About the Author

Anna works full-time for DaySpring from Minnesota, where she lives with her husband and four kids. Anna is the author of A Moment of Christmas and Pumpkin Spice for Your Soul, and she shares the good stuff of the regular, encouraging you to see the ordinary glory in your everyday.

(in)side DaySpring: things we love
& you will too!
Find more at DaySpring.com
(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
DaySpring.com
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  1. Anna,
    I had to chuckle, because my two Millennial children will say to me, “Mom, you’re so ‘BASIC’.” I know they mean it, in a joking way, to say I’m blah, boring, predictable. I take it more as a compliment and that’s why I’d like to say that I think your word is PERFECT! Jesus lived a very “basic” and “simple” existence. He wasn’t extravagant – traveling to far off places and sporting the latest styles. He traveled with no baggage and needed only the basics for His existence (water, food, shelter, sleep). When he stayed at someone’s home, He didn’t ask them to throw a party in His honor, He simply wanted a place to lay His head and sustenance for the next day. Sometimes, I think we do need to leave all the frills behind and just get back to taking care of ourselves and the basics. Applauding your word!! I think Jesus would like it too 🙂
    Blessings,
    Bev xx

  2. I return all the time to Micah 6:8: do justly, love mercy, walk humbly.
    Whenever I feel frustrated at how little I’m doing for the kingdom of God, or how I can’t do enough to help family and friends (never mind the entire hurting world!!), I have to come back to the basics, too. And I’m hearing and appreciating your thoughts on water, vegetables, and sleep. God made a marvelous machine when he designed the human body, but we do need to maintain it, right?

  3. Thank you.. thank you again Anna!
    This is word ON for me today! I hear God saying to me constantly.. back to basics and stop trying to be it all to all! Only HE can be all to all.. I feel better and it’s Monday!
    I always try my best to regroup on Monday’s:) I’m guessing that speaks to many out there.. lol
    Well off to my study lesson and then a beautiful morning walk.. with a bottle of water! Blessings to y’all today too!

  4. Anna, WOW. This SO resonates with me! Have you been spying on me?? I’ve felt this year that I’ve had to go backwards in some regards to do just what you wrote about – getting back to the basics and focusing on proper health, sleep, etc. What struck me as I read your post (so timely), was a thought I’d had about fashion awhile ago: Never be afraid of a basic outfit. Why? Because it can easily/quickly be dressed up with the right accessories. It’s true spiritually, too. I don’t have to be afraid that God is calling me “backwards” to focus on basics. It might just be the best way to showcase His amazingness – the accessory we all want most anyway! So blessed by your post, Anna! Thank you.

  5. Sobbing. In. My. Soup.

    Thank you Anna. I know you just changed a whole bunch of hearts with this beautiful piece of encouragement. Just exactly what I needed to hear today and exactly how we’re meant to live. And love. Basic…whole, not fractured…breathing in and out while he changes that breath to miracles all around us. Oh my goodness. You just don’t know what you’ve done for me today.

    Off to share this Word with everyone I know. Thank you again!!

    • Oh dear Cynthia… I am incredibly thankful for your words of encouragement.

      “Basic…whole, not fractured…breathing in and out while he changes that breath to miracles all around us.” <-- Yes! Beautiful insight. Thanks for being here, Cynthia. Blessings.

  6. Wonderful, wonderful word(s) of life! Let’s get back to basic 101 & let God be God. Anna, you have blessed my heart with sharing what God has given you-you are a mighty woman who has a heart after God’s own heart!

  7. Basic. What an uncomplicated word that our hearts and our world so needs. We’ve gotten so complicated with our social media, smart homes, etc. that we’ve forgotten how “basic” will bring us back to the people and things that really matter, especially our time with our LORD. Thank you so much for these wonderful words. I needed to hear them today. God bless you.

    • Indeed we have unnecessarily complicated many things. I think that’s where my heart was when I wrote this – feeling the brunt of that pressure and craving release. Thank you for the encouragement, Barbara!

  8. This really really met me where I’m at today. Thankyou. The things we do often neglect are the very things we need to flourish. All of it. Off to read about the woman at the well and try to see myself as Jesus sees me. Thankyou again,

  9. Wonderful word. I just heard a sermon around “slow and steady wins the race”. If we keep doing our Basics every day, day after day, year after year, we will achieve our goals.

  10. Anna,

    My hubby & I are getting back to the basics this year also. We are “dieting”/eating healthier. He only eats an apple for breakfast, soup is lunch & a nice healthy meal for dinner-sometimes just a salad. I’m also working on eating better & losing weight. You are spot on about getting the basics to make you feel good. We need to get rid of some of the frills & junk the world offers & go back to the basics of life. This post reminded me of a song by 4HIM “Basics of Life”. It is so relevant for today!!

