Week seven of Cultivate Delight, where we are actively planning our spiritual endeavors this coming week with the goal of a consistent time spent engaging our hearts with Christ in his word, in prayer, in reflection, and in music. Below are some starting points for reflection, and I hope you find them helpful. The goal is to not just rush through these and then get on with your day. Take your time and reflect throughout the week on these items.
This week we are focusing on obedience to God by reflecting on the Great Commandment to love God and love people!
Bible Reading
Liturgy – New City Catechism
Question 7: What does the law of God require?
Personal, perfect, and perpetual obedience; that we love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength; and love our neighbor as ourselves. What God forbids should never be done and what God commands should always be done.
Matthew 22: 37-40
And [Jesus] said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
Prayer
All my heart… All my soul… All my mind… Holy Father this seems like an impossible task. My flesh is weak. My heart strays. My mind wanders. The bent of my life is working to take me away from your presence. You call me to what is impossible in my flesh. Yet you empower me with your Spirit. What is impossible turns to possible in your grace and mercy. It is only through the power of your indwelling Spirit that I am able to love you intentionally with a full heart. Your Spirit transforming and engaging my whole being. Filling me with your love as I then express and live out my life in the fullness of this love. This fountain of Spirit filled love overflows and expresses itself as I love others. As I intentionally engage with those individuals you bring into my life. As I share the love of Jesus both in words and in actions. This then is personal, perfect, and perpetual obedience. An obedience that is in tune with the Spirit of Christ. An obedience of love.
Worship
The Greatest Commandment
[Chorus]
Love the Lord your God
With all your heart and soul and mind
And love your neighbor as yourself
Love the Lord your God
With all your heart and soul and mind
And love your neighbor as yourself
[Verse]
Let us be known, let us be known
By the way we love
Let us be known, let us be known
By the way we love
[Interlude]
[Chorus]
Love the Lord your God
With all your heart and soul and mind
And love your neighbor as yourself
Love the Lord your God
With all your heart and soul and mind
And love your neighbor as yourself
Love the Lord your God (Let us be known)
With all your heart and soul and mind (Let us be known)
And love your neighbor as yourself (By the way we love)
Love the Lord your God (Let us be known)
With all your heart and soul and mind (Let us be known)
And love your neighbor as yourself (By the way we love)
Love the Lord your God (Let us be known)
With all your heart and soul and mind (Let us be known)
And love your neighbor as yourself (By the way we love)
Love the Lord your God (Let us be known)
With all your heart and soul and mind (Let us be known)
And love your neighbor as yourself (By the way we love)