Category: stillness

Our stillness

Ruth Kirk
Rosie Beers.

Be still in the presence of the LORD (Psalm 37:7; NLT).

Our stillness
Is God’s much-loved
Resting-place.

Our silence
Is the temple
Of His grace.

Our darkness
Is the birthplace
Of His light.

Our loneliness:
The image
Of His face.

God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them (Genesis 1:27; NLT).

References 

Verse 1:
“This is my resting place forever,” he said. “I will live here, for this is the home I desired” (Psalm 132:14; NLT).

Verse 2:
The LORD is in his holy Temple. Let all the earth be silent before him (Habakkuk 2:20; NLT).
We are the temple of the living God (2 Corinthians 6:16; NLT).

Verse 3:
Moses went into the darkness where God was (Exodus 20:21; BST).
The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light (Genesis 1:2-3; NLT).
God is light (1 John 1:5; NLT).

Verse4:
Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted (Psalm 25:16; NIV).
My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help? (Psalm 22:1; NLT).
My soul (my life, my inner self) thirsts for God, for the living God. When will I come and see the face of God? (Psalm 42:2; AMP).

Hidden

Ruth Kirk

He reveals deep and mysterious things and knows what lies hidden in darkness, though he is surrounded by light (Daniel 2:22; NLT). 

What lies hidden in my silence?
What lies hidden in my stillness?
What lies hidden in my darkness?
My aloneness, too?

You are hidden in my silence. 
You are hidden in my stillness.
You are hidden in my darkness.
Here, alone, Lord, I find you.

You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13; CSB).

Truly, you are a God who hides himself, O God of Israel, the Savior! (Isaiah 45:15; ESV).

References

Let all the earth be silent before him (Habakkuk 2:20; NLT).

Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act (Psalm 37:7; NLT).

I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness – secret riches. I will do this so you may know that I am the LORD (Isaiah 45:3; NLT). 

When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen (Matthew 6:6; NIV).

Keep on seeking, and you will find (Luke 11:9; NLT).

Sharing

Ruth Kirk

Let all the earth be silent before him (Habakkuk 2:20; NIV). 

In silence, Lord, I share with you
Exactly how my body feels.
There isn’t any need to speak,
Because you live within.

In darkness, Lord, I share with you
The thoughts which surface in my mind.
There isn’t any need to speak,
Because you know them all.

In stillness, Lord, I share with you
The passions moving in my heart.
There isn’t any need to speak,
Because you sense them, too.

In solitude, I share with you
My soul, my life, and all I am.
There isn’t any need to speak,
Because I dwell in you.

All who live in love live in God, and God lives in them (1 John 4:16; NLT). 

References 

Verse 1:
We are the temple of the living God (2 Corinthians 6:16; NLT).
Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely (Psalm 138:4; NIV).

Verse 2:
Moses approached the thick darkness where God was (Exodus 20:21; NIV).
You know my thoughts (Psalm 139:2; NLT). 

Verse 3:
Be still in the presence of the LORD (Psalm 37:7; NLT).
You know my heart (Jeremiah 12:3; NLT). 

Verse 4:
He climbed the hill to pray in solitude (Matthew 14:23; WEY).
When you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private (Matthew 6:6; NLT).
You know the troubles of my soul (Psalm 31:7; CSB).
God now knows me completely (1 Corinthians 13:12; NLT).
All who confess that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God (1 John 4:15; NLT).

30.1.24: Paradoxes

Ruth Kirk
Resurrection: Ruth Kirk.

Clouds and thick darkness surround him (Psalm 97:2; NIV).

He lives in light so brilliant that no human can approach him (1 Timothy 6:16; NLT). 

God is in darkness,
And also in light.
God is in weakness,
And also in might.

God is in sorrow,
And also in cheer.
God is in triumph,
And also in fear.

God is in silence,
And also in sound.
God is within us,
And also around.

God is in stillness,
And also in flow.
God is in neighbour,
And also in foe.

God is in giver,
And also in thief.
God is in gladness,
And also in grief.

God is in birth, and in life,
And in breath.
God is in terror, and anguish,
And death.

At the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Mark 15:34; NKJV).

When Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ ” Having said this, He breathed His last (Luke 23:46; NKJV).

Reference

There is…one God and Father of all, who is over everything, through everything, and in everything (Ephesians 4:5-6; GWT).

11.1.24: Worship

Ruth Kirk
Worship: Ruth Kirk.

Worship the LORD your God (Luke 4:8; NLT). 

Stand in silence in the presence of the Sovereign LORD (Zephaniah 1:7; NLT). 

Worship in silence,
Worship in stillness;
Worship in darkness,
And worship alone.

Yahweh will hear you,
Draw near, and meet you;
Yahweh will kiss you,
And welcome you home.

So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him (Luke 15:20; NLT).

