A few days ago, when I was praying without words, I “saw” these verses. It took only a few minutes to make some notes, but the rest of the day to put them into words.
The Father loves his Son and has put everything into his hands. John 3:35; NLT.
Into your hands
I commend my pleasures,
Ending my time here on earth.
Into your hands I consign my darkness,
Leaving the land of my birth.
Into your hands I entrust my anguish,
Setting my life here aside.
Into your hands I commit my spirit,
Jesus, my Saviour and Guide.
Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. Luke 23:46; NIV.
The LORD will guide you always.
Isaiah 58:11; NIV.
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.
When I was praying last Thursday, slowly repeating the name of Jesus, this prayer came to me. I had to end my contemplation so I could immediately began to put it into words.
Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion (Ephesians 6:18; NLT).
Lord, my God,
I want to pray
In your dear Spirit Every day
For all the world,
Through Jesus’ name:
Please bless us With your sacred flame.
On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4; NLT).
Yesterday, when I woke and started to pray very sleepily, this prayer quickly arose. I wanted to ignore it, but had to begin writing it immediately, or it would have faded away in moments.
Jesus told him, “I am the way” (John 14:6; NLT).
1. Lord Jesus, When I wake each day,
May I give thanks,
Rejoice, and pray
To you, my Guide:
God’s perfect way.
2. Lord Jesus,
Yahweh’s living proof,
May I confess,
Without excuse,
My sins to you:
God’s perfect truth.
3. Lord Jesus,
When I rest at night,
May your dear Spirit
Shine so bright
That I see you:
God’s perfect light.
Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life” (John 8:12; NLT).
He is a light to reveal God to the nations (Luke 2:32; NLT).
References
Verse 1: *Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; NIV).
*It was only right that he should make Jesus, through his suffering, a perfect leader (Hebrews 2:10; NLT).
*God’s way is perfect (2 Samuel 22:31; NLT).
Verse 2: *Jesus replied, “I have already told you, and you don’t believe me. The proof is the work I do in my Father’s name” (John 10:25; NLT).
*He [God] has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead (Acts 17:31; NIV).
*Jesus told him, “I am…the truth” (John 14:6; NLT).
*The Spirit is truth (1 John 5:6; NKJV).
*God’struth stands firm like a foundation stone (2Timothy 2:19; NLT).
Verse 3: *God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us (1 John 4:13; NLT).
*God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth (John 4:24; NKJV).
*God is light (1 John 1:5; NLT).
Yesterday, at the end of a time of quiet prayer, today’s verses began to flow, gradually taking shape during the rest of the day.
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” (Mark 12:29-30; NLT).
No matter what happens
I’ll love you.
To all you ordain
I’ll say: “Yes.”
Whatever you take
I’ll rejoice, Lord.
Whatever you send
I will bless.
No matter what happens
I’ll worship,
And all you impose
I’ll embrace.
In troubles and tests
I’ll give thanks, Lord,
For here, in your hands,
I am safe.
I am in the hands of the Lord, the Most High is my safe resting-place (Psalm 91:9; BBE).
References Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; NIV).
The LORD your God is testing you to see if you truly love him with all your heart and soul (Deuteronomy 13:3; NLT).
Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world (John 16:33; NLT).
A reading: Job receives disastrous, life-changing news
Then Job stood up, tore his robe, and shaved his head. He fell to the ground and worshiped, saying: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will leave this life. The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.” Throughout all this Job did not sin or blame God for anything (Job 1:20-22; CSB).
I woke early yesterday and couldn’t go back to sleep, so began to pray instead. As I said my familiar morning prayers, the opening words, shape and direction of today’s blog burst into my mind.
And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”
(Luke 1:46-7; NIV).
1. I glorify the grace of God,
The mind, and heart, and face
Of God.
2. I celebrate the light of God,
The truth, and peace, and might
Of God.
3. I bow before the fire of God,
The jealousy and ire
Of God.
4. I venerate the hope of God,
The comfort, joy, and scope
Of God.
5. I witness to the love of God,
The Spirit, and the Son
Of God.
6. Lord,
Forgive my sin and shame,
And help me magnify your Name.
Oh, magnify the LORD with me,
and let us exalt His name together.
(Psalm 34:3; NKJV).
References
Verse 1: *ThegraceofGod has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. (Titus 2:11; NLT).
*The LORD your God is more powerful than all other gods and lords, and his tremendous power is to be feared. His decisions are always fair, and you cannot bribe him to change his mind. (Deuteronomy 10:17; CEV).
*The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: “Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood” (Genesis 8:21; NIV).
*Jacob named the place Peniel (which means “faceofGod”) (Genesis 32:30; NLT).
Verse 2: * Godislight (1 John 1:5; NLT). *The Spirit is truth (1 John 5:6; NKJV).
*The Lord is peace (Judges 6:24; NLT).
*Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you (2 Chronicles 20:6; NIV).
