This is an assigment I completed a few years ago when I was finishing my masters degree. I was required to write out my own personal, "rule of life" on a daily, weekly, monthly and annual basis. Those of you who know me, will understand how difficult LISTS are for me to live by. Maybe this will challenge you to make a similar attempt. I hate legalism in any form, but being intentional is a very productive quality. I am not good at it, but I am on the journey.
A Rule of Life is not meant to be a check list for daily activity. It is a way to measure how you are living your life. These are the things that will be present if you are living life intentionally, with purpose, and in a way that will produce personal satisfaction and will glorify God. They are different for everyone. They, no doubt, will reflect your own personality and uniqueness. Therefore, you can't have mine...you must write your own. Grace to you!
MY RULE OF LIFE
My Rule of Life has begun to take shape. These things reflect some of that, and some other qualities and practices that I feel are needed in my life. These, no doubt, will change with time and maturity. This is a starting place. I am jumping off the high dive, and I will figure out how to swim when I hit the water.My Daily Rule1. Choose contentment over anxiety or discouragement
· Early in the morning, with a cup of coffee…first thing
· 5-10 minutes of silence daily
· Keep my journal there to record thoughts
2. Try and do at least one thing to correct or fix a problem.
3. Read or listen to something that improves my thinking
· In addition to the Bible
· Tapes, books, articles, etc.
· Try for at least 30 minutes a day
4. Spend some time in prayer, Bible reading and meditation
· Between 7am and 10am depending on my schedule for the day…earlier if necessary.
· 20 minutes of spiritual reading
· 5-10 minutes of meditation on a Psalm, worship music, hymns, nature, etc.
· 20 minutes in prayer
5. Do something to improve my physical body
· Try to get some exercise every day
6. Encourage at least one person by a call, letter, or personal contact
7. Have the courage to do the right thing
8. Take an honest look at my failures and accept responsibility for them
· Incorporate this in my time of silence
· Let the Holy Spirit speak to my heart
· Avoid my own agenda for improvement
9. Have a schedule in order to have more freedom
· Complete at least one task a day
· Write down at least one task for the following day
10. Do something that will strengthen my relationship with Bonnie
· Say at least one kind and thoughtful thing
· At least one kind and affectionate touch
· At least one thoughtful action
· Pray for her daily
11. Be a peacemaker…I want to be called a “son” of God
12. Find a way to act with mercy and compassion…I need mercy.
My Weekly Rule
1. Meet with one small group
2. Enjoy and participate in a time of corporate worship
3. Review my journal for the week
4. Fast one day (at least 2 consecutive meals) for extra time of silence, prayer, and meditation and journaling
5. Give something away….material goods or money
6. Pray directly (laying on hands) for at least one person’s immediate need
7. Encourage Matt and Mike in their spiritual walk through a phone call, letter, email, etc.
8. Spend a minimum of 4 hours sometime during the week in study time.
My Monthly Rule
1. Review and adjust my weekly Rule as needed
2. Look over my journal for the month
3. Make a monthly entry as to “how things are going”
4. Write one prayer in my journal concerning the past month
5. Spend one overnight with Bonnie apart from church and work activities
6. Take time to shoot some photographs…use them for enjoyment or meditation
7. Read, listen to, or attend something on discipleship, equipping, leadership or team building.
My Annual Rule
1. Take an annual personal retreat for no less than 2 full days
· Review my journal
· Write a mission statement for the coming year
· Evaluate the areas of progress and failure in my personal life
· Get a sense of what God is speaking to me
2. Read through the NT yearly
3. Read at least ½ of the OT yearly
4. Take a vacation away from all responsibility and peoples problems
5. Evaluate my progress as a spiritual leader
· Who have I influenced
· Who am I mentoring
· How have I improve as a coach
· How is the team doing
I would be interested in hearing about your own "rule of life." If you have never done an assignment like this, it might make a terrific personal retreat!
