Our society promotes consumerism and an "I want" attitude, taking people into extreme debt and the requirement to work longer and harder to achieve these self-centered attitudes. They don't have the time to grow a garden, play games with their children or just take a walk in the woods for no reason except pure enjoyment of God's creation.

Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. Romans 13:8

Voluntary simple living is not just being a tightwad or extremely frugal. Simple living is enjoying less stress, living within your means, uncluttered our homes, focusing on a healthier lifestyle and being closer to God. Simple living is not about poverty or deprivation. It is about discovering what is "enough" in your life, and discarding the rest.

It cannot be stressed enough that the road to simplicity is not necessarily easy. It takes physical and mental work. It may require learning new skills and hard lessons. It determines real friendship and true relationships. It requires serious prayer and quiet listening to God's voice.

Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and be wise! Even though they have no prince, governor, or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter. Proverbs 6: 6-7

The distinction between needs and wants has been blurred over the last 50 years. The first step in moving down a slower path is to identify the true needs of yourself and your family. This is a serious evaluation of your lifestyle and beliefs. What do you need to sustain life? Review your eating habits, your home and your job. Do you need two incomes to make ends meet? Can you do with less? Consider less television and unhealthy entertainment, less eating out; more home cooked meals, more real family time with actual discussions or just having fun together? Has your family been caught up in the peer pressure of expensive clothes, fancy restaurants and better and better homes to impress your boss, neighbor or even yourself?

And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 2 Corinthians 9:8

Once you have completed this evaluation, you can focus on the will of the Lord, His voice and expectations and how you can achieve those goals that you have determined through prayer and your needs. It is not necessary to go to the extreme. Simple living is not defined by moving to the back woods and living off the land, unless this is what has been established as your life goal. Voluntary simple living is just that… voluntary. You and the Lord decide how far you want to go and what you want to accomplish. The result should be that God is your true home forever and through Him, your live can be amazing and satisfying.