Verse 3: The LORD your God is a devouring fire; he is a jealous God (Deuteronomy 4:24; NLT). God’s anger will descend on them in torrents (Job 20:28; NLT).
Verse 4:
*I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13; NLT).
*He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us (2 Corinthians 1:4; NLT).
*Yahweh, your God, is in the midst of you, a mighty one who will save. He will rejoice over you with joy. He will calm you in his love. He will rejoice over you with singing (Zephaniah 3:17; WEB).
*God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end (Ecclesiastes 3:11; NLT).
Verse 5: *God is love (1 John 4:8; NLT).
*No power in the sky above or in the earth below – indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the loveofGod that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:39; NLT).
*God is Spirit (John 4:24; NLT).
*The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the SonofGod” (Luke 1:35; NLT).
Verse 6: *Forgive us our sins (Luke 11:4; NLT).
*You will remember your sins and cover your mouth in silent shame when I forgive you of all that you have done. I, the Sovereign LORD, have spoken! (Ezekiel 16:63; NLT).
Yesterday I woke early, and the moment I began to pray this song of praise arrived. Its first words and its shape were instantly clear in my mind. Despite this, writing is gradually getting harder and more tiring as my energy and mental capacity reduce. I don’t know how much longer I will be able to do it for, but will continue as long as I can, until God stops giving me prayers to write.
I love you, LORD; you are my strength (Psalm 18:1; NLT).
I love you, Lord,
And bless your name,
Confide in you,
Confess my shame,
Receive forgiveness,
Sing your praise,
And gladly worship
All my days.
I love you, Lord,
And trust your Son.
I follow him,
For we are one.
I’ll bear my cross
Through good and ill,
Rejoice, and pray
And thank you, still.
I love you, Lord,
Your Spirit, too.
She lives in me,
And I in you.
So, may we plead
With one accord
For those who suffer,
Blessed Lord.
I love you,
Holy Trinity:
The Mighty God
Who sets me free.
Day after day
I hear your call
And try to serve you, Lord, In all.
Whateveryoudidfor one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, youdidfor me (Matthew 25:40; NIV).
Yesterday I prayed in silence, seeking God. However, I saw nothing, experienced nothing, and felt both sad, and a failure.
Then, today’s prayer came to me, and I saw where I was going wrong. God is always with us. Believing that He is present is far more important than whether or not we experience His presence. As Jesus said to Thomas: “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe” (John 20:29; RSV).
I suspect that our faith is far more precious to God than our enjoyment of the spiritual experiences He sends. Anyway, following these reflections, here is today’s prayer:
In the morning I earnestly seek for God (Isaiah 26:9; NLT).
I seek you, Lord,
But you’re already near.
I thirst for you,
Yet you’re already here.
Then, I see clearly:
Father, you’re my soul
Which nothing can take away –
With you, I’m whole.
Lord, I believe and trust in you
Each day,
So I’ll rejoice, give thanks,
And try to pray.
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; NIV).
Notes
The LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul (Genesis 2:7; KJV).
You were made from dust, and to dust you will return (Genesis 3:19; NLT).
The dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7; NIV).
I am convinced that nothing can ever separateus from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow – not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:38; NLT).
The godly will live in your presence (Psalm 140:13; NLT).
Live in the Father’s presence,
Choosing his holy way;
Worship in life’s harsh deserts:
Give thanks, rejoice, and pray.
Walk in the Saviour’s presence,
Serving like Him, each day;
Worship in life’s vast wastelands:
Give thanks, rejoice, and pray.
Rest in the Spirit’s presence,
Clinging, so you don’t stray;
Worship on life’s cold mountains:
Give thanks, rejoice, and pray.
Trust in the Threefold Presence:
Comfort will fall, like dew;
Worship in death’s dark valley:
God will rejoice in you.
The LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs (Zechariah 3:17; NLT).
Readings
Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. The burning sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground bubbling springs. In the haunts where jackals once lay, grass and reeds and papyrus will grow. And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness (Isaiah 35:6-8; NIV).
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; NIV).
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 Good Shepherd, by Theodore de Bry; Dutch: metmuseum.org.
This prayer came to me a few days ago, as I prayed before my favourite icon:
The Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.
(Luke 19:10; NLT).
Lord,
Seek us when we turn away
And lose our faith in you:
Please bring us gently back again
And let us start anew.
Save us when we turn aside
And stumble, slip, or fall:
Forgive us; guide us back again –
Lord, hear us when we call.
Help us when we turn from you
In rage, grief, or despair:
Encourage us to lean on you,
And trust, Lord, in your care.
They do not fear bad news;
they confidently trust the LORD to care for them.
(Psalm 112:7; NLT).
Readings
Restore us, O LORD, and bring us back to you again! (Lamentations 5:21; NLT).
If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn’t wander away! (Matthew 18:12-13; NLT).
Who among you fears the LORD and listens to his servant? Who among you walks in darkness, and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the LORD; let himleanon his God (Isaiah 50:10; CSB).
They will lean on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel (Isaiah 10:20; NAB).
