Week One - Day Three: A Ramp To Rhythm

Good morning and welcome to Day Three. This exercise will end the week for us. The main purpose of yesterday’s and today’s exercise is to help us get used to the rhythm of the project.

The Right Structure

I said on day one that we would be applying a three-pronged approach: the right structure, the right ritual and the encouragement of community. Well, the right structure will be provided by the material itself. For starters, we will be exploring the reality of God because there is simply no more important topic. While this topic may not feel immediately applicable to our lives, it is profoundly so. Everything that we think and do and decide is impacted by our understanding of God, whether we know it or not. So, we will be talking about how we can really believe He exists, and then we will talk about what He is like. This will be our structure for the first few weeks.

The Right Ritual

But we also said we would need the right ritual. The ritual is provided by the act of doing the morning and evening exercises and by reflecting on the texts. I think you will find that this ritual will render benefits far beyond what you expect. I think you will find that this is one of those cases where the whole is far greater than the sum of the parts. I think you will find that after trying this for a few weeks, God will have somehow multiplied your efforts and you will have profited far more than just what you can explain by simply reviewing what you have read and thought.

Growing Accustomed to "Eating" Regularly

But I wanted to keep it fairly short yesterday and today because many of us are not used to spending regular time like this. We may not be used to nourishing ourselves spiritually. You will have to grow accustomed to “eating” regularly. Be patient with yourself and remember no one is keeping score.

Others of you are very accustomed to a kind of habit like this. For you, doing this exercise may be just a part of what you do this morning to get in touch with God. This is one of many reasons why the third prong will be so important for us: the encouragement of community. We will have more to say about this in future weeks. But for now, let’s acknowledge that this is going to be an exciting thing to do together.

Before You Start Your Day

1. Before we start our day, let’s look at Peter’s second letter, 1:3-9. Then let’s mull that passage over by reflecting on some questions about it.

   (3) His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. (4) Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. (5) For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; (6) and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; (7) and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. (8) For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (9) But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
   – 2 Peter 1:3-9

   1. Rephrase verse 3 in your own words.
   2. What is the result of this great gift to us?
   3. In spite of the gift of “everything we need” we are still encouraged to “make every effort.” How do you explain this?
   4. Our “effort” is what this project is all about. How can you imagine our times together adding to your goodness? To your knowledge? To your self-control? (Seriously, go through the whole list. Don’t blow by this question. This envisioning will help keep you inspired.)
2. When you get your texts at noon and at five, allow those to launch you into times of reflection later today!
3. Offer as much as you understand of yourself to as much as you understand of God right now.