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God in My Everything: How an Ancient Rhythm Helps Busy People Enjoy God
Learn how to live with the peace and presence of God in the midst of our hectic, busy lives.
Spiritual formation is more than just solitude and contemplative reflections. Spiritual formation happens in the everyday, in each and every moment of life. For those caught up in the busyness of work, family, and church, it often feels like time with God is just another thing on a crowded to-do list.
Ken Shigematsu—award-winning author and pastor—will teach you simple rhythms to help you slow down and experience God in every part of your life. Through personal experiences, stories, and poetic and practical meditations, Ken shares spiritual practices that will help you learn how to have a richer, deeper connection with God, no matter your life situation or vocation.
In God in My Everything, discover how to create and practice a life-giving, sustainable rhythm in the midst of your demanding life. As you learn how to savor the presence of Jesus, you’ll find yourself more relaxed, more thankful, and more conscious of the Savior’s presence and provision than ever before.
Spiritual formation is more than just solitude and contemplative reflections. Spiritual formation happens in the everyday, in each and every moment of life. For those caught up in the busyness of work, family, and church, it often feels like time with God is just another thing on a crowded to-do list.
Ken Shigematsu—award-winning author and pastor—will teach you simple rhythms to help you slow down and experience God in every part of your life. Through personal experiences, stories, and poetic and practical meditations, Ken shares spiritual practices that will help you learn how to have a richer, deeper connection with God, no matter your life situation or vocation.
In God in My Everything, discover how to create and practice a life-giving, sustainable rhythm in the midst of your demanding life. As you learn how to savor the presence of Jesus, you’ll find yourself more relaxed, more thankful, and more conscious of the Savior’s presence and provision than ever before.
257 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 6, 2013
209 people are currently reading
1275 people want to read
About the author
Ken Shigematsu
7 books47 followersKen Shigematsu is the Senior Pastor of Tenth Church in Vancouver, BC, one of the largest and most diverse city-center churches in Canada. He is the recipient of the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal awarded to Canadians in recognition for their outstanding contribution to the country. Before entering pastoral ministry, he worked for the Sony Corporation in Tokyo and draws on both eastern and western perspectives in writing and speaking. Ken lives in Vancouver with his wife, Sakiko, and their son, Joey.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
August 10, 2013
I am a pastor who specializes in spiritual formation and I have used a rule of life for years, finding it to be one of the most life-giving spiritual resources I have ever tried. I am also a teacher of the rule of life. However, thus far I have mostly been on my own, as there have been very few authors who have written on this subject. Consequently, I am delighted by this fantastic début from Ken Shigematsu. He has provided a most valuable resource for us all on a time-tested and powerful tool for spiritual formation.
Shigematu's stated purpose for a rule of life is the best I have seen anywhere - he says that the goal of having a rule is not to achieve a "balanced life" per se, but to live with Christ at the center of all we do. Creating a rule of life in this way causes us to prayerfully examine each area of our life - some of which we could not necessarily consider "spiritual" - and intentionally place Christ at the center. This Christ-centered approach to the rule of life is incredibly refreshing, since the focus is not on a legalistic spiritual practice but on a vibrant and life-giving relationship with the living God in all things - "God in my everything." With regard to this, I would have liked to have seen a greater emphasis in each chapter on the person of Jesus Christ and how, specifically, the person of Jesus related to each point that he was making. Nevertheless, it is clear that this relational emphasis did color everything that is found in these pages, whether or not that was explicitly drawn out.
In the chapters which follow the strong introductory chapters, Shigematsu expands upon each area of life, giving deeper insight on each as well as some thoughts about how to incorporate them into a rule. On the one hand, this task is one which is probably too expansive - it is quite a gargantuan endeavor to cover all aspects of life in one book! As might be expected, many concepts are not covered, I imagine simply for the sake of length. For example, the chapter on finance/giving does not contain advice on how to give in light of debt, which so many people are struggling with today. On the other hand, what Shigematsu does with the space he has is fresh and valuable. Even given my training in spiritual formation, I found myself constantly struck with the unique insights I gained throughout the book.
For example, his chapter on work was one of the strongest I have seen, with fabulous insights on weaving prayer into the rhythm of our days, seeking joy through co-creation with God, and experiencing spiritual transformation through work - as well as important words on "stability" in work. His chapter on justice was helpful but not overwhelming, and I appreciated his emphasis on focusing our efforts on one passion. His wide definition for play as "doing something for its own sake" opened up the concept of play for me in new ways. And perhaps most strikingly, Shigematsu includes an entire chapter on sexuality in a rule of life. That is something I have not seen before, and his broad definition for what should be considered in this area was also challenging and enlightening.
Finally, Shigematsu's concrete personal examples and illustrations included in each chapter are truly phenomenal. One reason this book is such a gem is that it is like sitting down with a caring mentor - one which is not only speaking from head knowledge, but also from experience. Perhaps what stayed with me most for days after reading this book was not the abstract concepts, but the personal stories, which led me to imagine what faithfulness in each area could look like in my own life. The book concludes with real examples of rules of life, including the author's. While it would have been helpful to see a bit more commentary on his own rule and why certain things were included or left out, it was very helpful to have these real rules of life by people from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences as reference points.
In short, Shigematsu is the real deal, and this book will be a blessing to you even if you are already familiar with the concept of a rule of life. Combine that with the fact that he is donating the profits of this book to a worthy cause (World Vision), and I would argue this book would clearly be a wise and valuable addition to your library.
I heartily recommend God in My Everything. Get ready to be challenged in fresh ways.
