F4S: You Can Enjoy A Simple Growing Walk With The Lord! No Need To Overcomplicate.. In This Overcomplicated World!

Here's what I love about the Bible and God's plan for us -- it's simple enough for a small child to understand.

Want to know the Lord well and grow? Grasp hold of the Living Word ..and please keep it simple.

Some Christians make knowing God sound too complicated, like cracking a theological code. Makes ya wonder if they enjoy a simple close relationship.. do they have a candid, grateful relational prayer-life?

Don't get me wrong, I love real facts, mnemonic devices to help me remember important truths and things, so that I can be obedient to authority (by the Spirit's power) -- yes, remember good principles of truth as well. Glad I now enjoy fellowship that's well instead of spiritually sick. But hey, there is a winsome Person to get to intimately know (while staying biblical).

Others reduce it to a vague feeling. But Scripture paints a richer, truer picture—a relationship that is both simple and profound, intimate yet awe-filled. Jesus is not a concept to master; He is the Shepherd who walks with us to green pastures and still waters (Psalm 23). He feeds, guides, corrects, and restores.

I say walking close with Jesus (who was and is filled with grace and truth) isn’t meant to be complicated. Do you think you could get closer? Do I think so? Yes, I think we could get closer to Christ and His body.

I say don't complicate it. Keep it balanced—pray, read His Word with a heart to apply, worship and praise Him along with His people, honestly confess your sins to God, asking for His free forgiveness. Yes, obey what He says in the Word. Pray without neglecting Scripture. Think deeply without losing joy (meditate upon truth and memorize some verses). Serve Him faithfully without forgetting agape love--He'll lead you in serving people without doing that too much. Who wants to become a workaholic "for God" just to impress leaders or others? You don't need that lifestyle; your spouse and children don't want that for you at their expense.

I remember how Chuck Smith Sr. lived the life—it was about grace and truth. Flawed yes, we all are, but he kept diligently lovingly feeding God's flock through all the counsels of God, loving sinners and saints, spotting..recognizing God’s hand in his daily life because his prayer life was simple and to the point. A balanced Christian life doesn’t just keep you steady—it makes your witness reflect His shining light in this dark world.

Barna research shows that believers who prayerfully read the Bible daily are far more likely to live with peace and purpose. Why? Because they stay close to the Shepherd.

Chuck Smith used to speak of walking with the Lord with such gratitude inside that it made biblical faith so attractive to onlookers. Made it seem refreshingly uncomplicated cuz it's really to be like that.

He fed the flock instead of fleecing it, loving both sinner and saint, and quietly showing the marks of one who recognized God’s fingerprints in daily life. Pastor Hamil Jeffrey does the same—lingering in a crowd, smiling, asking your name again, and listening like you mattered deeply. That is what knowing the Lord looks like when it spills over into everyday moments.

"Lord, keep me.. my heart both still and strong,
To walk close with You the whole way through.. all day long.
In Word and prayer, help my steps align with Yours,
Your Scriptural voice my guide, Your will be done minus pride.
When sin erects its cold walls of stone,
I choose to run to You, and to You alone.
Forgiveness flows, planted seed grows, the slate made clean,
Your mercy sometimes felt, Your goodness seen, experienced in my being.
I’ll lift my thanks and praise before my plea,
And trust You and Your plans -- You have for me.
With real saints I’ll sing, with hands I’ll practically serve,
Obey with joy, and never swerve (as You help me).
Confess, and hear, and speak, and stand, that's my plan,
In acceptable worship with Your holy band.
In simple balance I will sow -- Lord, my soul will grow,
And with grace in my life, Your love will show.
Just a closer walk each day -- I want to stay,
In this movement, aid me to stay, to pray and obey. Step by step in Your Way
Shepherd, guide me, choose to use, keep me true,
Till my heart’s at home with You." ~ KWvS

This is not about worshiping our intellect, though we must use our minds.

Mr. Clive S. Lewis said, “God is no fonder of intellectual slackers than of any other slackers. If you are thinking of becoming a Christian, I warn you: you are embarking on something which is going to take the whole of you.”

Mr. George Barna research shows that only 32% of practicing Christians read the Bible daily, and those who do are significantly more likely to report deep satisfaction in their walk with God.

Why? Because hearing God through His Word and speaking to Him in prayer is the heartbeat of a simple but lovely living faith.

