Category: Lord

I give my life to you

Ruth Kirk

O LORD, I give my life to you (Psalm 25:1; NLT). 

O Lord, I give my life to you:
Please make my mind your dwelling place,
Where I can walk with you each day,
And gaze upon your face.

I dedicate my life to you:
Please make my heart your house of prayer,
When I can talk with you each day,
And know your loving care.

I consecrate my life to you:
Please make my soul your holy house,
For you are my beloved King,
And I, your humble spouse.

I sacrifice my life to you:
May you, Lord, be my resting place,
Where I will reunite with you,
Beyond all time and space.

You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory (Psalm 73:24; NIV).

The dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7; NIV).

References 

Verse 1:
How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of Heaven’s Armies (Psalm 84:1; NLT).
We are the temple of the living God. As God said: “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people” (2 Corinthians 6:16; NLT).
Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them” (John 14:23; NLT).
I will see you face to face and be satisfied (Psalm 17:15; NLT).

Verse 2:
My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations (Isaiah 56:7; NLT).
Pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done (Philippians 4:6; NLT).
Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son. Listen to him” (Mark 9:7; NLT).

Verse 3:
Because I delight in the house of my God, the [personal] treasure that I have of gold and silver, I give to the house of my God, in addition to all that I have already provided for the holy house (1 Chronicles 79:3; AMP).
My beloved is mine and I am his (Song of Songs 2:16; NIV).
Your Creator will be your husband (Isaiah 54:5; NLT).

Verse 4:
You have not yet come to the resting place and the inheritance that the LORD your God is giving you (Deuteronomy 12:9; BSB). 
God’s promise of entering his rest still stands (Hebrews 4:1; NLT).
All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen (Jude 1:25; NLT).
When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead. And He placed His right hand on me and said, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last [absolute Deity, the Son of God], and the Ever-living One [living in and beyond all time and space]. I died, but see, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of [absolute control and victory over] death and of Hades (the realm of the dead)” (Revelation 1:17-18; AMP).

Draw us close

Ruth Kirk

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me (John 6:44; NLT).

Draw us close to you, Lord,
And keep us by your side –

Then we will be your willing slaves,
And you, our faithful guide.

Draw us close to you, Lord;
Forgive our foolish sin –

Then we will be your house of prayer,
And you will live within.

Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us (Colossians 3:11; NLT).

References

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me (Psalm 23:4; NLT).

The LORD leads with unfailing love and faithfulness all who keep his covenant and obey his demands (Psalm 25:10; NLT).

Whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else (Mark 10:44; NLT). 

He guides me along right paths (Psalm 23:3; NLT). 

Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us (Luke 11:4; NLT).

I will bring them to my holy mountain of Jerusalem and will fill them with joy in my house of prayer. I will accept their burnt offerings and sacrifices, because my Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations (Isaiah 56:7; NLT).

Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them” (John 14:23; NLT).

We are the temple of the living God. As God said: “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people” (2 Corinthians 6:16; NLT). 

Listening

Ruth Kirk

He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed (Isaiah 50:4; NIV). 

Please help us, Lord,
To listen,
And to learn
From all you say,

To write it
On our hearts, Lord,
And to share it
Every day.

Please help us, Lord,
To be sustained
By all that you
Reveal,

Because your words
Are life and truth,
Which comfort, save,
And heal.

People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4; NLT).

References 

Verse 1:
Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts (Hebrews 3:15; NLT).
Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son. Listen to him” (Mark 9:7; NLT).
Learn from me (Matthew 11:29; NIV).

Verse 2:
The very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life (John 6:63; NLT).
Your instructions are written on my heart (Psalm 40:8; NLT).
Each day proclaim the good news that he saves (Psalm 96:2; NLT).

Verse 3:
When I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart’s delight (Jeremiah 15:16; NLT).
Sustain me, my God, according to your promise, and I will live (Psalm 119:116; NIV).
I will love them and reveal myself to each of them (John 14:21; NLT).

Verse 4:
They are not just idle words for you – they are your life (Deuteronomy 32:47; NIV).
You have the words of eternal life (John 6:68; NKJV).
We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life (1 John 1:1; NLT).
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6; NLT).
You are God, O Sovereign LORD. Your words are truth (2 Samuel 7:28; NLT).
Teach them your word, which is truth (John 17:17; NLT).

