Each week through our "Spiritual Laziness" study, I will post our Exercise Guides here. These weekly guides will help us and challenge us to practice the week's spiritual practice. This week is a bit different from the upcoming weeks. This week will help us reflect and begin to think of ways we can engage God daily.
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“It is my conviction that our heavenly Father says the same to us every day: ‘My dear child, you must always remember who you are.’” – John Stott “For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.” –Deuteronomy 30:16
“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” –John 10:10
What is a Rule of Life? A rule of life offers unique and regular rhythms that free and open each person to the will and presence of Christ. The spiritual practices of a rule provide a way to partner with the Holy Spirit for personal transformation
Excerpt from “Spiritual Disciplines Handbook: Practices that Transform Us” by Adele Ahlberg Calhoun:
“We all have rules like “Do your best.” “Never give up.” “Never say never.” “Just do it.” These mottos tether us to certain behaviors and attitudes so we can, in the words of another rule, “be all we can be.” They help us live toward what we most want. Developing a “rule of life” is a way of being intentional about the personal rhythms and guidelines that shape our days. One of the early Christian rules for life is found in Acts 2:42. Here we find that believers “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” This rule shaped their lives and hearts in the circumstances they were in. It acknowledged the impossibility of becoming like Christ through effort alone. The rule offered disciplines that made space to attend to the supernatural presence of the Trinity at work in and among them. The rule of the early church described distinct practices that were different than the cultural norms. Over the years Christians have developed rules and rhythms for living that center their lives in living Christ rather than the world.”
“We all have rules like “Do your best.” “Never give up.” “Never say never.” “Just do it.” These mottos tether us to certain behaviors and attitudes so we can, in the words of another rule, “be all we can be.” They help us live toward what we most want. Developing a “rule of life” is a way of being intentional about the personal rhythms and guidelines that shape our days. One of the early Christian rules for life is found in Acts 2:42. Here we find that believers “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” This rule shaped their lives and hearts in the circumstances they were in. It acknowledged the impossibility of becoming like Christ through effort alone. The rule offered disciplines that made space to attend to the supernatural presence of the Trinity at work in and among them. The rule of the early church described distinct practices that were different than the cultural norms. Over the years Christians have developed rules and rhythms for living that center their lives in living Christ rather than the world.”
Goal for this week: to slowly develop a “rule of life” that will begin to engage you into practices that connect you to God. Your rule is not life-locking, but rather a step in this process of not being spiritual lazy, but rather engaging God through various forms so that we can connect more deeply to Him. The exercises of this week can be and probably should be re-visited over our entire study.
Other Resources for a Rule of Life:
Always We Begin Again: The Benedictine Way of Living by John McQuiston III The Way of the Heart by Henry Nouwen Living with Contradiction by Esther de Wall Soul Feast by Marjorie Thompson
Always We Begin Again: The Benedictine Way of Living by John McQuiston III The Way of the Heart by Henry Nouwen Living with Contradiction by Esther de Wall Soul Feast by Marjorie Thompson
Monday: Questions to begin with (grab a sheet of paper to answer these with)
:When and Where do you feel closest to God?
:Pay attention to the experiences, practices and relationships that draw you toward God. Are there particular practices that open you to God?
:What is most important to you?
:What gives you a sense of security and self-worth?
:What would people who know you best say it’s like to live and work with you?
:Where do your relationships need attention?
:When and Where do you feel closest to God?
:Pay attention to the experiences, practices and relationships that draw you toward God. Are there particular practices that open you to God?
:What is most important to you?
:What gives you a sense of security and self-worth?
:What would people who know you best say it’s like to live and work with you?
:Where do your relationships need attention?
Tuesday: More Questions that help in developing a rule
:What receives the most attention in your life? Spouse? Job? Family? Friends? Hobbies?
:If you had six months to live, how would you spend your time?
:If you could write your own eulogy, what would you say?
:What do you currently do to realize your goals and desires? Work? Study? Pray? Socialize? Which of these things help or hinder your spiritual journey?
:What spiritual practices suit your daily, monthly and yearly rhythms? What do you do now regularly?
:Where do you want to change? Where do you feel powerless to change?
Wednesday: Read Psalm 16 and answer these reflective questions :What unspoken rules govern your life right now?:What receives the most attention in your life? Spouse? Job? Family? Friends? Hobbies?
:If you had six months to live, how would you spend your time?
:If you could write your own eulogy, what would you say?
:What do you currently do to realize your goals and desires? Work? Study? Pray? Socialize? Which of these things help or hinder your spiritual journey?
:What spiritual practices suit your daily, monthly and yearly rhythms? What do you do now regularly?
:Where do you want to change? Where do you feel powerless to change?
:How do you determine what you will and won’t do?
:Does the idea of a rule for your life appeal to you? Why or why not?
:How has being disciplined affected your life?
:How does a rule for life differ from a mission statement?
Thursday: writing a rule
:after three days of thinking more deeply and reflecting on your answers, begin to write a rule of life. Remember this is a rule to help you connect to God. This is not life-locking, but rather a start to our study through these practices together. This is not your final draft, but only a start. If you need help, you can Google “St. Benedict Rule for Life” and quickly get a glimpse of a rule that many are based on today.
Friday: reflecting and changing the rule
:You’ve had an entire day with what you wrote. What do you like most about what your wrote? What do you like least?
:in what ways will your rule of life as it is today encourage you and draw you closer to God?
:how is your rule as it is today get you off the couch and get spiritually actice?
:now, feel free to make changes and alterations to your rule
Saturday: looking at Jesus
:Open up the Gospels and consider the disciplines that consistently thread their way through Jesus’ life. How do they shape what he did or didn’t do?
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