Rule of Life in Different Growth Areas
A Rule of Life is a statement about how one intends to live out the spiritual life. Just as the Rule of St. Benedict provides a blueprint for how much of Western monasticism constructs the spiritual life of communities, a personal Rule of Life attempts to map this out for an individual. Based on course and/or other materials and taking into account their current life of prayer and commitments, students will submit a realistic and manageable Rule of Life (2-4 pages). This Rule should include at least one growth area as well as a plan for evaluation and adjustment and should attend to different dimensions of the spiritual life.
Growth Area
1. My Devotional Time With God
2. Teaching my children about Christ in the home and not just at church
3. Evangelism when opportunity presents itself.
Rule of Life
Student’s Name
Course
Date
Rule of Life
I do not know whether to term it a coincidence or a good omen, but the fact that I was born in the middle of a church sermon has always fascinated me. If anything, it marked the genesis of my journey and relationship with God, which has grown tremendously despite numerous challenges. Interestingly, I have remained in that church where my mother broke her water to welcome me into this world. The Gethsemane Baptist Church has been a significant cog in the formation and development of my spiritual life. The church leadership, in particular, instilled in me the values requisite to my spiritual journey. Having said that, I have decided to use my church background to craft a rule of life that will enhance my relationship and closeness with God. In doing so, I will also consider my area of growth, which will consist of my devotional time with God. In addition, it will involve teaching my children about God, not only in church but at home. Last but not least, evangelism will be the fulcrum around which my spiritual life will revolve.
One fundamental dimension of spiritual life is to live purposefully and meaningfully. One can never overlook the essence of these values, and leading a spiritual life without them would be equivalent to throwing random and wild punches in the dark. As I intimated before, I want to devote as much time as possible to God since my purpose is to see my relationship with Him grow exponentially while serving Him. In this regard, I will dedicate a substantial chunk of my time to reading the Bible. I strongly believe that the best way to understand what God wants from me is by dutifully and zealously reading His word. In fact, the Bible clearly states that the word was there in the beginning, and the Word was God Himself. As such, reading God's Word is equal to reading Him, which is the reason I will make it my top priority.
Similarly, my spiritual itinerary will include praying for as much time as possible. In connection to praying, I owe immense gratitude to my mother, who relentlessly taught me the importance of praying before meals, every morning, and before retiring to bed. Indeed, prayer is one of the most critical ingredients in anybody’s spiritual life. For one, prayer is the only time believers can hold a...