four sacred rules
November 25, 2008
In the past year I have been asking myself “how can I maintain spiritual and emotional health?” Way to many people get older and bitter all at the same time. I want to get older and wiser. I want to wake up one day and still love Jesus, my wife, my kids and my church. This won’t happen on accident. The only thing that happens on accident is we drift spiritually, we hold grudges, and we let the fun of life slip away. I want to stay fresh, I want to grow and I want to be alive.
Here are four sacred rules I have developed for me. I call them my personal legalism. I will be legalistic about these so I can stay healthy
Divert Daily
- Sacred mornings every morning (journal, Bible, to do list, prayer) (get up at 6:30 AM)
- Before I go to bed relax in hot tub/bath and meditate on “go to” Scriptures and sacred documents (The 10:00 PM rule!)
- Extended Quiet Times on Wednesdays and Thursday from 7:30 AM-9:30 AM
Withdrawal Weekly
- Protect four family evenings (Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday)
- Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy (Exodus 20:8) (Fridays)
- Protect Monday “Family Meetings”
- Work from “home” on Wednesdays morning
Monthly Moments
- Monthly “Study Days” (Wednesdays I don’t speak)
- Monthly coaching (Dary, Greg, Jeff, etc)
- Monthly spend some time with Eagles (Bret Allen, Dary Northup, Lee McFarland, Les Welk, Rick Ross, etc)
- Monthly “Travel and speak” outside of New Life
Abandon Annually
- Prayer and Planning Retreat with Jana. (July & December)
- Summer Break (three weeks no speaking, meetings, work from home)
- Three weeks vacation—take them and enjoy.
- Annually—go to a conference or go see great church
- Only Speak 38 times a year (eventually only speak 32 time when I am in my fifties)
- See counselor twice a year (July & December)
Categories: Family, Personal Growth, Quiet Time
troy
great post. this all seems so systematic to something that should be more organic. are you able to do all of this all of the time…..or, do you allow yourself room to fail/adjust?
Also, when you abandon annually….what does that look like? is it basically vacation, or is it completely NOT vacation and considered part of “business’ (not business time) for you?
Yes, it looks way to organized. But, the truth is this allows me to create environments in my life where I can reflect in a natural and organic way. No doubt I fail…and I need to adjust. This is life. But when life gets busy and I get thrown off I seamlessly default back to my habits….it is a decision I have to make daily.
Thanks for posting this Pastor Troy. I have never had much stability in my life, so as Lauren pointed out, it may seem systematic, but it’s great for people like me to have a routine to look forward & to depend on. Remember how you’d say that God can’t steer a parked car? A routine is that car for me, but it’s always ready for God to steer so it should never become legalistic, too routine, etc. This post also helps me to have ideas and tools because I struggle in the area of the focused & dedicated time with me & the Lord. My energy & focus has all gone into my daughter & trying to get my health & life stable – but ultimately, it’s not gonna happen unless I do some of these things in my own life FIRST & foremost!! Thanks for the reminder as well as ideas!!
Great blog!