December 15-21, 2024
Each of us has a way that we live our life. Often we aren’t intentional about crafting that way of living, we just sort of fall into a routine of doing things. With the year drawing to an end, I challenge you to be intentional about your life and consider crafting a Rule of Life. Simply put, be intentional about about your spiritual, relational, and vocational rhythms of life. I was invited to begin crafting a Rule of Life at the 2024 Creatives Retreat and now I extend that invitation to you. It is not a new practice, but is an ancient practice traced back to St. Benedict. It is holistic and guides our priorities. Let’s look at the practices and people of our life and ask God to help us be purposeful in our walk with Him. What do you need to add? What do you need to eliminate? Keep in mind that your Rule of Life will change with different seasons of your life so its not a one and done. It is also advisable to not be hurried in crafting your Rule of Life. For further interest there are three resources that I recommend: Practicingtheway.org, Ruleoflife.com, and Emotionallyhealthy.org. Let’s get started.
This week's Bible reading: I Corinthians 6:19-20
Focus Theme: Becoming Like Jesus
Prayer Prompts
Day 1: Jesus was unhurried. He held habits that supported him holistically. Take a few minutes to think about what those areas might have been. What are some habits that you hold that are not good for your physical being? Seek the Lord’s direction for the one healthy habit that you can add.
Day 2: Exercise. What is your physical activity like? Experts think Jesus walked an average of 20 miles per day. That is approximately 40, 000 steps a day. What is an attainable steps per day goal for you? How can you fit that into your day? How will you track it? Ask God to help you.
Day 3: Sleep. Work hard and sleep well is attributed to Jesus’ example. How much sleep do you get each night? Is it enough to allow your body to heal/restore itself for the next day’s work schedule? If not, how can you reorient your schedule to allow for number of hours of sleep that your body needs each night? Seek the Lord’s guidance.
Day 4:Water. It is suggested that the amount of ounces of water an individual needs each day equals their weight divided by 2. This amount can vary due to activity and environmental factors. How many ounces of water do you need daily according to this technique? Are you getting that much each day? Ask God to show you what needs to change to help you get closer to that number.
Day 5: Healthy diet. Are you eating a nutrient dense diet? Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you with meal planning that meets your budget and health needs.
Prayer Prompts and Bible Readings are provided by Michele Bowden and Lisa Brass, Coaches and Digital Missioners with Visual Faith™ Ministry. Find them on our Creative Devotion page, on Instagram @victoryinart and @aworthylif, and on the web at victoryinart.com.