Shigematu's stated purpose for a rule of life is the best I have seen anywhere - he says that the goal of having a rule is not to achieve a "balanced life" per se, but to live with Christ at the center of all we do. Creating a rule of life in this way causes us to prayerfully examine each area of our life - some of which we could not necessarily consider "spiritual" - and intentionally place Christ at the center. This Christ-centered approach to the rule of life is incredibly refreshing, since the focus is not on a legalistic spiritual practice but on a vibrant and life-giving relationship with the living God in all things - "God in my everything." With regard to this, I would have liked to have seen a greater emphasis in each chapter on the person of Jesus Christ and how, specifically, the person of Jesus related to each point that he was making. Nevertheless, it is clear that this relational emphasis did color everything that is found in these pages, whether or not that was explicitly drawn out.
In the chapters which follow the strong introductory chapters, Shigematsu expands upon each area of life, giving deeper insight on each as well as some thoughts about how to incorporate them into a rule. On the one hand, this task is one which is probably too expansive - it is quite a gargantuan endeavor to cover all aspects of life in one book! As might be expected, many concepts are not covered, I imagine simply for the sake of length. For example, the chapter on finance/giving does not contain advice on how to give in light of debt, which so many people are struggling with today. On the other hand, what Shigematsu does with the space he has is fresh and valuable. Even given my training in spiritual formation, I found myself constantly struck with the unique insights I gained throughout the book.
For example, his chapter on work was one of the strongest I have seen, with fabulous insights on weaving prayer into the rhythm of our days, seeking joy through co-creation with God, and experiencing spiritual transformation through work - as well as important words on "stability" in work. His chapter on justice was helpful but not overwhelming, and I appreciated his emphasis on focusing our efforts on one passion. His wide definition for play as "doing something for its own sake" opened up the concept of play for me in new ways. And perhaps most strikingly, Shigematsu includes an entire chapter on sexuality in a rule of life. That is something I have not seen before, and his broad definition for what should be considered in this area was also challenging and enlightening.
Finally, Shigematsu's concrete personal examples and illustrations included in each chapter are truly phenomenal. One reason this book is such a gem is that it is like sitting down with a caring mentor - one which is not only speaking from head knowledge, but also from experience. Perhaps what stayed with me most for days after reading this book was not the abstract concepts, but the personal stories, which led me to imagine what faithfulness in each area could look like in my own life. The book concludes with real examples of rules of life, including the author's. While it would have been helpful to see a bit more commentary on his own rule and why certain things were included or left out, it was very helpful to have these real rules of life by people from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences as reference points.
In short, Shigematsu is the real deal, and this book will be a blessing to you even if you are already familiar with the concept of a rule of life. Combine that with the fact that he is donating the profits of this book to a worthy cause (World Vision), and I would argue this book would clearly be a wise and valuable addition to your library.
I heartily recommend God in My Everything. Get ready to be challenged in fresh ways.
November 10, 2022
a pretty simple, but a good book. i like the thought of creating some “rules of life”, or some practices that would help us enjoy every day with God.
the only struggle i had throughout the book was that it all sounds awesome if you live in a country where you don’t have to think how to survive physically and mentally. i feel like those rules of life the author is talking about are amazing under normal conditions, but not in Belarus and Ukraine right now.
but i also think that the author gives enough freedom to think about how those rules of life would look like in the circumstances everyone finds themselves in. i haven’t written down my own “rules of life” yet but wanna do that in the nearest future!
the only struggle i had throughout the book was that it all sounds awesome if you live in a country where you don’t have to think how to survive physically and mentally. i feel like those rules of life the author is talking about are amazing under normal conditions, but not in Belarus and Ukraine right now.
but i also think that the author gives enough freedom to think about how those rules of life would look like in the circumstances everyone finds themselves in. i haven’t written down my own “rules of life” yet but wanna do that in the nearest future!
September 3, 2024
Doesn’t have the same kind of hype as Comer’s work on similar content, but maybe one of the best and most PRACTICAL introductions to building a rule of life.
Trellis illustration incredibly helpful , and helps to bring to the ground what much of Rule of Life content often keeps at a philosophical level.
Will recommend and lend often.
Trellis illustration incredibly helpful , and helps to bring to the ground what much of Rule of Life content often keeps at a philosophical level.
Will recommend and lend often.
August 7, 2013
This book has challenged me not only to think about my life, my relationship with God and with my family, friends, strangers, but also to really consider how I should be raising my young son. I want to raise him with all the right foundations, which means not just incorporating rhythm into my life, but also into his and my wife's life so that we as a family are reinforcing each other's rhythm. My wife and I have been inspired to create new traditions and new habits as a family. As an example, hugging in the morning and hugging before going to bed, enjoying and keeping the Sabbath, frequent short prayers throughout the day, and keeping healthy with regular exercise and recreation. I think this book is especially relevant for new Christian parents. I want to raise my son in a solid christian home, and this book has provided me with guidance, direction and clarity in how to completely revamp my spiritual, physical and emotional life. It has helped me take the steps towards reshaping my entire family's life towards one that is in a much closer relationship with God. 'God in Everything' is a must read!
September 9, 2013
In God in My Everything, Ken Shigematsu explored the paradox of the busyness of life and how we have many different things and events competing for our precious time and energy. Ken Shigematsu started the book off by sharing how he travelled to Ireland on a pilgrimage to visit and witness how the monks lived their everyday life devoted to their Creator. The monks built their entire lives on prayer, reading scriptures, and they lived near places where they could demonstrate the love of Christ. Ken Shigematsu has written this very book to encourage readers to develop their own “rules of life”. He referred to these rules as rhythm of practices that assisted us in creating and expressing our devotion to sharing the love of Christ to unbelievers, as well as, leading us into God’s presence more and more each day. Ken Shigematsu personally worked the long hours of 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and he eventually realized that he had to make a dramatic choice. He cut down on his long hours and formed his own rules of life where he could be the better husband and father.
