To live monastically is to live a simple life. Let us find ourselves increasing in contentment and gratitude for what we have. Let us prayerfully expect to have, expect to get, and do less.

Work is our second vocation, after prayer. We work to support our lives and families. Work is spiritual. Do it, together with all things, as if it was for the Lord. Do it prayerfully. Give your work attention and care. Work with integrity and grace.

God’s love set a place for you, in His kingdom, at His banquet table of grace. God sought you, found you, called you beloved, and invited you to feast on the abundance of His grace. This loving grace, in time, transforms us. This grace invites us to be like Jesus.

Life revolves around nature. Life grows from the goodness of creation. Urban life can easily disconnect us from the natural world. When we bring nature into our living space, it reconnects us. A slice of creation is like the garden in the center of monastic cloisters.

The desire for money and power is insatiable. It easily consumes our finite lives. No one gets to have everything. Choose to pursue Jesus over money and power. Live with Christ and follow His narrow path. Be skeptical of those with money and power. Be skeptical of what they tell you.

To be monastic is to live an ascetic life. A simple life. A life with less. One consumes and owns less. Let our desire to consume become a desire for God’s presence and love. God has given us more than we will ever deserve. Creation is good, but God is greater. Therefore, let us consume with restraint and intentionality.

God’s love is enough.

The grace of God sustains all things. This grace comes from God’s love. It flows from there and permeates creation. As we live in God’s love, we find that our grace flows from our love. The Spirit’s transforming work of love gives us a generous spirit and helps us to forgive quickly.

The greatest commandment is to love the Lord, our God. Let this love be the foundation of our lives, actions, relationships, and hope. May we wake up every day and choose to love God.

Fasting is a gift. We must each begin our journey to cultivate a love of fasting. It takes time for God to do this divine work within our hearts. Regular fasting is important because there are things we can only experience and discover through fasting. God is with us as we regularly abstain from all food and nourishment. Jesus will help us cultivate our love of fasting.

We establish active rhythms in our days, weeks, months, and years. They help us center and prioritize our love for God. Simple rhythms grounded in love sustain us. They weave themselves around and through our lives.

The fullness of our spirit, mind, and body make up our presence. These three are interwoven and inseparable from who we are as people. Jesus cared for His whole self, and we should follow His example.

Prayer draws us into an awareness of God’s presence. It is a way of being close to His tenderness and love. Let our love of God inspire us to pursue God through prayer. As we pray, we experience thoughts, emotions, and words moving between ourselves and God.