Hosanna!

Ruth Kirk

Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-3; NIV).

Good morning, Father, Elohim,
The God of gods, my Rock, my King,
I lift my heart to you, and sing:
Hosanna.

Good morning, Christ, Adonai,
The Son of God, who stays close by,
The One who always hears my cry:
Hosanna.

Good morning, Spirit of the Lord,
The Breath of God, His love outpoured,
My Advocate, my truth, my sword:
Hosanna.

Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Mark 11:8-9; NIV).

References

When I wake up, you are still with me! (Psalm 139:18; NLT).

When I awake, I will see you face to face and be satisfied (Psalm 17:15; NLT).

Behold, I am with you every day, even unto the end of time (Matthew 28:20; ABPI). 

Each day the LORD pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life (Psalm 42:8; NLT).

The Spirit is truth (1 John 5:6; NKJV).

God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this.Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us (Acts 2:32-3; NLT).

Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Hebrews 4:12; NLT).

Suffering

Ruth Kirk

You have been given the privilege of serving Christ, not only by believing in him, but also by suffering for him (Philippians 1:29; GNT).

Let’s suffer on behalf of those
Who do not know the Lord,

And ask Him to forgive their sins,
To make their bodies whole,

To heal their hearts, and minds, and lives,
And help them come to Him –

The God who longs to win their love,
And save each precious soul.

He jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us (James 4:5; NIV). 

God our Savior… wants everyone to be saved (1 Timothy 2:3-4; NLT).

Strengthen us

Ruth Kirk

God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation (James 1:2; NLT). 

Strengthen us, Lord,
To endure
What you send,

Whilst praying
For others
Until our life’s end;

Seeking forgiveness
And healing
For all,

And pleading:
May everyone, Lord,
Hear your call. 

The Holy Spirit says, “Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts” (Hebrews 3:7; NLT).

References 

Verse 1:
I create the light and make the darkness. I send good times and bad times. I, the LORD, am the one who does these things (Isaiah 45:7; NLT).
Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows (John 16:33; NLT).
The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away. Blessed be the name of the LORD (Job 1:21; CSB).

Verses 2-3:
Pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them (1 Timothy 2:1; NLT).

Verse 4:
God our Savior… wants everyone to be saved (1 Timothy 2:3-4; NLT).
Christ Jesus… gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone (1 Timothy 2:5-6; NLT).

A reading from Isaiah 53:10-12; JB. 

Yahweh has been pleased to crush him with suffering. If he offers his life in atonement, he shall see his heirs, he shall have a long life and through him what Yahweh wishes will be done.

His soul’s anguish over he shall see the light and be content. By his sufferings shall my servant justify many, taking their faults on himself. 

Hence I will grant whole hordes for his tribute, he shall divide the spoil with the mighty, for surrendering himself to death and letting himself be taken for a sinner, while he was bearing the faults of many and praying all the time for sinners.

Prayer for the dying

Ruth Kirk

He was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his garments became as white as light (Matthew 17:2; RSV). 

Lord,
I pray for all the dying:
May they see your shining face.
May they hear your gentle voice,
And feel your touch, so full of grace.

Lord,
I pray for all the dying:
Comfort them, and hold them tight.
Lift them; carry them today,
And fill their darkness with your light.

Lord,
I pray for all the dying:
Bear them to the Father’s breast.
Beg him to forgive and heal them,
Granting them eternal rest.

He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies (Psalm 103:3; NLT).

References 

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me (Psalm 23:4; KJV). 

The dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7; NIV). 

God will redeem me from the realm of the dead; he will surely take me to himself (Psalm 49:15; NIV).

God never meant us to experience the Retribution, but to win salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that, alive or dead, we should still live united to him (1 Thessalonians 5: 9-10; JB).

God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever (1 Thessalonians 5:9-10; NLT).

Bad dreams

Ruth Kirk

While I was lying in my bed, this is what I dreamed (Daniel 4:10; NLT). 

Lord God,
I dream of failure every night;
Of suffering, depression,
Shame, and dread.

