Week Thirty-five 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.
“Faith is the wedding ring in which we have pledged ourselves to Christ.”
– Martin Luther
Bible Reading
1 Kings 16 –
2 Kings 2
Old Testament
(Two-year plan)
Ephesians 3 –
Philippians 1
New Testament
(One-year plan)
Liturgy – New City Catechism
Question 35: Since we are redeemed by grace alone, through faith alone, where does this faith come from?
All the gifts we receive from Christ we receive through the Holy Spirit, including faith itself.
Titus 3:4–6
But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior.
Prayer
Beautiful Savior and Redeemer.
Your love for me is immense and personal.
You love me with a steadfast and pervasive love.
You love me to the extent that you came and took upon yourself all my sin, paying the due penalty.
You have lavished upon me the richness of your mercy and kindness.
The abundance of your grace covers over all of my sin.
This faith is rooted in you and finds its fulfillment in you alone.
My faith and hope are found in you alone, for there is nowhere else to find salvation.
Only Jesus is the Answer to the only question that ever matters.
Only Jesus is the One who saves me.
Only Jesus has united Himself to me.
Only Jesus loves me completely and fully.
In Him alone will I place my faith and hope.
Through Him alone will I offer obedience.
For Him alone will I ever live to display the immeasurable riches of God’s grace and kindness.
Worship
By Faith
By faith we see the hand of God
In the light of creation’s grand design
In the lives of those who prove His faithfulness
Who walk by faith and not by sight
By faith our fathers roamed the earth
With the power of His promise in their hearts
Of a holy city built by God’s own hand
A place where peace and justice reign
We will stand as children of the promise
We will fix our eyes on Him our soul’s reward
Till the race is finished and the work is done
We’ll walk by faith and not by sight
By faith the prophets saw a day
When the longed-for Messiah would appear
With the power to break the chains of sin and death
And rise triumphant from the grave
By faith the church was called to go
In the power of the Spirit to the lost
To deliver captives and to preach good news
In every corner of the earth
We will stand…
By faith this mountain shall be moved
And the power of the gospel shall prevail
For we know in Christ all things are possible
For all who call upon His name
We will stand as children of the promise
We will fix our eyes on Him our soul’s reward
Till the race is finished and the work is done
We’ll walk by faith and not by sight
We will stand as children of the promise
We will fix our eyes on Him our soul’s reward
Till the race is finished and the work is done
We’ll walk by faith and not by sight
We’ll walk by faith and not by sight