He has conducted a spiritual ecosystem in order to describe the many different rhythms and practices we can construct to bring structure to God being at the center of our lives. He stated and reminded readers that the word “rule” comes from the Greek word, “trellis”. Trellis “is the support system for a vive or plant that enables it to grow upward and bear fruit” (Page 21). He used this concept as a way to define the three diverse roots, “Sabbath, prayer, and sacred reading.” Next, he reinforced the different components into three categories, “relate, restore, and reach out”. He also breaks down the components that consist of the three categories and he assisted readers into creating their own rules of life throughout the chapters.
On my favorite chapters was about friendship and the loneliness that is becoming more prevalent in our culture. With all of the social media connection abilities and new technology, most people would perceive that we would be able to network and have more friendships connections. But researchers are beginning to discover that isn’t entirely the case. “In 1985, only one in ten Americans reported having no close confidants; twenty years later, one in four said they had no close confidants” (Page 82). So if the technology advances isn’t making in any easier to make friendships, why do so many people spent so much time on them? Ken Shigematsu pointed out that Biblical, God declared that it wasn’t good for man to be alone, as we see when God gave Adam, his wife, Eve. But many people still believe that they can be John Wayne and be the lone ranger and they can go through this life alone. He also reminded readers of the story of David and Jonathan and how they both were true friends to each other and this is one of the realist form of friendship presented in the scriptures. I know there are countless people who long to have a true friend in their life. A true friend is one that you have the freedom to bear your soul and feelings and you know that they are going to listen to what’s on your heart. They will also at times speak the much needed truth into your life. Ken reinforced the importance of cultivating face to face activities, for example, praying together, playing sports or going on an adventure together, and serving the community in order to build the friendships.
Another favorite chapter of mine was the chapter on sex and spirituality. Ken Shigematsu revealed that our culture has an erroneous view regarding the effects of casual sex and how many people believe hooking up with random strangers has no effect on their lives. Scriptures declare that all sex is meant to bond us to a person- physically, spirituality, and emotionality. Ken recommends that married couples need to set clear defined boundaries to protect their marriage and to safe guard their marriages from affairs. He also stated the importance of resisting pornography and installing software to keep your accountable and you can even have accountable partners to fight against temptations. And if you’re are single and not married, we can still express our sexuality in healthy ways. For instance, we can connect with our friends over a meal and enjoy the assembly with another person in a healthy way. He encouraged married couples to save sex for their marriage and for single people to abstain from having sex until marriage and yes, we all know it’s difficult to do in a world that boldly says the opposite.
I would recommend this life changing and enhancing book to teenagers, college students, and adults who are seeking a deeper connection and longing to have greater intimacy with Christ. I immensely enjoyed the vast rules of life presented in this book to inspire readers to construct their own rhythms. This book taught me a great deal about monks and their tactic of life and how they worship their loving Creator throughout their day to day activities. This book has valuable questions at the end of each chapter to guide readers into considering what rules they can build to worship God in their everyday lives. I especially thought that including other people’s rules of life in the appendix added more beneficial resources to the overall content of the book. It assisted me in generating my own rules to lead me closer to Christ. If you’re seeking a book that will assist you in being intentional about how you manage your time and initiating your full devotion to God every single day, then read this book and begin to custom your own rules of life to make your life simpler and more focused on Christ!
Here is a sample of some of my rules of life:
Andrew’s Rules:
Sabbath:
Attend Sunday worship and rest the rest of the day
Prayer:
Pray throughout the day – walking between College classes, before I start assignments, and in the car
Pray when I wake up and before I go to bed
Scripture reading:
Read a devotional each morning
Spiritual friendship:
Join and attend a small group that meets once a week
Recreation/play:
Watch movies, TV, read books, play the guitar, and hang out with friends and family
Exercise:
Lift weights three times a week
Swim in the summer
Eat:
Cook four times a week
Sleep:
8 hours a night
“I received this book for free from Cross Focused Reviews / Zondervan for this review”.
November 20, 2018
We worked through this book with our student leadership team this semester and it was a welcoming companion to focus on growing ourselves, becoming a whole person.
What I most enjoyed about this book is how each component of the rule of life is encouraged to be worked on one at a time instead of trying to do all the parts at once. As someone who reads something and recognizes areas of lack in my life, I’m tempted to say, “Okay, I’m adding x, y, and z to my schedule and life now!” But this discourages that.
This book is based on St. Benedict��s rule of life. It would be a wonderful addition to your library.
What I most enjoyed about this book is how each component of the rule of life is encouraged to be worked on one at a time instead of trying to do all the parts at once. As someone who reads something and recognizes areas of lack in my life, I’m tempted to say, “Okay, I’m adding x, y, and z to my schedule and life now!” But this discourages that.
This book is based on St. Benedict��s rule of life. It would be a wonderful addition to your library.
July 17, 2020
Great book.
High-level book that doesn't go too deep, topical.
Great for new Christians or Christian-curious.
Each chapter could have really been 3 pages. Very "anecdotal" book that takes a while to get to a point.
Not much scripture at all in the book neither.
Still, our Bible study group filled in the cracks and made it much more deep and applicable to our group with scripture and studies.