The Apostle Paul himself—who knew Christ more intimately than most—still said, “I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:8). If he longed for more, so should we. We will never be as close to God as we ought in this life because of lingering sin, but we can draw nearer.

Scripture gives us a simple but powerful pathway:

Confession – Sin builds walls; confession tears them down (1 John 1:9). A contrite heart is a magnet for God’s mercy (Psalm 51:17).
Listening – God’s voice is most clearly heard in His Word (2 Peter 1:19). Open it daily.
Speaking – Pray as Jesus taught—praising His name, seeking His kingdom, trusting His provision. Let the Psalms tutor your heart.
Gathering – Worship with His people (Hebrews 10:25). Come ready to give, not just get.
Obeying – Love proves itself in action (John 14:15). Obedience is love wearing work clothes.

Think of your relationship with God as you would with a dear friend: spend time together, speak honestly, listen well, admit wrongs, and live in a way that honors them. Simple, yes—but never shallow.

As the hymn Just a Closer Walk with Thee pleads:

I am weak, but Thou art strong;
Jesus, keep me from all wrong;
I’ll be satisfied as long,
As I walk, let me walk close to Thee.

Start there. Start today. The Shepherd’s voice is calling you—and His pasture is SO green.

As a child, I was once told there's a spiritual balance to enjoy in Christ: If all you do is pray, you could blow up, but if all you do is lock away to study, you could dry up. But if you pray and study Bible-truth.. weavving in some wise applications as you walk with the Lord (..where He's leading you) you'll grow up.

With grace and truth, you can have balance in your Christian walk with Jesus. Keep it simple with wise applications that make sense and make a witnessing impact.

Grace and Truth can Happen Together: You Walking in Balance with Jesus

With grace and truth, you can have balance in your Christian walk with Jesus first. This balance keeps faith simple, yet never shallow; it grounds you in wise applications that make sense and make a witnessing impact. Grace without truth can melt into sentimentality. Truth without grace can freeze into harsh dogma. But Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh, came “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14, 17)—the perfect pairing for a life that both honors God and draws people to Him.

John’s words are not accidental. He’s echoing Exodus 34:6, where the Lord revealed Himself to Moses as “abounding in lovingkindness [hesed] and truth [emet].”

The same divine attributes in the Old Testament are applied to Christ in the New—a quiet but profound declaration of His deity. Colossians 1:6, 2 John 1:3, Psalm 86:15, and even 2 Samuel 15:20 carry this theme forward: God’s mercy and faithfulness always move in unison.

Only Christianity perfectly marries these two qualities. Other religions tilt the scales—justice without mercy, or mercy without justice. But in Christ, truth is never compromised and grace is never withheld. Romans 3:23 tells us all have sinned and deserve God’s judgment. Yet, on the cross, justice was satisfied, truth upheld, and grace poured out to all who believe.

A balanced Christian walk mirrors the Savior’s own character—holding firm to truth, yet extending unmerited kindness. It is not complicated:

Confess your sins—tell on yourself, hide zero, the truth about yourself.
Receive forgiveness—it's free, ask for this grace of cleansing from God.
Read His Word—listen, hear God, it's food to nourish, and truth to guide you.
Pray with gratitude—say thanks for every blessing, give praise and the glory to God. What will happen -- growth, grace shaping your heart.
Obey in love—both direct and delivered Authority -- truth in action, grace in His Spirit. Choose to appeal, but not to obey delegated authorities in sinning. Obey short of sinning.

Hold the course in the Word, believer. Keep it simple. Keep it real, steady and consistent for His glory Keep it simple, walk godly. Keep your experince here Christ-centered, holy, and wonderfully winsome!

God's love wisely protects people. We can too! Spiritual balance basically protects you from drifting off base into soft spiritual compromises (that would lead to a super lame compromise. You don't have to stumble or fall) or go off into hardcore legalism. And when grace and truth flow together in your life, people will see Jesus in you. They will notice something different from those of the world. Your faith becomes anointed and compelling in Christ—not because you’ve mastered every formula, but because you walk with the One who is full of both.

The Bible says, "Salvation exists in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” 13When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they marveled and took note that these men had been with Jesus." Acts 4:12-13

Come Thou Fount:

Oh, to grace how great a debtor, daily I’m constrained to be;
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to Thee.

