holiness, day 7

Come to Stillness:

Take a few minutes to allow your mind and heart to be still before God.

Opening Prayer:
Gracious and loving God, you know the deep inner patterns of my life that keep me from being totally yours. You know the misformed structures of my being that hold me in bondage to something less than your high purpose for my life. You also know my reluctance to let you have your way with me in these areas. Hear the deeper cry of my heart for wholeness and by your grace enable me to open to your transforming presence in this time. Lord, have mercy. (Invitation to a Journey by Robert Mulholland Jr.)

Psalm for the Week: Psalm 99

Scripture for the Day: Revelation 4:1-11

Reading for Reflection:

So be open to the ministry of Jesus, and allow Him to strip self-love of every adornment, until it stands barren and exposed.  Then you may renounce self and receive the robe whitened by the blood of the Lamb, which is the purity of Jesus.  And happy is the soul that no longer possesses anything of its own, not even anything borrowed, and abandons itself to Jesus, desiring no glory but His.  A soul, purified in this manner, is like a bride about to be married.  How beautiful she is when she lays everything aside, and comes to the marriage alter bringing nothing but herself.  And, oh, Holy Bride, how beautiful are you when you come to Jesus with nothing of your own.  The Bridegroom will be more than pleased with you when he sees you clothed in His beauty.  There will be no limit to His love for you, because you are clothed in His holiness. (Let Go—The Spiritual Letters by Francois Fenelon)

Holiness only appears to be abnormal.  The truth is, holiness is normal, to be anything else is to be abnormal.  Being a saint is simply being the person God made me to be. (Servants, Misfits, and Martyrs by James C. Howell)

 

Reflection and Listening: silent and written

Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself

Song for the Week: Holy, Holy, Holy

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in Three Persons, blessed Trinity!

Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,
Which wert and art and evermore shalt be.

Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide Thee,
Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see,
Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,
Perfect in power, in love, and purity.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All Thy works shall praise Thy name in earth and sky and sea.
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in Three Persons, blessed Trinity!

Closing Prayer:
Thank you Lord, that you see me as holy because of the gift of your Son. Help me to celebrate the holiness you have given me by being wholly yours this day. Amen. (JLB)