Devotion
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 sinfulness thy glory may not see,
only thou art holy; there is none beside thee,
perfect in pow'r, 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!
Those simple, familiar words, "Holy, Holy, Holy" have the power to take me somewhere else. They bring up memories of Isaiah's call story (Isaiah 6) with seraphim singing these words and an image of being in the holy presence of God. But these words also take me somewhere else. Although I imagine a vast chorus singing these words and the magnificence of the sound that fills the air, the words also somehow take me to a quiet place, a place of peace.
Where do you go when you want to hear these words? What images do the words "holy, holy, holy," stir up inside of you? What does it mean to you that God is holy? How does the holiness of God affect you? How might the holiness of God's power and presence continue to lead you throughout this day?
Prayer
Holy God, you are holy and mighty, you are holy and merciful, you are holy and majestic. Today may we be devoted to living in the presence of your holiness. Amen.