3.1/5
High-level book that doesn't go too deep, topical.
Great for new Christians or Christian-curious.
Each chapter could have really been 3 pages. Very "anecdotal" book that takes a while to get to a point.
Not much scripture at all in the book neither.
Still, our Bible study group filled in the cracks and made it much more deep and applicable to our group with scripture and studies.
3.1/5
November 17, 2023
Helpful introduction to making a "rule of life." If you're wondering how micro-habits might help orient your life towards God and neighbor, this is a good place to start. My one critique is how little this said about the church, specifically. Any book about becoming more centered on God that doesn't dwell on the Lord's Supper and the formative nature of corporate worship is puzzling to me but that's probably just because I'm a grumpy Presbyterian.
October 16, 2025
Ken shares how to balance the life of faith, following Jesus and parameters to set yourself up for success well it’s not easy and takes all of you but lays it out beautifully through sharing stories as examples!
Glad I finally got to finish this book looking forward to what he has in his other books
Glad I finally got to finish this book looking forward to what he has in his other books
June 14, 2022
Of the few books I've read on "rule of life" this has been the best so far. Found myself going to prayer often because of thoughts and points the author was making.
July 8, 2022
Reading for work.
June 26, 2020
There are many really great books regarding healthy spiritual and emotional health. This book is a great, concise & practical road map.
August 7, 2013
As a mother of a young baby, I have entered a new phase of life. My schedule is a bit out of whack, my days and nights are sometimes turned topsy turvy, and my normal practices and habits have become rather disoriented. However, as I read Ken's book and meditated on each chapter...learning about having a rhythm and a structure in organizing my life, I feel liberated and a deep sense of peace. I originally thought that having less structure in my life would create less stress, but I'm realizing that the opposite is true. The rules Ken speaks of actually are providing a system of organization in my life, realigning my priorities and ultimately opening the doors to a much closer relationship with God. The rules, instead of being restricting, have provided freedom.
An example of this is keeping the Sabbath. Having grown up in a Christian home, I attended church every Sunday with my family and always knew the intent of the Sabbath was for rest. However, as a student, I continued to study then as any other day because 6 days of the week just didn't seem enough. I thought taking time out for Church was already enough to honour Sabbath. As a new mother, I felt that having a flexible schedule was key and if it meant grocery shopping or catching up on chores on the Sabbath, so be it. However, after having read this book describing the Sabbath as a key application in trusting God, honoring him and not depriving others of ourselves, it gave me a different perspective of Sabbath and convinced me to try out a full 24 hour Sabbath. I've been a Christian for all my life, but only after 32 years did I ever meaningfully and deliberately rest on the Sabbath. It might seem like such a small gesture, but after just one period of 24 hrs in not doing any real 'work', I felt so free, so guiltless, so loved and closer than ever to God. My cares and burdens have been cast away because I trust in God and know that He is taking care of me.
An example of this is keeping the Sabbath. Having grown up in a Christian home, I attended church every Sunday with my family and always knew the intent of the Sabbath was for rest. However, as a student, I continued to study then as any other day because 6 days of the week just didn't seem enough. I thought taking time out for Church was already enough to honour Sabbath. As a new mother, I felt that having a flexible schedule was key and if it meant grocery shopping or catching up on chores on the Sabbath, so be it. However, after having read this book describing the Sabbath as a key application in trusting God, honoring him and not depriving others of ourselves, it gave me a different perspective of Sabbath and convinced me to try out a full 24 hour Sabbath. I've been a Christian for all my life, but only after 32 years did I ever meaningfully and deliberately rest on the Sabbath. It might seem like such a small gesture, but after just one period of 24 hrs in not doing any real 'work', I felt so free, so guiltless, so loved and closer than ever to God. My cares and burdens have been cast away because I trust in God and know that He is taking care of me.
August 7, 2013
How can I live a healthy lifestyle? How can I follow Christ faithfully in my everyday life? Ken Shigematsu offers valuable insights.
Without question, this is the best holistic look on living a Christian life I've ever read. Especially as it breaks down practical and diverse areas to enjoy God. Simple and thoughtful. I'll be reading it a second time more slowly to help (re)construct my own personal "rule of life."
It is a great read both for people exploring the faith journey, and for those who have been on the journey a while and need a fresh approach. Shigematsu seeks to apply the best of the monastic tradition to modern-day relevance, and does so in a helpful, compelling way.
Two areas particularly drew my attention: work and play. With regard to work: Is work to be merely tolerated or enjoyed? Does faith enrich the work experience or take away from your career? Is God present in our work? With regard to play: Is the God of the Bible present in play and fun? What does it mean to rest? Do we need to rest? I enjoyed the author's answers to these questions, and felt God's peace to relax and enjoy him in everything I do.
Overall a very helpful, practical guide to enjoy God, the life of faith, and the call to mission! A winsome invitation to embrace God in everything from your sexual desires to your service to others.
Without question, this is the best holistic look on living a Christian life I've ever read. Especially as it breaks down practical and diverse areas to enjoy God. Simple and thoughtful. I'll be reading it a second time more slowly to help (re)construct my own personal "rule of life."
It is a great read both for people exploring the faith journey, and for those who have been on the journey a while and need a fresh approach. Shigematsu seeks to apply the best of the monastic tradition to modern-day relevance, and does so in a helpful, compelling way.
Two areas particularly drew my attention: work and play. With regard to work: Is work to be merely tolerated or enjoyed? Does faith enrich the work experience or take away from your career? Is God present in our work? With regard to play: Is the God of the Bible present in play and fun? What does it mean to rest? Do we need to rest? I enjoyed the author's answers to these questions, and felt God's peace to relax and enjoy him in everything I do.
