Ancient Christian Wisdom
for Everyday Life
Wisdom for those with the wild ambition of getting as close to Jesus as they can on earth and living the kind of life that God desires every single day
Welcome to the Daily Monastic. I’m Barnabas the Monastic.
I have a wild ambition in life: get as close to the Lord Jesus Christ as I can while on earth. I attempt to do that by learning to become a modern monastic. I explore and integrate ancient Christian monk wisdom in my modern everyday life. I write about it here. Feel free to write to me about your own journey. I currently reside in the “Great White North.”
Getting Up Early
Waking up early in the morning and getting out of bed has been a perennial issue for me. At some point, I just gave up on the idea of waking up early altogether. A few months ago, I was motivated by listening to a podcast to attempt it again. It's been several months now of waking up early (I started at the end of May). And it actually feels good. I don't know…
Obstacles are Opportunities
I came across an obstacle the other day in my business. What at first seemed like a simple matter to resolve turned into an issue that required the help of a professional. The issue will in the end cost me…
Prayer is a Vehicle
I attempt to spend about three hours in prayer, Scripture, worship, and contemplation each and every day. My primary goal is to get as close to Christ as I possibly can while on earth. If we have a friendship with Christ…
The Place of Hard Work in Spirituality
Anything of value in life comes at the cost of effort and hard work. Having a healthy body requires effort and hard work—you have to take care of your body through disciplined food choices and engaging in adequate exercise. Having a…
Simple Ways to Keep Your Body Moving
Many years ago, I was at a local fast food restaurant when a large gentleman came in. He obviously worked out. Everybody was looking at him because he had this special lotion all over him that darkened his skin to accentuate his muscular features. He was on a break from a bodybuilding competition that was…
The Better Questions
"How much time should I spend with the Lord each day in prayer?" I get this question all the time. Personally, I try to spend about 3 hours per day in prayer, Scripture, worship, and contemplation. (The 3 hours is usually broken up into 3-4 portions spread throughout the day.) Although I may…
Kindness to Strangers
I was at my local coffee shop the other day when I met a guy named Jim. Jim noticed the small wooden cross I was wearing around my neck and he commented on it. I told him that I wore this cross as a reminder for me to pray to Christ every single day. He appreciated this idea since…
Church as Base Camp
Many followers of Christ view the Sunday worship service or the Catholic mass or "going to church" as the most important thing a believer does every week. In fact, we seem to put a lot of emphasis in preparing for Sunday activities week after week. A lot of energy and resources go into making worship services the way they are today. I'm not here to…
Growth Trajectory
Most, if not all of us, want to grow. In fact, we've been created to grow in life. God has given us the capacity to develop as human beings over a period of time. It's how God naturally designed us to be. I see this all the time with my son who's in…
Cultivating Our Minds
God gave us a powerful part of the human body capable of processing complex information and making informed decisions. God gave us brains. I'm no expert in the human brain, but obviously, the brain is capable of some amazing things. We can remember and recall a lot of information. We are able to…