Creating a Rule for Life...

Have you ever considered creating a personal 'rule of life'?

A rule for life is a simple statement of the regular rhythms we choose in order to present our bodies to God as our 'spiritual act of worship.'  Each rule, or rhythm, is a way we partner with God for the transformation only he can bring.  Rules keep our lives from devolving into unintended chaos.  They aren't a burdensome list of do's and don'ts.

Before setting out to create your own, take stock of your desires, natural rhythms, limits amd times of closet connections to God.  The following articles is taken from Marjorie Thompson's Soul Feast and Adele Ahlberg Calhoun's, Spiritual Disciplines Handbook.

p.s. You'll find my rule of life underneath my blog title...

Instructions for developing 

A Personal Rule of Life

A Rule of Life is an intentional pattern of spiritual disciplines that provides structure and direction for growth in holiness. A Rule establishes a rhythm for life in which is helpful for being formed by the Spirit, a rhythm that reflects a love for God and respect for how he has made us. The disciplines which we build into our rhythm of life help us to shed the “old self” and allow our “new self” in Christ to be formed. Spiritual disciplines are means of grace by which God can nourish us. Ultimately a Rule should help you to love God more, so if it becomes a legalistic way of earning points with God or impressing others, it should be scrapped. If the traditional, ancient term “rule” concerns you because it sounds legalistic, think of “rule” as a “rhythm of life” or as a “Curriculum in Christlikeness” (Dallas Willard), or as a “Game Plan for Morphing” (John Ortberg).

In order to be life-giving, a Rule must be realistic! It is not an ideal toward which you are striving to soar. Instead, your initial Rule should be a minimum standard for your life that you do not want to drop below. It’s a realistic level of engaging in the spiritual disciplines for which you can honestly and truly be held accountable.

Rules will vary widely, depending on the character and life situation of a person. Not only will people choose different disciplines but how the disciplines are practiced will also vary. Although every believer should pray, for example, the frequency or length or times or kind of prayer will differ. Thomas à Kempis writes, “All cannot use the same kind of spiritual exercises, but one suits this person, and another that. Different devotions are suited also to the seasons [of life]....”

The Rule which you write should include three things: a self-assessment, an explanation of how you will practice your chosen disciplines, and your form of accountability. First, provide a clear self-assessment that briefly describes your current situation in life–family responsibilities, work schedule, and other life circumstances. Your self-assessment should also reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of your character. Are you blessed, for example, with self-control, a compassionate heart, a bright mind, or a spirit of joy? Which vices do you most struggle with? 

It might be helpful to evaluate yourself in relation to the 7 deadly sins and their opposites:

Sloth Envy Greed Pride Anger Lust Gluttony

Fruitfulness (not productivity) Love Generosity Humility

Gentleness Chastity Self-denial, moderation

1 These instructions quote, paraphrase, adapt Marjorie Thompson, Soul Feast, chap. 9, and Adele Ahlberg Calhoun, Spiritual Disciplines Handbook, pp. 35-39.