Welcome to the first weekly post of Cultivate Delight. The idea for this series of posts is to help give a framework for planning your spiritual endeavors this coming week with the goal of a consistent time spent engaging your heart with Christ in his word, in prayer, in reflection, and in music. I have provided some starting points for reflection, and I hope you find them helpful. The goal is to not just rush through these and then get about your day. Take your time and reflect throughout the week on these items. Listen to the Lord as he speaks to you in those quiet moments alone. Search your heart and mind and come to Christ in humility and repentance. Let our Lord lift your head as you gaze upon his beautiful face.
Bible Reading
Liturgy – New City Catechism
Question 1: What is our only hope in life and death?
That we are not our own but belong, body and soul, both in life and death, to God and to our Savior Jesus Christ.
Romans 14:7-8 For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.
Prayer
O Lord my God. You are my only hope in life and death. In life my every breath, my every heartbeat, my every moment belongs to you alone. In death my very soul is committed to your care. There is no other hope. In my flesh I strive against you through self-righteous words and deeds. Take my selfish pride and change me through the grace and mercy found only in the transforming work of Jesus upon the cross. You have saved me, you are my Savior. You have redeemed me, you are my Redeemer. Through the perfect blood of Christ I am yours and yours alone. You are my hope, my only hope. In life and in death I entrust myself to you.
Worship
My Hope is in You
I meet with You and my soul sings out
As your word throws doubt far away
I sing to You and my heart cries
“Holy! Hallelujah, Father, You’re near!”
My hope is in You, Lord
All the day long, I won’t be shaken by drought or storm
A peace that passes understanding is my song
And I sing my hope is in You, Lord
I wait for You and my soul finds rest
In my selfishness, You show me grace
I worship You and my heart cries “Glory
Hallelujah, Father, You’re here!”
My hope is in You, Lord
All the day long I won’t be shaken by drought or storm
A peace that passes understanding is my song
And I sing my hope is in You, Lord
I will wait on You
You are my refuge
I will wait on You
You are my refuge
My hope is in You, Lord, all the day long
I won’t be shaken by drought or storm
My hope is in You, Lord
All the day long I won’t be shaken by drought or storm
A peace that passes understanding is my song
And I sing my hope is in You, Lord
My hope is in You, Lord, yeah
My hope is in You, Lord