What's your rule of life?
iStock
If you think about it, we are creatures of habit. We have rhythms, routines, and rituals that make up our daily lives, and for many of us, these routines maintain our sanity. We might wake up in the morning, drink a cup of coffee, brush our teeth, and read the news. Or maybe we start the day off with a simple prayer and Bible reading. Routines and rituals like these can be good things!
We all need spiritual rhythms for our daily lives, whatever those practices might be. One of the biggest challenges for most people is that their rhythms have been disrupted by the recent pandemic. Many people are working from home, homeschooling their children, and practically living on Zoom. Our old rhythms no longer work in a new world. We need to find new rhythms for our lives.
There exists a timeless Christian practice of regulating our daily practices and rhythms called a "Rule of Life." Maybe you are wondering, What is a Rule of Life? It serves as a framework for freedom: not as a set of rules that restrict or deny life, but as a way of living out our vocations both individually and together. It is rooted in Scripture, always pointing to Christ.
Think of your Rule of Life like a trellis for your faith. With a trellis for structure, fruit can grow. Jesus talks about the importance of having a deep and abiding relationship with God—"abiding with him" (John 15:4-8). Even with all of our skills and talents, we can't do anything unless it is in partnership with God.
Of course, fruit from the vine can still grow on the ground, but it will rot unless it can reach up to the sun. Likewise, we need a framework to help us reach up to God.
- Meditate daily on the teachings and life of Jesus.
- Walk and talk in the manner of love, for God is love.
- Pray daily to be used by God in order that all men might be free.
- Sacrifice personal wishes in order that all men might be free.
- Observe with both friend and foe the ordinary rules of courtesy.
- Seek to perform regular service for others and for the world.
- Refrain from the violence of fist, tongue, or heart.
- Strive to be in good spiritual and bodily health.
- Follow the directions of the movement and of the captain on a demonstration.
Having a personal rule of life helps us abide with Christ in our everyday lives. The purpose of our abiding with God is that we can bear fruit in the world; it is not just to have warm, fuzzy feelings or to wait to go to heaven. Fruit can't do anything unless it's attached to the vine (John 15:4); similarly, without God, we can't do anything.
In Philippians 4:7, Paul talks about a profound relationship of total abandonment that surpasses understanding (e.g., God abandons himself to love us).
How, then, can we know something that "surpasses understanding"? Paul is talking about an experiential relationship that surpasses all cognitive understanding. Christianity is not merely a moral code, but involves a direct sharing in divine life with our Creator.
How is the world going to believe in Jesus? They won't believe unless they see him abiding in us. And they won't see him in us unless we are abiding in him: a Christ-centered life lived out of a holy center that comes from a holy concern for the world. Second Corinthians 4:16 says, "Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day."
God prunes the vines that produce fruit; God will prune anything out of our life that is not Christlike. There is a type of growth that mimics healthy growth called "sucker growth." These branches look great and even turn a wonderful color. However, God will prune things out of our lives that, while they may appear good, provide little value to us.
Part of the pruning God wants to do in our lives happens through silence, solitude, and stillness. The Psalms remind us to "be still, and know that I am God" (Ps. 46:10).
We must develop in our spiritual lives daily disciplines of spiritual practices to dwell in God's presence. We need to learn to spend time every day being still with God because without being centered in God, there is nothing for him that you and I can do.
Excerpted fromHealthy Rhythm for Leaders: Cultivating Soul Care in Uncertain Times,by Winfield Bevins and Mark Dunwoody (Exponential 2021).
 | Dr. Mark Dunwoody has more than three decades of international experience as an entrepreneur and consultant to non-profits and faith communities. Originally from Belfast, Ireland, Mark has lived in five countries and is well known, internationally, in the missional conversation as an author, trainer, speaker, strategist, Design Thinker and coach. |
 | Winfield Bevins is a “liturgical missiologist” whose passion is to help others connect to the roots of the Christian faith for discipleship and mission. He currently serves as the Director of Church Planting at Asbury Theological Seminary. He and his wife Kay have three beautiful girls Elizabeth, Anna Belle, and Caroline and live in the Bluegrass state of Kentucky. |
More on Spiritual Growth and Soul Care
- Searching for that person (by Richard Blackaby)
- How porn damages your brain, science backed (by Charles Stone)
- Unlocking success: focus on behaviors for effective leadership (by Christian Muntean)
- A simple filter to help you deal with negative feedback (by Carey Nieuwhof)
