New year, new me? Not this time.
As the new year approached, I felt a shift. Instead of making lists of ambitious resolutions and grand plans, I felt something I hadn’t in years—peace. I wasn’t scrambling to change everything about myself or hoping that a fresh start would finally make life perfect. Instead, I was focusing on something simple but profound: simplifying my life to follow Him.
For years, I had approached each January like a personal overhaul—tracking how many books I’d read, committing to rigid exercise regimens, or striving to save more money than the year before. But it never seemed to be enough. I would either burn out or feel overwhelmed by the impossible standard I’d set for myself. This time, I’ve learned that real change isn’t about endless striving—it’s about making space for what matters.
The Simplicity of Following Him
This new approach came from small but intentional changes. Instead of trying to tackle everything at once, I’ve focused on balance over extremes. I no longer look at financial goals as a race to accumulate more, but as an exercise in discerning how much is truly enough. The more I simplify, the more I experience a sense of rest and peace that I didn’t even know I was missing.
One reminder that has stayed with me comes from The Chosen. (Yes, I may as well call this a Chosen fan post.) In one of the scenes, Matthew says, “I have only one thing to do today: follow Him.” That line hit me. What if following Him really could be that simple?
What Simplifying Life to Follow Him Looks Like
I still have daily responsibilities—waking up early for work, cleaning, cooking, and making time for family and friends. But underneath all of that, I’ve placed one goal above everything else: to make room for God. That means starting each day with a prayer, asking for His guidance, and being present enough to recognize when He’s calling me to slow down.
It’s not always perfect. My worries and fears still creep in, and sometimes I feel like I’m failing. But something has changed—I’ve finally begun to rest in the truth that I don’t have to do everything on my own. When I simplify my life, I’m reminded that He’s already holding the pieces together. The pressure to “get it right” fades when I remember that I’m just following Him, step by step.
Making Room for Grace
This reflection itself is an example of what happens when I quiet the noise and make space for what truly matters. Over the past few months, I’ve been working to declutter—not just the physical clutter in my home, but the mental clutter that keeps me distracted. I’ve started spending less time on things that drain me (like endless social media scrolling) and more time in silence and prayer.
Decluttering isn’t just about getting rid of things. It’s about becoming a better steward of what I have—choosing to pass things on thoughtfully rather than discarding them mindlessly. It takes time and patience, but each small act of letting go feels like opening a window and letting fresh air in.
The most surprising part? It’s not just about my stuff—it’s about my heart. Letting go of unnecessary distractions has freed me to focus on His presence and hear His voice more clearly.
A Year Shaped by Simplicity and Faith
This year, I’m inviting others to embrace the beauty of simplifying life to follow Him. In a world that tells us to do more, be more, and have more, there’s something radical about slowing down and resting in His presence. It’s in the quiet moments—when the to-do list is set aside and the noise fades—that we can truly hear Him.
This doesn’t mean giving up on ambition or personal growth. It means reorienting those goals to align with His will. Real fulfillment doesn’t come from checking off accomplishments; it comes from the quiet assurance that we are walking the path He’s laid out for us.
My prayer for this new year is that we all find the courage to take small, deliberate steps toward simplicity, faith, and sanctity. Let’s make this a year where we focus not on doing everything, but on following Him with hearts wide open.