3. The choices made by Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego when faced with the onslaught of a pagan and foreign culture were informed by a prior choice of how they would live, by a rule of life established in advance of the onslaught.

4. Our rule of life is designed to help us grow upwards in relationship with God and to become more fruitful in the good we produce for the world around us.

5. The first area of consideration is our devotional practices.
Set aside a few units of time each day to practice a daily office as part of your rule of life over the next month.

6. The second area of consideration is our practice of Sabbath-rest.
Over the next month, we would seek to enjoy a 24 hour Sabbath-rest each week.

7. Sabbath-rest
is meant to create a weekly stopping point; a clear pause in our work.
involves rest, much like taking a deep breath.
is meant to enable us to delight in God and his incredible creation.
is meant to create space for us to actually interact with God on a deeply personal level.

8. The second area of consideration is our practice of Sabbath-rest.
Over the next month, we would seek to enjoy a 24 hour Sabbath-rest each week.

9. The third area of consideration is the practice of simplicity.
Over the next month, I challenge you to spend 10% less than you might have intended to spend and find a way to give that 10% away to a worthy cause.

10. The fourth area of consideration is community.
Over the next month, we would each seek to intentionally engage three people at a deeper level than usual each week.

11. My conviction is that if we implement this four step “rule of life”, we will see both emotional and spiritual growth and fruitfulness in increasing measure. If we are able to practice our daily office, Sabbath-rest, simplicity and community over the next month, then we will not only be strengthened in our faith, but we will also “shine among [others] like stars in the sky” (Philippians 2:15).