Before, I might have
Begged you, Lord,
To take these dreams away,
But now,
I choose to welcome them,
Instead.

So, I will face these dreams,
And when I wake,
I’ll pray for all those
Living with defeat:

Draw near, Lord God,
Please cleanse and soothe 
Our wounds with oil and wine.
May all who fail
Be healed,
And made complete.

Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him (Luke 10:34; NLT). 

May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God (Ephesians 3:19; NLT). 

References 

All things come from God (1 Corinthians 11:12; CSB). 

Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad? (Job 2:10; NLT). 

Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need [an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment]. (Hebrews 4:16; AMP).

He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds (Psalm 147:3; NLT). 

Paradox

Ruth Kirk

Today I saw that we live in God, just as fish live in water. However, we may not always recognise His constant presence within us, around us, and in all things. The following Bible verses, from several different translations, encapsulate this particularly clearly for me:

– There is… one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all (Ephesians 4:5-6; NLT).
– There is one … God and Father of all, who is over everything, through everything, and in everything (Ephesians 4:5-6; GWT).
– In him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28; NIV).
– Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them (1 John 4:16; NIV).
– I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! (Psalm 139:7; NLT).
– Nothing can ever separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:38; NLT).

Unfortunately, it is possible to go to church, read the Bible, and even pray, without ever realising the astonishing truth that we are living in God, and He in us. As Jesus said: “They may indeed look, and yet not perceive; they may indeed listen, and yet not understand” (Mark 4:12; CSB).

In the light of Jesus’ words, here is today’s blog, which is called, “Paradox”:

In the morning I earnestly seek for God (Isaiah 26:9; NLT). 

We seek you, Lord,
Whilst living in your hand,

And search for you,
Whilst gazing on your face.

We long to hear your voice, Lord,
Whilst you speak,

And fast, in darkness,
Till we see, and taste.

Taste and see that the LORD is good (Psalm 34:8; NET).

References 

Verse 1:
The life of every living thing is in his hand, and the breath of every human being (Job 12:10; NLT).

Verse 2:
I gaze on you in the sanctuary (Psalm 63:2; CSB).
My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, LORD, I will seek (Psalm 27:8; NIV).
O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you (Psalm 63:1; NLT).

Verse 3:
Let me hear your voice (Song of Songs 2:14; NLT).
God speaks again and again, though people do not recognize it (Job 33:14; NLT).

Verse 4:
You humble yourselves by going through the motions of penance, bowing your heads like reeds bending in the wind. You dress in burlap and cover yourselves with ashes. Is this what you call fasting? Do you really think this will please the LORD? No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people (Isaiah 58:5-6; NLT).

Who among you fears the LORD and obeys his servant? If you are walking in darkness, without a ray of light, trust in the LORD and rely on your God (Isaiah 50:10; NLT).

Then when you call, the LORD will answer. ‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply.
“Remove the heavy yoke of oppression. Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors! Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon” (Isaiah 58:9-10; NLT).

God’s sacrificial Lamb

Ruth Kirk

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29; NLT). 

Together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering (Romans 8:17; NLT).

Lord,
I share my flesh with you,
Yet there is more to do.

Lord,
I share my mind with you,
My heart and spirit, too.

Lord,
I share my life with you,
My love, and all I am:

Lord,
May I become like you:
God’s sacrificial lamb.

He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter (Isaiah 53:7; NLT).

References

Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The LORD our God is the one and only LORD. And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these” (Mark 12:29; NLT). 

The Lord – who is the Spirit – makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image (2 Corinthians 3:18; NLT). 

There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends (John 15:13; NLT).

A reading from Isaiah 53:10-12; JB.

Yahweh has been pleased to crush him with suffering. If he offers his life in atonement, he shall see his heirs, he shall have a long life and through him what Yahweh wishes will be done.

His soul’s anguish over he shall see the light and be content. By his sufferings shall my servant justify many, taking their faults on himself. 

Hence I will grant whole hordes for his tribute, he shall divide the spoil with the mighty, for surrendering himself to death and letting himself be taken for a sinner, while he was bearing the faults of many and praying all the time for sinners.