Overall a very helpful, practical guide to enjoy God, the life of faith, and the call to mission! A winsome invitation to embrace God in everything from your sexual desires to your service to others.
August 7, 2013
What started as a serendipitous, last-minute sermon idea for Ken Shigematsu has turned into a breath of fresh air for me. I found myself saying "Yes!" over and over as I read God in my Everything. I wanted to highlight every sentence. Rather than giving another legalistic set of "rules" that we should keep, Shigematsu develops the freeing image that a rule of life is like a trellis, which provides structure on which character can grow and produce fruit. He summarizes the principle well when he says, "We cannot generate the wind of the Spirit in our lives, but there are things we can do to prepare for the wind of God's Spirit." He gives permission to enjoy God in time-tested practices that transcend denominations and cultures. I love the way that he conveys the idea of life as prayer--whether working, or playing, or resting, or verbally praying, all of life can become prayer. If you are trapped in the busy routines of life, and wonder how to begin to bring renewal, order, and growth, this book is the place to start. It's sure to become required reading for my staff and leadership board.
May 30, 2018
I procrastinated on this book for a full three years. Bought it when Mr. Shigamatsu guest spoke at my church, it sat on my shelf for so long that he came back for a second visit before I had yet to pick it up. Well, it was a quick and easy read. It feels very complimentary to the spiritual disciplines book I have on the go simultaneously. And it does have a few lovely nuggets of wisdom which I intend to apply. But I did also find the tone and examples a bit grating sometimes - my former secular self would have considered this to be the kind of thing that puts me off religion completely. I take it now with a grain of salt but the examples were almost too tidy, too squeaky clean and too enthusiastic. How to avoid that? I haven’t the faintest idea. But isn’t that the luxury of being a critic instead of an author?
July 23, 2022
I follow a pastor on Twitter, Rich Villodas, who every January posts his Rule of Life for the current year. Rather than Resolutions that typically don’t last, he creates a Rule of Life to guide his spiritual goals/disciplines for the year. This year I reached out & asked him about his Rule of Life & he pointed me to this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I read one chapter a day (along with rereading “Celebration of Discipline” by Richard Foster—these books supplement each other SO WELL!!). The book’s appendix is made up of many different Rules of Life used by friends of the author. I am currently using these to springboard my own Rule of Life. If you’re just reading it to read it, it may be a bit of a dry read. But if you’re looking for something deeper, take it a chapter at a time. It will serve you well.
July 30, 2017
This book gives help to those who want to be more intentional in living this busy life so that they give glory to God. The author explains the use of a Rule of Life and helps the reader begin writing their own. This is a practice that has been used by Christians for centuries among monastics and ordinary people alike. Shigmatsu helps make it understandable and shows how it can be used to help guide our lives today.
January 6, 2017
Great practical suggestions on structuring your life to develop your relationship with God as your main priority in life. Ken provides clear and relevant examples to all aspects of your daily life where you can go through it purposefully and not mindlessly stumbling through it. Time to create my own "trellis"!
May 25, 2022
I enjoyed this book as a resource for spiritual formation/a rule of life. My encouragement to readers would be to try not to tackle too many areas in your “rule of life” at the same time, but rather start small, allow the Holy Spirit to shape your rule of life, and ensure that your relationship with Jesus is being served through the rule of life practice.
December 13, 2021
Excellent book. Was a key component of my Sabbatical reading and has been very helpful in providing some guidance for intentionally pursuing growth in my walk with God.
June 20, 2020
Pretty wishy hopey...
August 26, 2013
The idea of a “life-giving rhythm” at first glance may seem nothing more than the latest trend from some self-help new age guru. After all, setting aside time to meditate and ponder the things of God by finding time for personal reflection is something the new age system promotes. Pastor and author Ken Shigematsu, in his book God in My Everything: How an Ancient Rhythm Helps Busy People Enjoy God, presents a biblically centric approach to time management, focusing specifically on what he calls “rules of life”, guidelines found in Scripture to help believers find time in our ever busy schedules to commune with and to develop our relationship with God.
After taking a trip to Ireland and learning about the lifestyle of the Celtic priests who ran the monasteries in that area, Shigematsu shares the change of mindset he had regarding what it means to take time to focus on God. While the vast majority of people today are not called to a monastic lifestyle, one of complete solitude and separation, Shigematsu reminds the reader that in the case of the Celtic priests, there was less solitude and more engagement with the surrounding community all focused on doing that which God has called us all to do, namely to love God and love others.
To accomplish this command in a day and age where our daily schedules seem to overtake our ability to set quality time apart to pray, study God’s Word and to develop lasting relationships with family and friends, Shigematsu provides a number of “rules” of life the reader can implement. The very word “rules” often brings to mind a strict and rigid set of commands, a sort of works oriented style of religion if you will. Shigematsu reminds us the word rule comes from the Greek word that means trellis. He further comments “Like a trellis, a rule of life supports and guides our growth. It supports our friendship with Christ so that we bear the fruit of his character and are able to offer his nourishing life to others.” This is the love God/love others aspect from which all of God’s commands to us in Scripture come from.