It's true, Jesus as our Example came here: “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

Every person we meet has sinned and deserves God’s judgment. you and me too (Romans 3:23), yet on Christ's cross He satisfied God's perfect justice, upheld truth, and poured out grace to all who believe. We still live during this age of grace..so get right before you get left! Respond to Him. Repent. Here and now is good!

A balanced Christian walk mirrors Him: so honestly confess sin when you blow it (truth), receive free forgiveness (via God's grace), read the Bible (truth. That's God's love letter to believers), pray with gratitude and praise (more grace), obey the Authority of God in love (truth with grace).

Keep it simple. Keep it steady. Keep it Christ-centered. When grace and truth run together in your life, people see Jesus—not just in what you say, but in who you are.

Need Some Bible Verses: Grace + Truth + Simplicity of Walking Keeping Jesus First

John 1:14, 17 – “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us… full of grace and truth… For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
Exodus 34:6 – “The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth.”
Psalm 86:15 – “But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.”
Colossians 4:6 – “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”
Ephesians 4:15 – “Speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.”

Holy Simplicity & Relational Faith In Jesus - So Desirable Is He!

Micah 6:8 – “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
1 Thessalonians 4:11–12 – “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands… so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders.”
Matthew 6:33–34 – “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well… Do not worry about tomorrow.”
2 Corinthians 1:12 – “…we have conducted ourselves in the world… with integrity and godly sincerity, not relying on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace.”
1 Timothy 6:6 – “But godliness with contentment is great gain.”

2. Christian Quotes on Grace + Truth + Simple Faith

A.W. Tozer – “The Bible recognizes no faith that does not lead to obedience, nor does it recognize any obedience that does not spring from faith.”
John Stott – “Truth becomes hard if it is not softened by love; love becomes soft if it is not strengthened by truth.”
Charles Spurgeon – “When truth and grace kiss each other, there is no safer place for a sinner to stand.”
Hudson Taylor – “God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply.”
Corrie Ten Boom – “Faith is simply putting your hand in God’s and walking with Him, step by step, in the dark.”
Elisabeth Elliot – “The secret is Christ in me, not me in a different set of circumstances.”
Dallas Willard – “Simplicity is the inward reality of single-hearted focus upon God (the Father) and His Kingdom, which results in an outward lifestyle of modesty and unpretentiousness.”

3. Biblical Role Models of Grace, Truth, and Holy Simplicity

Jesus Christ – Our ultimate Example. He perfectly balanced grace and truth every moment (John 1:14–17).
Moses – Walked with God in humility and interceded for others with grace and truth (Exodus 33–34).
David – Loved mercy yet upheld truth, confessing sin and returning to God (Psalm 51; Psalm 86:15).
Daniel – Lived truthfully and graciously even in a hostile culture (Daniel 1, 6).
Mary, mother of Jesus – Lived in quiet trust and humble obedience (Luke 1:38).
Barnabas – “A good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith” who encouraged others (Acts 11:24).
John the Baptist – Spoke truth boldly, but pointed always to Christ (John 3:30).

4. Historical Christians Who Modeled This

Francis of Assisi – Simplicity, humility, and joy in serving God and others.
George Müller – Lived by faith, trusting God for provision without asking for funds directly.
Amy Carmichael – Balanced truth in confronting evil with grace toward the vulnerable.
Watchman Nee – Taught a simple, Christ-centered walk marked by deep faith.
Brother Lawrence – Practiced the presence of God in everyday tasks.
Corrie & Bestsie Ten Boom – Extended grace to her enemies while proclaiming truth.

Hey, need some doable steps for cultivating this sublime kind of relationship with the Lord as they did? Like honest Christians back in the day, how can we believers today pray and cultivate a simple relationship with God that is tenderly intimate, daily, sincere, beautifully simple yet obedient to God's word? Are there steps to avoid? Basic steps?

a. Begin the day talking with God in His presence

Scripture: Psalm 5:3 — “In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.” Listen to His Spirit as you read the Bible.
Practice: Before touching any Social Media or even your phone, or diving into the day, take a few quiet moments to greet the Lord, read a few verses, and pray simply.
Why it matters: Keeps your heart tuned to God before the noise of the day sets in.

b. Keep prayer conversational all through the day. Yes, frequent..