A Rule of Life is not meant to be a check list for daily activity. It is a way to measure how you are living your life. These are the things that will be present if you are living life intentionally, with purpose, and in a way that will produce personal satisfaction and will glorify God. They are different for everyone. They, no doubt, will reflect your own personality and uniqueness. Therefore, you can't have mine...you must write your own. Grace to you!
MY RULE OF LIFE
My Rule of Life has begun to take shape. These things reflect some of that, and some other qualities and practices that I feel are needed in my life. These, no doubt, will change with time and maturity. This is a starting place. I am jumping off the high dive, and I will figure out how to swim when I hit the water.My Daily Rule1. Choose contentment over anxiety or discouragement
· Early in the morning, with a cup of coffee…first thing
· 5-10 minutes of silence daily
· Keep my journal there to record thoughts
2. Try and do at least one thing to correct or fix a problem.
3. Read or listen to something that improves my thinking
· In addition to the Bible
· Tapes, books, articles, etc.
· Try for at least 30 minutes a day
4. Spend some time in prayer, Bible reading and meditation
· Between 7am and 10am depending on my schedule for the day…earlier if necessary.
· 20 minutes of spiritual reading
· 5-10 minutes of meditation on a Psalm, worship music, hymns, nature, etc.
· 20 minutes in prayer
5. Do something to improve my physical body
· Try to get some exercise every day
6. Encourage at least one person by a call, letter, or personal contact
7. Have the courage to do the right thing
8. Take an honest look at my failures and accept responsibility for them
· Incorporate this in my time of silence
· Let the Holy Spirit speak to my heart
· Avoid my own agenda for improvement
9. Have a schedule in order to have more freedom
· Complete at least one task a day
· Write down at least one task for the following day
10. Do something that will strengthen my relationship with Bonnie
· Say at least one kind and thoughtful thing
· At least one kind and affectionate touch
· At least one thoughtful action
· Pray for her daily
11. Be a peacemaker…I want to be called a “son” of God
12. Find a way to act with mercy and compassion…I need mercy.
My Weekly Rule
1. Meet with one small group
2. Enjoy and participate in a time of corporate worship
3. Review my journal for the week
4. Fast one day (at least 2 consecutive meals) for extra time of silence, prayer, and meditation and journaling
5. Give something away….material goods or money
6. Pray directly (laying on hands) for at least one person’s immediate need
7. Encourage Matt and Mike in their spiritual walk through a phone call, letter, email, etc.
8. Spend a minimum of 4 hours sometime during the week in study time.
My Monthly Rule
1. Review and adjust my weekly Rule as needed
2. Look over my journal for the month
3. Make a monthly entry as to “how things are going”
4. Write one prayer in my journal concerning the past month
5. Spend one overnight with Bonnie apart from church and work activities
6. Take time to shoot some photographs…use them for enjoyment or meditation
7. Read, listen to, or attend something on discipleship, equipping, leadership or team building.
My Annual Rule
1. Take an annual personal retreat for no less than 2 full days
· Review my journal
· Write a mission statement for the coming year
· Evaluate the areas of progress and failure in my personal life
· Get a sense of what God is speaking to me
2. Read through the NT yearly
3. Read at least ½ of the OT yearly
4. Take a vacation away from all responsibility and peoples problems
5. Evaluate my progress as a spiritual leader
· Who have I influenced
· Who am I mentoring
· How have I improve as a coach
· How is the team doing
I would be interested in hearing about your own "rule of life." If you have never done an assignment like this, it might make a terrific personal retreat!
4 comments:
hey mark, this is really interesting. i think i am gonna some lists now...
i will add a list of what i want to achieve within the next 2,5,8,10 and 15 years!
I dig it.
You should think about preaching this at church. It's great : )
Wow! this is great Mark! I am going to draw myself one up. It is an awesome tool for life. I'll post mine when its done. This is a blessing thanks!
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