Using this concept of the rule as a trellis, Shigematsu provides a model that begins with the necessity to put down the three roots of Sabbath, prayer, and sacred reading. The command for taking a Sabbath rest is rooted in the very beginning of Scripture, even before the 10 commandments were written and provided by God to Israel at Mt. Sinai. As Shigematsu aptly notes, “the Sabbath is patterned on the first days of creation, on a rhythm that predates both Christianity and Judaism. Sabbath keeping is not merely good advice for you to lead a nicely-balanced life. It is practice that is knit into the created order.” Taking time out each week to decompress and to spend time with family and more importantly, time focused on God, is a vital rule of life many overlook. It is a time when we can gather together with fellow believers to worship God and to refresh our inner man.
A second root of the rules of life presented by Shigematsu is prayer. Volumes have been written on the need for prayer, but nevertheless, Shigematsu provides some helpful ideas on how to institute a consistent prayer life for those struggling to find time for this vital rule of life. A clear place to start is with the Lord’s Prayer and Shigematsu walks through that prayer providing the reader with some excellent suggestions on how to use that as a model for their prayer life. I also appreciated his attention to the Psalms as examples of prayers given that book contains 150 unique examples of engaging the throne room of God with a variety of life’s problems, praise requests, and just general conversation that will help the individual to build their relationship with God.
Shigematsu also notes the importance of spending time in the word of God. Since Scripture is described as the foundation which the wise person builds their life upon, it goes without saying that a rule of life has to include consistent devotion to what God tells us in His word. One element Shigematsu noted was the meaning of the Hebrew word hagah, which is often translated as meditate. It was interesting to see that word actually “refers to the sound that a lion makes over its prey.” If we begin to think about Scripture in that manner, we will see God’s word as nourishment to our lives, something we do not merely devour or nibble on, but rather something we ruminate on, something we chew on all day long, savoring the choice morsels found throughout the Scriptures. If we do that, Shigematsu notes “When we learn something “by heart” by meditating on it, murmuring it with our mouths, fixing it in our memories, and putting it into practice, Scripture becomes more than a bone for us to gnaw on. It becomes food for our souls, food that nourishes our hunger for God.”
Building on these three root rules of life, Shigematsu also engages the need for relationships, both familial, friendship, and the all-important sexual relationship for those who are married. The chapter on sex and marriage was replete with excellent reminders of the need for sex to be restricted within the confines of the marital covenant, something our culture today continually thumbs their nose at. I also appreciated his attention to the issue of pornography, something that can destroy a marriage. Shigematsu rightfully declares “appropriate boundaries are important, allowing us to channel our eros in ways that honor God and bring life to people.”
Other areas Shigematsu addresses in this excellent book include very practical matters such as getting enough sleep, taking care of your body including the need to exercise, and eating right. The quote by Parker Palmer that Shigematsu includes was very timely, namely “Self-care is never a selfish act – it is simply good stewardship of the only gift I have, the gift I was put on earth to offer to others.” Ultimately, if we are not taking good stewardship of our physical bodies, we might be ill prepared to do that which God desires us to do, namely to love God and love others.
God in My Everything is a timely clarion call for believers to re-examine every area of their life to ensure all we do is coming under the lordship of God. If we build upon the three core rules of Sabbath, prayer, and devotion to God’s word, all the other areas of life will begin to align themselves better with what God requires of us which is once again to love God and to love others. The seemingly simple things of life include getting sufficient rest, eating right, being good stewards of our finances, watching what we set before our eyes, are essential elements to a healthy and well-rounded life. The various rules and principles provided by Shigematsu in this excellent book are timeless truths rooted in sound Scriptural exposition. As opposed to the new age approach to these same issues, the approach taken by Shigematsu is one that roots everything in the necessity for God to be the central theme of our lives. This book is a valuable resource in a day and age where the business of life tends to move many of us away God and towards the pursuits of life. Those desiring a more vibrant spiritual life should take these rules of life to heart and put them into practice.
I received this book for free from Zondervan via Cross Focused Reviews for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
After taking a trip to Ireland and learning about the lifestyle of the Celtic priests who ran the monasteries in that area, Shigematsu shares the change of mindset he had regarding what it means to take time to focus on God. While the vast majority of people today are not called to a monastic lifestyle, one of complete solitude and separation, Shigematsu reminds the reader that in the case of the Celtic priests, there was less solitude and more engagement with the surrounding community all focused on doing that which God has called us all to do, namely to love God and love others.
To accomplish this command in a day and age where our daily schedules seem to overtake our ability to set quality time apart to pray, study God’s Word and to develop lasting relationships with family and friends, Shigematsu provides a number of “rules” of life the reader can implement. The very word “rules” often brings to mind a strict and rigid set of commands, a sort of works oriented style of religion if you will. Shigematsu reminds us the word rule comes from the Greek word that means trellis. He further comments “Like a trellis, a rule of life supports and guides our growth. It supports our friendship with Christ so that we bear the fruit of his character and are able to offer his nourishing life to others.” This is the love God/love others aspect from which all of God’s commands to us in Scripture come from.
Using this concept of the rule as a trellis, Shigematsu provides a model that begins with the necessity to put down the three roots of Sabbath, prayer, and sacred reading. The command for taking a Sabbath rest is rooted in the very beginning of Scripture, even before the 10 commandments were written and provided by God to Israel at Mt. Sinai. As Shigematsu aptly notes, “the Sabbath is patterned on the first days of creation, on a rhythm that predates both Christianity and Judaism. Sabbath keeping is not merely good advice for you to lead a nicely-balanced life. It is practice that is knit into the created order.” Taking time out each week to decompress and to spend time with family and more importantly, time focused on God, is a vital rule of life many overlook. It is a time when we can gather together with fellow believers to worship God and to refresh our inner man.
