Week Twenty-nine 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.
“Original sin, though perfectly pardoned, is yet imperfectly purged. At the point of salvation, we are purged from the death of sin but not from the disease of it.”
― Ralph Brownrig, Repentance and Prayer
Bible Reading
1 Samuel 17-25
Old Testament
(Two-year plan)
1 Corinthians 8-12
New Testament
(One-year plan)
Liturgy – New City Catechism
Question 29: How can we be saved?
Only by faith in Jesus Christ and in his substitutionary atoning death on the cross; so even though we are guilty of having disobeyed God and are still inclined to all evil, nevertheless, God, without any merit of our own but only by pure grace, imputes to us the perfect righteousness of Christ when we repent and believe in him.
Ephesians 2:8–9
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Prayer
Almighty and holy God. We often forget that you are both Almighty and Holy. We are so steeped in sin that we forget that you and you alone have saved us from the judgement and wrath that has been poured out on Christ as he hung on the cross. He became sin and took the full penalty due to us. He freely came and chose to endure the wrath of God. We are now saved. We are now rescued. We are now redeemed. We are now seen as holy and righteous in your eyes. For when you look upon us you see the beautiful righteousness of Jesus.
Forgive us when we make this more about us than about Jesus. Forgive us when we seek to earn your love. Forgive us when we boast about the works that only you can perform. Forgive us when we make this salvation more about us and less about Jesus. Renew our hearts and our minds. Give us a greater understanding of salvation. Teach us to sing of your glorious love for us. Teach us to sing of this amazing salvation. Fill our hearts with your spirit and let us praise you with every breathe and every action. May we be humbled in your presence as we bow in worship and thanksgiving giving you all the glory.
Worship
The Lord Is My Salvation
The grace of God has reached for me
And pulled me from the raging sea
And I am safe on the solid ground
The Lord is my salvation
I will not fear when darkness falls
His strength will help me scale these walls
I’ll see the dawn of the rising sun
The Lord is my salvation
Who is like the Lord our God?
Strong to save faithful in love
My debt is paid, and the victory won
The Lord is my salvation
My hope is hidden in the Lord
He flowers each promise of His word
When winter fades, I know spring will come
The Lord is my salvation
Who is like the Lord our God?
Strong to save faithful in love
My debt is paid, and the victory won
The Lord is my salvation
Glory be to God, the Father
Glory be to God, the Son
Glory be to God, the Spirit
The Lord is our Salvation
Glory be to God, the Father
Glory be to God, the Son
Glory be to God, the Spirit
The Lord is our Salvation
Oh, who is like the Lord our God?
Strong to save faithful in love
My debt is paid, and the victory won
The Lord is my salvation
(Who is like) who is like the Lord our God
(Strong to save) strong to save faithful in love
My debt is paid, and the victory won
The Lord is my salvation
The Lord is my salvation
The Lord is my salvation