Happy New Year to our Lifesprings International Community. The next two weeks writers will be sharing about how the spiritual practice of forming a Rule/Rhythm of Life is foundational to our spiritual, physical, emotional, and mental health.
Listen:
“Jesus stopped and called them. ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ he asked.” (Matthew 20:32)
Reflect:
On September 5, 2024, my identity was enlarged – I became a mother. When Adam came into our world, both my heart and my world as I knew it were expanded and I was completely changed. Only a few short weeks later, I was folding laundry and moving around the room when I realized that two wide eyes were following my every move. They were studying me and learning. I had already wanted to leave a mark for Jesus, but now it became more real than ever: I want to live a life that matters! This boy will study my life and learn from me, so what do I truly want my life to be about? Who do I want my life to be for?
In Lifesprings, we have a very important spiritual practice that helps us live a life that matters. We live according to a Rule of Life. The word ‘rule’ here comes from the Latin word ‘regula’ that means ‘trellis’, so the most simple way to describe a Rule of Life is that it is a support system that makes it possible for our lives not just to survive, but to thrive, to bear fruit, in the same way a trellis helps a vine stay off the ground and bear maximum fruit (John 15). One other way to look at a Rule of Life is as a means to help us cultivate rhythms for spiritual transformation, and this requires intentionality.
I got acquainted with the Rule of Life when I got connected to Lifesprings in 2011 and it was exactly what I needed at that time in order to live a life that had clarity of calling and I’ve lived by a Rule since then. In 2012 I moved 8 hours away from my hometown, then in 2015 I got married and each time I evaluated my Rule of Life. While so many things and contexts changed, my Mission Statement remained the same: Living a life that points to Jesus, but how I was living out this mission statement changed. The trellis needed some adjustments, but the core remained. This is the beauty of the Rule of Life: it keeps bringing us back to our calling and purpose, no matter the changes in our lives and contexts.
Part of my Rule of Life is to ask God for a Word or a Theme for each new year. At the end of 2024, during a prayer time for the ministries of Lifesprings in Uganda and Kenya, God gave me the theme for 2025. It is “Fear Not”, an invitation that I am so familiar with, but I still struggle to follow and walk into. Anxiety and worst case scenarios are still sometimes my modus operandi, the way I first respond to a situation. Yet, this was not what God intended for my life and I believe that this year he is inviting me to deeper faith and trust in his love and goodness for me. And when these little wide eyes follow me, I want them to see a woman who is confident in the truth that she is beloved, a woman who responds not with fear, but with trust, a woman who does not shrink back out of self protection, but grows and extends more love and more of Jesus around her. Thus I live out my mission even more – a life that is pointing to Jesus!
I’ve never heard of an organization having a Rule of Life, but I love that in Lifesprings we have both a clear Mission Statement and we cultivate clear rhythms for spiritual transformation. Our mission is to connect, encourage, and prepare women worldwide to keep bringing the love of Jesus Christ to our communities. Check out our Rule of Life page for help in crafting your Rule of Life.
Prayer of Response:
Lord Jesus, thank you for asking this question — “What do you want me to do for you?”, and thank you that you do not dodge my answer, you do not minimize it, you are not surprised, but you genuinely care and want even more for me than I want for myself. Give me more courage this year to follow you and extend more of you to others. Amen.
Questions to Ponder:
- If you met Jesus on your path today and he asked you, “What do you want me to do for you?”, what would you answer him?
- What is your mission statement? What would help you have more clarity of calling?
- What rhythms do you currently have in your life for your spiritual transformation? What do you need? What do you need Jesus to do for you?
- Is there a rhythm of Lifesprings that would be a benefit to you or a friend or a family member?
Breath Prayers:
As a new weekly rhythm, join us in praying breath prayers each day. We invite you to write your own as well.
Inhale (Breathe in): I want more
Exhale (Breathe out): of you, Jesus.
(Repeat)
Lifesprings International
PODCAST LAUNCH
One new rhythm and ministry we have been praying for and now launching is a Lifesprings International Podcast. We are very excited to be introducing the people and stories of Lifesprings and you can find us here:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/23rJjyFhHL1jKrkpykXxH2?si=9Pl3z1teRkqk0JxSYzWHng or here:
https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/episide-1-who-what-and-why/id1788111290?i=1000682266719
or you can simply search for the Lifesprings Podcast on the Podcast App on your phone. You can listen to us, share the stories and subscribe, so you don’t miss the new ones coming up.
We would love it if you joined our rhythms or if you shared them with a woman in your life who would benefit from them, as we believe that they are so lifegiving and they help us to be with Jesus, become like Jesus and do what he did (1 John 2:6).
—Submitted by: Diana Anton
Diana lives in Bucharest, Romania and serves as the Executive Director of Lifesprings International and her passion is to see women worldwide connected, encouraged and prepared to keep bringing the love of Jesus Christ to our communities. Her favorite thing in this season is to wake up to small giggles and to dream big for what God has for the community of Lifesprings in 2025. You can find her on instagram at life.on.farm.road or on her blog at www.lifeonfarmroad.com.