One of my favorite books lately has been the 4:8 Principle: The Secret To A Joy Filled Life by Tommy Newberry. This little yellow book is packed full of simple tips and rhythms to develop joy in our lives. It is based on Philippians 4:8 —
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
Having simple repeatable rhythms in our lives cultivate places where we are desiring something to grow:
- We want a more intimate marriage, so we go on date nights.
- We want to be close to our kids, so we take them out on “Daddy or Mommy dates”.
- We want to have deeper friendships, so we go for weekly exercise walks together. (I particularly love this one because it kills two birds with one stone!)
I’m always on the look out for these kinds of rhythms so I can implement them into my life. Little disciplines like these provide an environment where life can flourish.
In the 4:8 Principle, Newberry shares five bedtime questions to ask your kids. He calls them Daily Questions for 4:8 Kids:
- What things am I thankful for, and how could I show my gratitude?
- What progress did I make today? (achievements, improvements, discoveries, compliments, and other neat stuff)
- What am I looking forward to and excited about in the next week?
- What am I really good at, or what could I be great at if I practiced more often?
- What’s a fun goal or cool idea I’d like to work on tomorrow?
Aren’t they great! My kids have loved coming up with answers for each question. Having this short conversation shows them that we are interested in them and helps them to think deeply about their life. It has become one of our favorite parts of the week!
Engaging in these rhythms over and over, no matter how mundane, reinforces significance, which leads to security in our hearts and ends with success. Little additions can change the trajectory of a life and have a massive impact down the road!
What simple, repeatable rhythms have you found to cultivate growth in your marriage, your family, your friendships, etc.?
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