problems resolve and answers emerge – almost magically.

For those who have trouble letting go of a problem, Emmet Fox suggested the repeated use of affirmations – statements of absolute Truth – to help eliminate resistance in turning it over to God. Here are two of the simplest affirmations:

God is guiding me now.

God is with me.

Simplifying your life with God is itself simple – deceptively so, especially when we're so used to complicated living, to figuring things out by ourselves, and to forcing our shortsighted solutions. The true golden key here is to let God figure it out, let God do the heavy lifting while we cooperate as we're instructed to in prayer. As the saying goes, “Let go, let God.”

Affirmation:
I delight in the simplicity and fullness of God's love, and I meet each day serenely and confidently.

So right now – before your life gets too complicated again – commit to practicing the presence full time. Put God first in everything: in your thoughts, in your work, in your relationships. God always stays with you, so do your best to always stay with God.

And when challenges come, as they surely will, you'll be ready for divine solutions with your own golden key. Simply. With God.

More inspirational articles