Week One 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, and in reflection. Below are some starting points for reflection, and I hope you find them helpful. The goal is to not rush through these and then get on with your day. Take your time and reflect throughout the week on these items. Come back often and let your heart be refreshed in the love of Christ for you.
“The shine and luster of all the attributes of God together is God’s glory. “
– Jeremiah Burroughs, Gospel Worship
Bible Reading
Liturgy – Westminster Shorter Catechism
Question 1: What is the chief end of man?
Man’s chief end is to glorify God, (1 Cor. 10:31, Rom. 11:36) and to enjoy him for ever. (Ps. 73:25–28)
Psalm 73:25–28 (ESV):
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27 For behold, those who are far from you shall perish;
you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.
28 But for me it is good to be near God;
I have made the Lord GOD my refuge,
that I may tell of all your works.
Allow yourself to be allured. Why not build in to your life unhurried quiet, where, among other disciplines, you consider the radiance of who he actually is, what animates him, what his deepest delight is? Why not give your soul room to be reenchanted with Christ time and again?
Dane C. Ortlund, Gentle and Lowly
Prayer
Heavenly Father and Holy God.
You alone are the righteous and Holy One.
You alone are the only One who is worthy to receive glory and honor and praise.
You alone are the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.
You are all knowing, ever present, immutable, and perfect in every way.
You have created us for your pleasure and your glory.
Our singular purpose of priority is to glorify and extol your name.
How do we glorify and extol your name?
We must simply enjoy you with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
O Lord we confess that we have not done this.
We have not sought the presence and pleasure of our Holy God.
We have loved sin more than we have loved you.
We have aligned ourselves with lies and deception in order to bring glory to ourselves.
Forgives us dear Lord.
Forgive us for setting our heart’s affection upon the creation in place of the Creator.
Forgive us for seeking the gift and not the Giver.
Forgive us for our misaligned passions that seek to gratify the sins of our flesh.
Renew within our hearts the allurement of Christ.
May our hearts be awakened and renewed to the radiance and glory of Jesus Christ.
Rekindle within us that flame of communion and fellowship.
Let our hearts be warmed and our affections set ablaze with the enjoyment of Christ.
As we glorify you by enjoying you;
As we enjoy you by abiding with you;
As we abide in you because you first abide in us;
May the name of Jesus Christ be lifted high through our humble faith and trust in you alone.