Resources for Finding Your Rhythm

This past Sunday, 5/23/2010, we talked about the importance of finding a rhythm to life that helps us stay connected to God personally, to God's people, and to God's purposes. John talked about creating a Rule of Life to help us achieve this sort of rhythm at annual, quarterly, monthly, weekly, and daily intervals. Here are some resources for helping you find your own rhythm.

Rule of Life
Pete Scazzero, pastor and author has created some guidelines for writing a Rule of Life. Pete's comments about a Rule of Life and the structure that he uses can be found on his website for Emotionally Healthy Spirituality.

Spiritual Practices for Connecting to God Personally

• Sabbath keeping: Once a week, God calls us to pause and rest. A Sabbath is a 24-hour period, preferably taken from Saturday night to Sunday night (thereby including Sunday worship), during which we cease from work and errand-running and delight in God.
• Weekly worship: Worship is a formative practice that re-orients our vision towards God. During singing we join with others in what is the equivalent of corporate prayer. These songs shape the way we see the world and remind us of who God is and how He is at work in the world. We also hear sermons that help us learn about God and help us to put God's will for our life into practice.
• Tithing: Tithing is the spiritual practice whereby we give the first 10% of our income back to God. This discipline reminds us that everything we have is a gift from God. It's a way of declaring that all that we are and all that we have is already God's.
• Daily Spiritual Disciplines: I try and rotate through disciplines on about a 6 week basis. Some of the disciplines that I practice are: journaling, Prayer of Examen, solitude, study, Bible reading, Fixed hour prayer, reading devotional literature, thanksgiving, and many other things. For more information about these disciplines or for help in integrating these into your daily rhythm, contact John.
• Reading books: Every year, I commit to reading a set number of books. Reading can be a particularly powerful way to learn about God and gain insight into his work in our life.

Connect To God’s People

• Weekly Worship: During weekly worship, we connect with other believers who love God and want to grow in Christ-likeness. We especially value this relational practice and that's why we share a meal together as a community after all our services.
• Small groups: In a small group, we have the opportunity to explore the application of Scripture with other believers. We open up our lives with one another as we share honestly about our joys and our struggles. We confess our sins and we pray for one another.
• Intentional friendships/mentoring relationships/Spiritual direction: We all need people in our lives with whom we connect deeply. Included in this category are date nights with my wife. I intentionally make time to be with my wife so that I can be sure that I am loving her well.

Connect To God’s Purposes:

• Weekly Worship: Worship is what we were made to do. When we gather together on Sunday morning for a worship service, we are engaged in doing God's purposes. It also shapes us so that we know how to carry this attitude of worship with us throughout the rest of the week.
• Tithing: When we share our resources with the church and with other non-profit organizations, we are helping others to do work that proclaims God's Kingdom. Generosity enables the church to engage in mission.
• Service Projects: A service project is an event when people come together to volunteer their time to serve others. This happens when we work at a homeless shelter, pack meals for starving children, or even volunteer to help setup at church.

This is really just the starting point. As you begin to explore creating your own Rule of Life there will be some disciplines or practices that are irrelevant for you and others that you will want to add. Your Rule of Life must fit your own work and recreation schedule. Additionally, finding spiritual disciplines that resonate with your personality will take time. Be patient with yourself, and if you're new to this just start out with one or two new practices.

Image from flickr.