Personal Rule of Life: Prayer, Fasting, and Simplicity

Part 8: Applying the Ascetical Life Today

8.1: Personal Rule of Life: Prayer, Fasting, and Simplicity 

Opening Reflection

The ascetical life—characterized by self-discipline and spiritual struggle—of the Orthodox Fathers may seem remote or extreme to many today, yet their spiritual wisdom remains deeply relevant. This lesson focuses on how we can practically apply ascetic principles in our daily lives through creating a Personal Rule of Life—a balanced and sustainable framework centered on prayer, fasting, and simplicity.

1. What Is a Personal Rule of Life?

A Personal Rule of Life is a spiritual measure or discipline that helps us grow steadily in holiness by structuring our time and habits around God’s presence. It is a way to:

• Prioritize prayer and communion with God
• Embrace fasting to purify the body and soul
• Cultivate simplicity and detachment from distractions

“St. John Climacus (c. 579–649 AD) wrote, ‘Asceticism is a ladder by which we climb toward God.’ Your rule is the consistent steps on that ladder.”.

2. Prayer: The Foundation of Asceticism

Prayer is our communion with God. The Fathers practiced both formal prayer Liturgy (ቅዳሴ), hymns (የቤተ ክርስቲያን ጽዋትወ ዜማዎች), psalms, Wudasie Mariam, Melka Melk, etc) and inner prayer (Jesus Prayer, contemplation).

Key practices for your rule:

• Daily set times for prayer, at least in the morning and before sleep, to center your days and nights in God’s presence.
• The Jesus Prayer:  When you are free from distractions, recite the Jesus Prayer slowly, continually, and in your heart to cultivate constant communion with God:

“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”

“ጌታ ኢየሱስ ክርስቶስ፣ የእግዚአብሔር ልጅ ፣ አኔን ኃጢአተኛውን ማረኝ”

• Participate in the Divine Liturgy and Sacraments, rooting your prayer life within the life of the Church.

Psalm 55:17 states, “Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and He hears my voice.” “ በማታና በጥዋት በቀትርም እናገራለሁ እጮኽማለሁ፥ ቃሌንም ይሰማኛል።”

3. Fasting: Training the Body, Elevating the Soul

Fasting is more than abstaining from food; it is a discipline of the whole person, aimed at overcoming passions (distorted desires) and opening the heart to God’s grace.

Practical ways to observe fasting:

• Observe the Church’s fasting calendar, ensuring you do not miss any fasts prescribed by the Church.
• Practice humble fasting, limiting not only food but also media, excessive talking, and other excessive pleasures during fasting periods.
• Use fasting as a means of spiritual purification, preparing your mind and body for prayer, reflection, and acts of compassion (ርኅራኄ)

Isaiah 58:6 writes, “እኔስ የመረጥሁት ጾም ይህ አይደለምን? የበደልን እስራት ትፈቱ ዘንድ፥ የቀንበርንስ ጠፍር ትለቅቁ ዘንድ፥ የተገፉትንስ አርነት ትሰድዱ ዘንድ፥ ቀንበሩንስ ሁሉ ትሰብሩ ዘንድ አይደለምን?”

This verse emphasizes that true fasting is not merely abstaining from food, but also involves spiritual liberation and acts of compassionate justice.

St. Basil the Great  (329 - 379 AD) teaches, “Fasting is the soul’s nourishment, the spiritual athlete’s strength.”

4. Simplicity: Detachment from the Noise of the World

Simplicity involves living with fewer distractions and cultivating satisfaction with what is necessary.

Steps to embrace simplicity:

• Limit unnecessary possessions and digital distractions.
• Practice generosity as a way to let go of attachment.
• Simplify daily schedules to allow time for prayer and rest.
• Cultivate gratitude for all of God’s gifts, both big and small.

1 Timothy 6:6  states, “ኑሮዬ ይበቃኛል ለሚለው ግን እግዚአብሔርን መምሰል እጅግ ማትረፊያ ነው::”

This verse emphasizes that true spiritual value arises from living a godly life together with contentment (እርካታ), showing that inner satisfaction in God surpasses worldly wealth or possessions.

St. John Chrysostom (347 - 407 AD) also writes, “Simplicity is the greatest adornment (ጌጥ) of the soul.”

5. Creating Your Own Rule

Reflect on your current habits and spiritual needs. Your rule should be:

·  Realistic and sustainable for your current state of life, taking into account your situation, responsibilities, vocation, and daily circumstances.

·  Flexible, allowing adjustments during periods of spiritual growth as well as times of rest.

·  Rooted in love rather than legalism—meaning your ascetical practices flow from love and devotion, not mere obligation.

Example Structure:

·       Morning Prayer: Daily (5–10 min) – Jesus Prayer or any prayer according to your capacity.

·       Evening Prayer: Daily – Thanksgiving to God and repentance.

·       Fasting Days: All prescribed fasts – Follow the Church calendar.

·       Simplicity Time: Daily or weekly – Media fast or brief periods of simplifying your surroundings.

·       Sunday Liturgy: Weekly – Full participation.

6. Biblical and Patristic Encouragement

• 1 Thessalonians 5:17 : “Pray without ceasing.” ሳታቋርጡ ጸልዩ፤ በሁሉ አመስግኑ፤ ይህ የእግዚአብሔር ፈቃድ በክርስቶስ ኢየሱስ ወደ እናንተ ነውና።”
• Philippians 4:11–13 : Paul’s contentment in all circumstances “ ይህን ስል ስለ ጉድለት አልልም፤ የምኖርበት ኑሮ ይበቃኛል ማለትን ተምሬአለሁና። መዋረድንም አውቃለሁ መብዛትንም አውቃለሁ፤ በእያንዳንዱ ነገር በነገርም ሁሉ መጥገብንና መራብንም መብዛትንና መጉደልን ተምሬአለሁ። ኃይልን በሚሰጠኝ በክርስቶስ ሁሉን እችላለሁ።
• St. Gregory Palamas, the 14th-century Eastern Orthodox theologian and saint, states,  “The ascetical life is the natural life of the Spirit.”
• St. Seraphim of Sarov, a 19th-century Russian Orthodox saint, says, “Acquire the Spirit of Peace, and thousands around you will be saved.”

7. Conclusion: A Journey, Not a Destination

A Personal Rule of Life is not about perfection but about faithful persistence. It invites us into a transformative relationship with Christ, echoing the ascetical journey of the Fathers.

Hebrews 12:1 - 2 declares, “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus...” “እንግዲህ እነዚህን የሚያህሉ ምስክሮች እንደ ደመና በዙሪያችን ካሉልን፥ እኛ ደግሞ ሸክምን ሁሉ ቶሎም የሚከበንን ኃጢአት አስወግደን፥ የእምነታችንንም ራስና ፈጻሚውን ኢየሱስን ተመልክተን፥ በፊታችን ያለውን ሩጫ በትዕግሥት እንሩጥ ”

Reflection Questions

1. What aspects of prayer, fasting, and simplicity are currently strong or weak in my life?
2. How can I begin to set small, achievable goals for my personal rule?
3. How will I remind myself that this is a path of love, not legalism?

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank You for guiding us through today’s lesson on living an ascetical life. Inspire us to cultivate a Personal Rule of Life rooted in prayer, fasting, and simplicity. Grant us the grace to pray without ceasing, to fast with humility, and to live simply—detached from distractions that draw us from Your presence. Fill our days with Your Spirit, so that our lives may reflect godliness, contentment, and peace, drawing others closer to You. Keep us mindful that all we do is an offering of love and devotion, not obligation. Through the prayers of Your holy Mother and all the saints, Amen.