A second root of the rules of life presented by Shigematsu is prayer. Volumes have been written on the need for prayer, but nevertheless, Shigematsu provides some helpful ideas on how to institute a consistent prayer life for those struggling to find time for this vital rule of life. A clear place to start is with the Lord’s Prayer and Shigematsu walks through that prayer providing the reader with some excellent suggestions on how to use that as a model for their prayer life. I also appreciated his attention to the Psalms as examples of prayers given that book contains 150 unique examples of engaging the throne room of God with a variety of life’s problems, praise requests, and just general conversation that will help the individual to build their relationship with God.
Shigematsu also notes the importance of spending time in the word of God. Since Scripture is described as the foundation which the wise person builds their life upon, it goes without saying that a rule of life has to include consistent devotion to what God tells us in His word. One element Shigematsu noted was the meaning of the Hebrew word hagah, which is often translated as meditate. It was interesting to see that word actually “refers to the sound that a lion makes over its prey.” If we begin to think about Scripture in that manner, we will see God’s word as nourishment to our lives, something we do not merely devour or nibble on, but rather something we ruminate on, something we chew on all day long, savoring the choice morsels found throughout the Scriptures. If we do that, Shigematsu notes “When we learn something “by heart” by meditating on it, murmuring it with our mouths, fixing it in our memories, and putting it into practice, Scripture becomes more than a bone for us to gnaw on. It becomes food for our souls, food that nourishes our hunger for God.”
Building on these three root rules of life, Shigematsu also engages the need for relationships, both familial, friendship, and the all-important sexual relationship for those who are married. The chapter on sex and marriage was replete with excellent reminders of the need for sex to be restricted within the confines of the marital covenant, something our culture today continually thumbs their nose at. I also appreciated his attention to the issue of pornography, something that can destroy a marriage. Shigematsu rightfully declares “appropriate boundaries are important, allowing us to channel our eros in ways that honor God and bring life to people.”
Other areas Shigematsu addresses in this excellent book include very practical matters such as getting enough sleep, taking care of your body including the need to exercise, and eating right. The quote by Parker Palmer that Shigematsu includes was very timely, namely “Self-care is never a selfish act – it is simply good stewardship of the only gift I have, the gift I was put on earth to offer to others.” Ultimately, if we are not taking good stewardship of our physical bodies, we might be ill prepared to do that which God desires us to do, namely to love God and love others.
God in My Everything is a timely clarion call for believers to re-examine every area of their life to ensure all we do is coming under the lordship of God. If we build upon the three core rules of Sabbath, prayer, and devotion to God’s word, all the other areas of life will begin to align themselves better with what God requires of us which is once again to love God and to love others. The seemingly simple things of life include getting sufficient rest, eating right, being good stewards of our finances, watching what we set before our eyes, are essential elements to a healthy and well-rounded life. The various rules and principles provided by Shigematsu in this excellent book are timeless truths rooted in sound Scriptural exposition. As opposed to the new age approach to these same issues, the approach taken by Shigematsu is one that roots everything in the necessity for God to be the central theme of our lives. This book is a valuable resource in a day and age where the business of life tends to move many of us away God and towards the pursuits of life. Those desiring a more vibrant spiritual life should take these rules of life to heart and put them into practice.
I received this book for free from Zondervan via Cross Focused Reviews for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
April 8, 2019
This is a book about how the author discovered a way to incorporate his priorities into his daily rhythm so that he enjoys God in "everything." The priorities and the routines/rules developed based on these priorities serve as a trellis for us to grow into a healthy, God-centered individual. The priorities the author encouraged readers to ponder on include: rest, prayer, Bible-reading, play, sleep, exercise, family, friendship, social causes, and gospel sharing. He gave examples of how he and the people he knew experienced the importance of these aspects, and how they discover rules/routines on these aspects that work for them. Readers are encouraged to develop their own "rules" after reflecting on the role of these trellis in their unique circumstances.
I pretty much agree with everything in the book, but the chapters on rest and play left the strongest impression on me, since these two aspects were seldom taught on in my faith community. He defined rest as doing things that are not part of your work/job content. (So if you are a scholar, reading scholarly books/articles on your off time is not rest.) And he defined play as doing things for the sake of enjoying the things themselves, not for the benefit that will be reaped from them. (But he also warned against unhealthy addiction to recreational activities. He's a pretty balanced guy and this is a pretty balanced book.)
I also loved the chapter on sharing the gospel in which he said the gospel can be shared in four ways: life (character of the believer), deed (action of the believer), signs (miracles), and words. The four ways are like the four sides of a pyramid, and Christians start with sharing the sides that are most appropriate to the occasion, with the ultimate goal of sharing all four sides.
I pretty much agree with everything in the book, but the chapters on rest and play left the strongest impression on me, since these two aspects were seldom taught on in my faith community. He defined rest as doing things that are not part of your work/job content. (So if you are a scholar, reading scholarly books/articles on your off time is not rest.) And he defined play as doing things for the sake of enjoying the things themselves, not for the benefit that will be reaped from them. (But he also warned against unhealthy addiction to recreational activities. He's a pretty balanced guy and this is a pretty balanced book.)
I also loved the chapter on sharing the gospel in which he said the gospel can be shared in four ways: life (character of the believer), deed (action of the believer), signs (miracles), and words. The four ways are like the four sides of a pyramid, and Christians start with sharing the sides that are most appropriate to the occasion, with the ultimate goal of sharing all four sides.