5.1.24: God’s voice

Ruth Kirk

Here I am, Lord (Acts 9:10; NKJV). 

When you hear
God’s voice within,
Just whisper:
Here I am, Lord. 

Open up your mind
And heart;
Fall silent;
Simply wait.

No matter what you’re doing,
Pause,
And come into
His presence.

Then, be still,
And listen hard –
For God
Is very great.

O LORD my God, you are very great! (Psalm 104:1; ESV).

References 

After the fire came a still, small voice (1 Kings 19:12; BSB).

Come into his presence (1 Chronicles 16:29; NLT).

Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act (Psalm 37:7; NLT).

Listen to his voice, and cling to him (Deuteronomy 13:4; NLT).

He is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care. If only you would listen to his voice today! (Psalm 95:7; NLT).

30.12.23: Waking in darkness

Ruth Kirk
Ruth Kirk.

The LORD is my light (Psalm 27:1; NLT). 

Waking in darkness, Lord,
You are my light.

Moving, in stillness, Lord God,
You are near.

Meeting, in silence,
We listen, and talk.

Joining, in solitude, Lord,
You are here.

The person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him (1 Corinthians 6:17; NLT).

References 

The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters (Genesis 1:2; KJV). 

Be still in the presence of the LORD (Psalm 37:7; NLT). 

He is not far from each one of us (Acts 17:27; CSB). 

Moses led them out from the camp to meet with God (Exodus 19:17; NLT). 

Be silent before the LORD, all humanity (Zechariah 2:13; NLT).

God can speak to us humans, and yet we live! (Deuteronomy 5:24; NLT). 

Tell God what you need (Philippians 4:6; NLT). 

After the fire came a still, small voice (1 Kings 19:12; MSB). 

Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I wasn’t even aware of it!” (Genesis 28:16; NLT).

25.12.23: Blesséd darkness

Ruth Kirk
By Jo-B; Pixabay.com.

She brought forth her firstborn son,
and wrapped him in swaddling clothes,
and laid him in a manger;
because there was no room for them
in the inn (Luke 2:7; KJV). 

Blesséd darkness;
Blesséd light;
Blesséd waiting
In God’s sight.

Blesséd labour;
Blesséd birth;
Blesséd Christ-child
Here, on earth. 

Blesséd stillness;
Blesséd love;
Blesséd, sacred
Motherhood.

Blesséd silence;
Blesséd praise;
Blesséd peace
As Mary prays.

Mary treasured up all these things
and pondered them in her heart.
(Luke 2:19; NIV). 

20.12.23: Enter your darkness

Ruth Kirk

Moses went into the darkness where God was (Exodus 20:21; BST).

1. Enter your darkness;
Enter your silence;
Enter your stillness;
Enter alone.

2. Jesus is waiting;
Jesus is watching;
Jesus is longing
To call you his own.

3. Rest in his presence;
Share in his glory;
Revel in oneness:
You are his home.

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).

References 

Verse 1:

Be silent before the LORD, all humanity, for he is springing into action from his holy dwelling (Zechariah 2:13; NLT). 

Be still in the presence of the LORD (Psalm 37:7; NLT). 

When you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private (Matthew 6:6; NLT). 

Verse 2:

The LORD must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion (Isaiah 30:18; NLT). 

The LORD is watching everywhere (Proverbs 15:3; NLT). 

The LORD longs to be gracious to you (Isaiah 30:18; NIV). 

Do not be afraid for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine (Isaiah 43:1; NLT). 

Verse 3:

Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28; NLT). 

He called you to share in his Kingdom and glory (1 Thessalonians 2:12; NLT). 

The person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him (1 Corinthians 6:17; NLT).

Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him (Philippians 3:8-9; NLT). 

19.12.23: I enter your darkness

Ruth Kirk

Moses went into the darkness where God was (Exodus 20:21; BST).

I enter your darkness;
I enter your silence;
I enter your stillness;
I enter alone.

I enter your castle
To seek you within –
I’m the flesh of your flesh, Lord,
And bone of your bone.

You are my stronghold,
My refuge, my bedrock,
Yet I am your temple,
Your child, and your home.

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). 

References 

Be silent before the Sovereign LORD (Zephaniah 1:7; NIV).

Be still in the presence of the LORD (Psalm 27:7; NLT). 

When you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private (Matthew 6:6; NLT). 

God is bedrock under my feet, the castle in which I live, my rescuing knight. My God – the high crag where I run for dear life, hiding behind the boulders, safe in the granite hideout (Psalm 18:1-2; TM).

Keep on seeking, and you will find (Luke 11:9; NLT).

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

This one, at last, is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh (Genesis 2:23; CSB).

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.  …I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge (Psalm 73:26,28; NIV). 

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

You are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:26; NLT). .