Week Seventeen 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.
The human heart is a perpetual idol factory.
John Calvin – Quote from The Institutes of the Christian Religion I.11.8
Bible Reading
Numbers 28-36
Old Testament
(Two-year plan)
John 13-17
New Testament
(One-year plan)
Liturgy – New City Catechism
Question 17: What is idolatry?
Idolatry is trusting in created things rather than the Creator for our hope and happiness, significance and security.
Romans 1:21 and 25
For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. . . . They exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator. . . .
Prayer
Great and Wonderful Creator of everything. You are the One who has brought all of creation into being. Out of nothing, you determined to bring about all that is seen and unseen in this expansive universe. Through the Word of your Son, you have spoken it all into existence and even now you uphold all of creation by your sovereign will. Lord, you alone are worthy of my worship, yet I worship everything but you at times. It seems as though I am running after vain and worthless idols that draw me away from your steadfast love and affection. But you are faithful and continue to pursue me.
Who am I? I am no more than a vapor in the wind. I am like the flower which is here today and is fades away the next. I am but a vain and selfish man who seeks to worship himself above all things. My heart is hopelessly weak and frail. But God… You have told me that I am more than this. I am made in your image and I am of great value to you. I have no need for idols. I have no need for manmade idols that require the worship that is due to my Creator.
Lord, cast away these idols from my heart. Cast away from me the very things that I think I need but are actually hindering me from seeing the One true and living hope that is the Lord. Humble me, Lord. Let me see and embrace my weakness. Let me understand that in my weakness, I have the strength of Christ. He is my strong watchtower. He is my provider and sustainer. Jesus alone is worthy of my worship. Teach me even now to worship Him with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength and to give praise to Him at all times!
Worship
Who am I?
Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name, would care to feel my hurt?
Who am I, that the Bright and Morning Star
Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart?
Not because of who I am
But because of what You’ve done
Not because of what I’ve done
But because of who You are
I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean (ocean)
A vapour in the wind
Still You hear me when I’m calling
Lord, You catch me when I’m falling
And You’ve told me who I am
I am Yours, I am Yours
Who am I, that the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love and watch me rise again?
Who am I, that the voice that calmed the sea
Would call out through the rain
And calm the storm in me?
Not because of who I am
But because of what You’ve done
Not because of what I’ve done
But because of who You are
I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean (ocean)
A vapour in the wind
Still You hear me when I’m calling
Lord, You catch me when I’m falling
And You’ve told me who I am (I am)
I am Yours
Not because of who I am
But because of what You’ve done
And not because of what I’ve done
But because of who You are
I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean (ocean)
A vapour in the wind
Still You hear me when I’m calling
Lord, You catch me when I’m falling
You’ve told me who I am (I am)
I am Yours (and I am Yours)
I am Yours, I am Yours
Whom shall I fear?
Whom shall I fear?
‘Cause I am Yours, I am Yours