January 4, 2020
Wanted to start off the new year with a book on abiding as a way to start the year off in the right direction. Shigematsu is a pastor in Canada of Japanese descent who was once in the business world in Tokyo. The book looks at how to develop a spiritual disciplines that allow you to combat the busyness of life and connect with God. He looks at the rules of the Benedictine Monks to talk through how to build a rule in your own life. The author changes rule to rhythm for the title and moves back and forth between the two terms. He seemed uncomfortable continuing to utilize a traditional term of rule due to it's modern connotations so would at times go rhythm then forget and fall back to using rule.
Shigematsu forms Benedicts rule into a trellis illustration. He starts with the roots: for the trellis: Sabbath rhythms; prayer and sacred reading. He then moves into three other groupings of spiritual disciplines grounded in the roots: Relate (friendship, sex, family); Restore (Eat/Sleep/exercise, Play, Money); Reach out (work, justice, evangelism).
Shigematsu would constantly makes the point, unlike the monks, modern evangelicals must make plans that are flexible. We need to be able to pivot due different seasons and circumstances. This concept is better served by sticking with the concept of a rhythm versus a rule.
He ends by giving an appendix of how people in different seasons of life have applied the concepts to making their own daily; weekly;monthly; annual rhythm based on the categories.
Shigematsu forms Benedicts rule into a trellis illustration. He starts with the roots: for the trellis: Sabbath rhythms; prayer and sacred reading. He then moves into three other groupings of spiritual disciplines grounded in the roots: Relate (friendship, sex, family); Restore (Eat/Sleep/exercise, Play, Money); Reach out (work, justice, evangelism).
Shigematsu would constantly makes the point, unlike the monks, modern evangelicals must make plans that are flexible. We need to be able to pivot due different seasons and circumstances. This concept is better served by sticking with the concept of a rhythm versus a rule.
He ends by giving an appendix of how people in different seasons of life have applied the concepts to making their own daily; weekly;monthly; annual rhythm based on the categories.
December 30, 2023
4.5 star book. This book focus on providing the reader with a guide on how to make a rule of life. The book is divided into 5 sections. The first focuses on the idea behind a rule of life while the last four focus on practically making a rule of life. Shigematsu does a great job at constantly reiterating the heart of spiritual disciplines to experience God in our everything so that we can become people of love. The book is also filled with references to others writers or people in Shigematsu's life. One of my personal favorite sections were 3 (relate) where Shigematsu stresses the importance of community whether that is our family, friend's, or spouse and 4 (restore) where he focus on taking care of our bodies through working out, play, eating, and sleeping. My one tiny complaint with this book is that it is very topical. I would love to see Shigematsu dive deeper into these practices whether that is fleshing out the why or how. Overall, for anyone interested in making their own rule of life this is an excellent book.
May 13, 2020
Ken Shigematsu writes a very personal book with a pastoral goal. He is helping people who are taking first steps into a life in the Spirit with practical ways hewn from his own life experience and mistakes. Many Evangelicals have been finding new ways to grow out of their society-driven, capitalism-bound compulsions by practicing the old ways of contemplation, sabbath and community. This is one of those books which is especially useful for people who have learned a narrow Christianity that thirsts to be broadened. I recommend it as a good book to help you get your new faith organized or your old faith reorganized. My favorite aspect was his generous use of examples from the Celtic Church and other monastic examples. In this era when the institutions of society are crumbling and the church badly needs to reform, spiritual ancestors who have flourished in similar unsettling times have a lot to teach us.
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October 30, 2023My summary - This book explores the idea of a rule of life in order to bring God and spirituality into the whole of life and support continued spiritual growth. A rule of life is like a trellis, a system and pattern of activity to hold up growth. The author uses monastic communities, especially Irish and Benedictine orders, as his inspiration, suggesting that rather than being irrelevantly disconnected from society, these groups were intentional in bringing God into their daily lives in a way we can imitate. While ten years old, I found it applicable, albeit quite basic. I appreciated the idea of root rules - prayer, sabbath, and sacred reading - as the source from which all other spiritual disciplines emerge. I think this would be a great book to share with folks who have never considered how they might more intentionally bring God into their daily lives.
September 21, 2024
A really helpful and holistic look at how to create a 'rule of life' that aids you in practicing the presence of God in every aspect of life. There isn't much here that is particularly innovative or groundbreaking, but it's a very helpful one-stop shop if you're looking at how to keep the reality of God at the center of every aspect of your life - whether it be spiritual disciplines, relationships, recreation, work, or whatever else. Crafting an intentional rule of life for your current season is a very wise practice that I believe every follower of Christ would do well to attempt, and this book will help you get inspiration for what this could look like.
In short, if you've been struggling to figure out how you can live your entire life for God's glory, or how to implement wise habits for your growth in godliness, this would be a great read for you.
In short, if you've been struggling to figure out how you can live your entire life for God's glory, or how to implement wise habits for your growth in godliness, this would be a great read for you.
May 9, 2020
An excellent resources for those who want to have integrity and coherence in their Christian faith. Shigematsu winsomely walks the reader through important aspects of being human and how God is interested in and relevant to overhauling all aspects of life for our benefit and his glory.
With short chapters, good discussion questions, and insta-application throughout the book, this is a good resource for people who want to grow deeper in their faith but who do not normally enjoy reading.
Am starting a book club with the university students I mentor on this book; will report back on effectiveness/challenges in reading with a group of mostly young men.
With short chapters, good discussion questions, and insta-application throughout the book, this is a good resource for people who want to grow deeper in their faith but who do not normally enjoy reading.
Am starting a book club with the university students I mentor on this book; will report back on effectiveness/challenges in reading with a group of mostly young men.
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