Anno MMXXVI · First Edition

The Rule
of 40.

A 40-day rule of life for men. Forty days. Seven disciplines. One road.

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"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

— Matthew 6:33

The thesis

The Rule is not about what a man acquires — it is about what a man becomes.

The seven disciplines

Practice each one, daily.

I
Read the Scriptures. (Lectio)

10 minutes daily, minimum. The text itself, slowly. No substitutes.

II
Train the body. (Labora)

45 min training daily + walk that grows weekly: 20 → 30 → 40 → 45 → 50 → 60 min. Sunday: 20-min walk only.

III
Write & reflect. (Ora)

10 min handwritten journal, by hand. Did I draw closer to the Saviour today?

IV
Cut one vice. (Abstine)

Named in ink before Day 1. Removed for the full forty days. No swap.

V
Serve someone. (Servi)

One deliberate act of service daily. Cannot be your job. Must cost you something.

VI
Rise before the house. (Surge)

Wake before everyone. No phone for the first 30 minutes. The morning belongs to God.

VII
Fast once, deeply. (Jejunium)

One 48-hour water-only fast, on Days 39 and 40 — the final two days of the rule. Begin with prayer and intention. End with prayer. The hunger is not the point — the prayer is.

The Sabbath.

Sunday is the day the body rests. No training. No work. No counting. Walk for 20 minutes outside, and let the day unfold.

The other disciplines remain. Read the Scriptures. Reflect. Serve. Rise. Hold to your named vice. If Day 39 or 40 falls on a Sunday, the fast continues. The streak does not break for resting as God commanded.

The only rules

Six commitments.

i.

All seven disciplines must be honoured across the 40 days. The six daily disciplines apply every single day. The 48-hour fast happens on Days 39 and 40.

ii.

If you miss any daily discipline on any day, you restart at Day 1. Not Day 2. The counter resets.

iii.

The 48-hour fast must be honoured on Days 39 and 40. A fast chosen only when convenient is not a fast.

iv.

Tell at least one other man you are doing this before you begin. A commitment made in private is a preference. A commitment made before others is a vow.

v.

No modifications. No swaps. No negotiating with yourself about what "counts."

vi.

Document it. Paper preferred. For yourself, on Day 41.

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness."

— James 1:2–3

Take it with you.

Print it. Bind it. Send it to a brother.

Download the PDF 3 pages · A4 · Free, forever