Remember Jesus and Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:17 — “Pray without ceasing.”
Practice short whispered prayers and kind deeds: Talk to God throughout the day about everything — not just “spiritual” things.
Why it matters: Builds ongoing intimacy; keeps God in the center of ordinary moments. Your days, weeks, months and years won't stay ordinary because He isn't any ordinary God.

c. Obey the promptings of the Spirit promptly, even in small matters

Remember Him again and Bible directives: John 14:15 — “If you love me, keep my commands.”
Practice: When Scripture or the Spirit convicts you, act quickly. Obedience, even in small things, deepens trust and spiritual sharpness.
Why it matters: Delayed obedience dulls spiritual intimacy; quick obedience keeps the heart tender.

d. Practice holy practicality and His type of simplicity

Review how Jesus walked in the Scriptures: 1 Timothy 6:6 — “Godliness with contentment is great gain.”
Ask for Wisdom and Practice It: Reduce distractions, live within your means, avoid overcommitting. Make room in your life for God’s voice and service to others.
Why it matters: Complication, confusion and clutter in life often clutters up the soul; but simplicity and clarity leaves space for God to rule. When there is an opaque mist in the pulpit, there is a lame fog in the pew. What about in your home, school or workplace? The lack of a clear vision, clear communication, or clear purpose for any message or sermon isn't helpful. What doesn't help? Uncertainty and biblical illiteracy and spiritual immaturity where there's an avoidance of important truths to apply.. doesn't help! Vague talk, overly complex explanations of simple biblical concepts or statements hinders people.

e. Serve others behind the scenes quietly helps

Remember Jesus' example and words in Scripture: Matthew 6:3–4 — “Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.”
Practice: Look for unnoticed acts of kindness — encouragement, admonitions, generosity, listening — without needing recognition.
Why it matters: Trains us in humility, reflects Jesus, keeps motives completely pure.

f. Keep grace and truth married together

Scripture: Ephesians 4:15 — “Speaking the truth in love..” This draws people to the Son.
Practice: In your speech, correct gently with kindness to restore, to encourage with honesty, and live with God's level of integrity.
Why it matters: Protects you from sliding into either harshness or spiritual compromise and carnality.

2. There Are Some Religious & Other Pitfalls to Avoid

Legalism — Making rules or rituals the measure of your faith instead of Christ Himself is lame and horribly religious.
Busyness (I mean overly--too busy) for God instead of time with Jesus — Activity can be a substitute for intimacy. Good activities can become the enemy of the best things to do, or not do. He loves His time with you each day.
Neglecting Scripture — Prayer without the Word risks drifting off into error or a self-made spirituality.
Isolation from the body of Christ — Simple faith is not an overly solitary faith; we need fellowship. Elijah was often a loner seeking the Lord, but Elisha hung out with the people for fellowship more ..it would appear. The Father used both for His glory!
Harboring unconfessed sin — Unaddressed sin always cools intimacy with God.

3. Teachable Humility, The Heart's Posture

Think of your walk with God like holding a candle in the wind:

You are to shield it from gusts (distractions, sin, pride).
You are to clutivate or feed it with fuel (Word, prayer, listening, obedience).
You are to boldly share it (your own walk, story of faith, and His Message) with others, but don’t let the flame burn out from overexposure

In relationship with the Redeemer, you and I need both reason, reality in the Scriptures (the facts of His sure promises), and intimate relationship--allowing Jesus to keep your walk balanced.

I say all prayer only and no study..really? You could blow up; all study and no prayer, you could dry up; prayer and study together as you follow Jesus as Lord—you will grow up!

In every conversation the Holy Spirit brings about (upwards to the Father or outwards. Yep, on the vertical plane or on the horizontal plane), and with every step or helpful act of service, and with every decision you make today, let Jesus rule without rival. He's still your Chief Shepherd, isn't He.. you're in His flock right? You can be!

(All are His creations, but not all are God's children until they are born into His family). Allow your Father's grace and truth to be the twin rails your life runs on in Christ! For when you walk this way, you think and walk in a blessed harmony.. in step with Jesus (the Christ of the Bible, who is God's Way for you) Himself.

Monday, August 11, 2025

You Can Enjoy A Simple Growing Walk With The Lord! No Need To Overcomplicate.. In This Overcomplicated World!