    We’ve turned the page, for a new day has dawned We’ve re-arranged what is right and what’s wrong Somehow we’ve drifted so far from the truth That we can’t get back home
    Where are the virtues that once gave us light Where are the morals that governed our lives Someday we all will awake and look back just to find what we’ve lost.
    We need to get back To the basics of life
    A heart that is pure And a love that is blind
    A faith that is fervently grounded in Christ The hope that endures for all times
    These are the basics, we need to get back To the basics of life
    The newest rage is to reason it out Just meditate And you can overcome every doubt
    After all man is a God, they say God is no longer alive
    But I still believe in the old rugged cross And I still believe there is hope for the lost And I know the rock of all ages will stand Through changes of time
    We need to get back To the basics of life
    A heart that is pure And a love that is blind
    A faith that is fervently grounded in Christ The hope that endures for all times
    These are the basics, we need to get back To the basics of life

    Blessings 🙂

  11. Yea yes and yrs. Ur post has spoken to me. I am sitting her with a 24hr blood pressure cuff strapped to me to figure out all the stress in my life is causing high blood pressure. Im in my thirties with two young kids and it has been a tough last few years that my husband and i have had to endure many a storm with life challenges and struggles. I have really neglected myself and put everyone first. I feel now the Lord is giving me a big wake up call and making me stop and breathe. This post just confirms this for me

    • Oh Julie, I will be praying for you. I remember one time being thankful for a scheduled trip to the gynecologist, because it meant I would be able to sit in a quiet waiting room by myself for a while. That was a big gut check – ‘me time’ should not be at the gyno! 🙂 I hope you’ve been able to get relief from the stress, and live into the peace that He offers.

  12. Amen! Praise to God for the life-giving basics! I’m on the same trip even if a bit bumpy… Thank you for this sharing and encouragement! Bless you!

  13. Thank you for this post, Anna. From one t-shirt and jean girl to another, I admire how you studied and worked and prayed about “basics.” I’m feeling a little convicted, honestly. God gave me the word “bold” in January, and I have not been so driven or focused with it. I suppose I’ve sort of been treating it as an afterthought. Not good! I mean, I’ve tried to be more bold in my writing…putting myself out there and not hiding all my embarrassing moments of doubt or anger which I posted a recent example on my blog yesterday: https://trainingforeternityblog.wordpress.com/2018/03/05/when-a-dream-is-detoured/

    But I think I need to be more bold in other areas of my life instead of tiptoeing to the task in fear (something I’ve been known to do when God calls me.) Thank you for inspiring me to obey God’s calling when He gives me a beautiful word. God bless you!

  14. Brushing your teeth every day is pretty basic alright!! Seriously, I do appreciate your list, because you’ve covered all the bases–physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional–which brings our lives into balance. And a balanced person is a much more effective person. Not that we do more, but what we do accomplish achieves more impact. Well done, Anna!

  15. Anna~ I love the Bible: God-breathed Living Words
    I love words … I love reading them. I love writing them. I love when they are artfully used:
    “A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver” ~ Proverbs 25:11
    Wisely chosen “basics”
    At a women’s conference many years ago one of the speakers, a missionary said: “the devil may not make you bad but he will keep you busy” … that truth stayed in my mind.
    The world is so very, very busy. I find it a daily challenge to focus on what is important and accomplish “basic” tasks
    Too many days pass by and I rob myself of time in the Word. This one thing sets the course of my day. It should be a “basic” priority
    It would be a rare day to not eat food so why would I skip the “Bread of Life” or “starve at the Buffet Table of Life” ~to quote Dr Benzio from the Lighthouse Network
    Since I’m semi-retired: I work from home … usually live in my pajamas…and only remember to brush my teeth before I go to swim at 8-8:30 pm
    The more chronologically advantaged I become it seems like time is “flying” … I wake up … blink and then it’s time for bed ;~)
    Since words are part of your message, I hope you do not mind if I share this poem I wrote several years ago
    (my Mom who also writes poetry wrote a poem “Words” which I did not know about until she passed away a couple years ago)

    “Every word of God is flawless” ~ Proverbs 30:5
    “WORDS”
    Words can wound or words can heal
    Words of strife our peace can steal
    Words can make or break a deal……tear us down …or give us zeal
    Words of love …can hate erase …like soothing balm …strife replace
    Words can divide…or words can ignite
    A nation…a family …to fight or unite
    Harsh words turn a heart to stone…“Kind words” it is said “heal bones”
    Words can be foolish or words can be wise
    Words can be truth or words can be lies
    Let us first our words rehearse…for
    Words can bless …or words can curse
    For human speaking is an art …and
    Words do reveal what is in the heart
    ~ by Fay Marmalich-Vietmeier ~