Page
Creating a Rule
Completion requirements
While the concept of a “rule of life” may seem archaic or reserved for monks in distant monasteries, the truth is that every believer can benefit from this concept. In his introduction to this Lesson, Dr. J. L. Miller mentions Evan B. Howard, who directs an organization called Spirituality Shop. Inspired by his findings, Dr. Miller suggests developing a rule of life to move toward healthy spirituality in your own life.
Reflection on the Gospel
The foundation of every Christian practice is rooted in the gospel. Begin by considering:
- What does the word gospel inspire in you?
- What is the larger vision of the gospel, and how do you interpret it?
The path to creating a spiritual rule with healthy spiritual practices begins by reflecting on the role of the gospel in your life. Think about the divine workings in your world and the broader world in general. This is not an academic exercise, so there is no need to be systematically precise. Let it be an intimate, personal exploration of God’s influence and love in your life and the world.
A Personalized Vision of the Gospel
With the overarching vision of the gospel in mind, now narrow your focus:
- Examine your current stage in life.
- Recognize areas in your life that align with the gospel and those that diverge.
- Contemplate God’s recent workings in your life and potential future paths.
This is your spiritual “inventory,” an essential step in creating a rule that is both personal and effective.
Identify Your Cutting Edge
The “cutting edge” is the specific area in your life requiring immediate spiritual growth or change:
- What challenges are you facing today, tomorrow, and in the near future?
- Ask yourself where you struggle, where you react strongly, and where you feel close or distant from God.
These insights set the stage for your rule.
Crafting the Rule
With your groundwork set, you are now prepared to create your rule of life. This rule will involve spiritual practices that relate directly to the insights from your reflections. Tailor these practices to cater to your “cutting edge,” linking back to your understanding of the gospel.
If, for instance, you have struggled to engage with Scripture, your rule could involve reading a set number of verses every morning. Or, if you find technology disrupts your spiritual practices, perhaps commit not to check your phone until after a morning prayer.
Remember, the goal isn’t to formulate an exhaustive or overly ambitious rule but to create a realistic, meaningful guide tailored to your current spiritual needs.
The goal when formulating a “rule” isn’t to formulate an exhaustive or overly ambitious rule but to create a realistic, meaningful guide tailored to your current spiritual needs.
An Example
Here is an example of how you might sketch out the general contours of a rule.
- General Gospel Vision: What gospel is God bringing right now in the world? There is a lot of fear and anger in the world right now. But that is not the whole story. There are Christians who are hopeful. There are young people with strong faith. There are still those who are loving others and whose lives embody good news to others.
- Personalized Vision: How does my life relate to that gospel? I give in so easily to the anger, fear, and despair. Some of it is what I watch on social media and on cable news channels. I might say they are keeping me informed of what to pray and work for, but I’m beginning to wonder if they are actually eroding and poisoning my spiritual life.
- Cutting Edge: What do I need to align myself with the gospel? I need to “feed” my mind different things. For example, I need to read more from the Gospels in Scripture. I need to pray with greater faith that God is at work and that there are many Christians who still embody faith, hope, and love.
- Crafted Rule: I commit myself not to engage social media or any news source more than the amount of time I read each week in the Gospels and no more than three hours total each week. I will pray at least 10 minutes of praise and thanksgiving to God in loving, joyful, and hopeful prayer each day.
In the monasteries, the concept of a trellis was found to be helpful when thinking of these sorts of “rules” for our lives. A trellis is a kind of scaffolding used to help vines grow in an orderly and fruitful direction. Just as vines need a trellis to grow upright and blossom, we sometimes need structures or “rules” for our lives to help us flourish spiritually.
Establishing a personal “rule of life” isn’t about confining yourself but about channeling spiritual growth in the right direction. It provides the necessary structure to navigate the complexities of life while keeping your spirit aligned with God's teachings. God’s love for you is boundless, and a rule of life can help you draw closer to Him, enriching both your spiritual journey and your day-to-day life.