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, 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 three persons in the blessed Trinity are distinguished, but not divided; three substances, but one essence. This is a divine riddle, where one makes three, and three make one.”
– R.C. Sproul
Bible Reading
Liturgy – Westminster Shorter Catechism
Question 7: What are the decrees of God?
The decrees of God are his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he hath foreordained whatsoever comes to pass. (Eph. 1:4,11, Rom. 9:22–23)
Romans 9:22-23
What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory—
The absolute holiness of God should be of great comfort and assurance to us. If God is perfectly holy, then we can be confident that his actions toward us are always perfect and just. We are often tempted to question God’s actions and complain that He is unfair in His treatment of us… But it is impossible in the very nature of God that He should ever be unfair. Because He is holy, all His actions are holy.
Jerry Bridges, Pursuit of Holiness
Prayer
Holy, holy, holy.
The Lord is holy.
The Lord almighty is holy and perfect in every way.
In his holiness he ordains all that comes to pass.
There is nothing that happens outside his decree.
Every atom that exists in this universe is under his sovereign will.
In his perfect love he directs my life.
His actions and determinations are an expression his love for me.
This is my rest from striving and performance.
Lord, forgive me when I forget these truths.
Forgive me when I despise your love and blessings.
Forgive me when I grumble and complain about my circumstances.
Teach me to see your holiness in all things.
Teach me to be humble and know you alone are God.
Teach me to worship you with every fiber of my being in my very soul.
Reign over me my holy heavenly Father.