Week Eight 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.
“Among the many acts of gratitude we owe to God, it may be accounted one to study and contemplate the perfections and beauties of His work of creation. Every new discovery must necessarily raise in us a fresh sense of the greatness, wisdom, and power of God.”
– Jonathan Edwards
Bible Reading
Liturgy – Westminster Shorter Catechism
Question 8: How doth God execute his decrees?
God executeth his decrees in the works of creation and providence.
Hebrews 11:3
By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. (ESV)
The beginning can be modelled in various ways such as a ‘hot big bang’ singularity, but all such models point to an origin in which space, time, matter and energy came into being ex nihilo (out of nothing) – just as the biblical hypothesis of God predicts.
Edgar Andrews, Who Made God?
Prayer
O lord, God of creation.
The great creator of all that is visible and invisible.
The One who called everything in existence and being.
Forgive us for our small faith or lack thereof.
You are a mighty and powerful God and Creator.
Yet, we fail to comprehend and understand your power.
We can look at our surroundings and see your handiwork.
We can see your creation and be amazed and full of wonder.
Yet too often, we worship the creation and not the Creator himself.
Lord, open our eyes to see.
Lord, open our hears to hear.
Lord, open our minds to understand.
Let us look around at all you have created and bring you worship and praise.
Let us see the intricacy and care you have brought into your creation.
Let us see Jesus in everything.
In seeing, may we humble ourselves and repent.
May we come to the Savior for cleansing and forgiveness.
In faith, may we understand that richness of your grace and mercy upon us.