In solitude

Ruth Kirk

1. In solitude, be silent,
Still,
And wait upon the Lord,
Until

2. You’re overwhelmed
With waves of light:
Intense, majestic,
Golden, bright.

3. Absorb God’s love
As you breathe in:
Forget your cares,
Your pain, your sin.

4. Then talk to him
As you breathe out:
Share every longing,
Fear, and doubt.

5. Listen to
His still, small voice;
Accept his remedies;
Rejoice

6. And learn from him
With humble grace,
For, one day,
You will see his face.

References

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

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

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him (Psalm 37:7; NIV).

2. God shines in glorious radiance (Psalm 50: 2; NLT).

Golden splendour comes from the mountain of God. He is clothed in dazzling splendour (Job 37:22; NLT).

3. Unfailing love, O Lord, is yours (Psalm 62:12; NLT).

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

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

You desire honesty from the womb (Psalm 51:6; NLT).

5. Listen to his voice (Deuteronomy 13:4; NLT).

After the fire [came] a still small voice (1 Kings 19:12; NKJV).

God talks with man (Deuteronomy 5:24; DBY).

Wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy (Proverbs 2:10; NLT).

He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy (Psalm 28:7; NLT).

6. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle (Matthew 11:29; NIV).

Now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face (1 Corinthians 13:12; NRSV).

Remember, we will all stand before the judgement seat of God (Romans 14:10; NLT).

Action prayer (dedicated to M.R.)

Ruth Kirk

Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for.
Keep on seeking, and you will find.
Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you
(Luke 11:9; NLT).

Lift arms, palms upward

1. Lord,
I’m reaching up to you,
Asking help
From heaven above.

Arms in front, palms upward

2. Lord,
I’m reaching out to you,
Seeking peace of mind,
And love.

Cross arms on chest. Tap one hand on shoulder

3. Lord,
I’m reaching inward, too,
Knocking on your door
Within.

Open arms wide, as if on a cross

4. Lord,
At last, I’m finding you:
Over, in, through
Everything!

References

1. He will send help from heaven to rescue me (Psalm 57:3; NLT).

2. The Kingdom of God is near (Mark:1:15; NLT).

3. The Kingdom of God is within you (Luke 17:21; NKJV).

4. There is one […] God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all (Ephesians 4:5-6; NLT).

Enlightenment

Ruth Kirk


The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world
(John 1:9; HNV).

1. Each human life brings trials
And suffering.
God gives, and takes away;
He wounds, and heals.

2. He helps us learn
From all we undergo,
Until, at last,
Enlightenment reveals

3. His purpose: change and growth
For every soul;
For as we learn to love,
We are made whole.

References

1. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows (John 16:33; NLT).

The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord (Job 1:21; NLT).

I am the one who wounds and heals (Deuteronomy 32:39; NLT).

2. We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him (Romans 8:28; NIV).

Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding (Hebrews 6:1; NLT).

The Lord my God will enlighten my darkness (Psalm 18:28; NKJV).

Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts (Psalm 90:12; CSB).

The inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding (Job 32:8; WEB).

3. His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him (Acts 17:27; NLT).

We will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ (Ephesians 4:15; NLT).

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them (Romans 12:9; NLT).

I am the Lord who heals you (Exodus 15:26; NLT).

He restores my soul (Psalm 23:3; NKJV).

God speaks

Ruth Kirk


1. God speaks to us
But we don’t hear:
With him, there’s neither
Hate, nor fear.

2. God cares for us
Although we fight:
With him, there’s neither
Black, nor white.

3. God aches for us,
And hears each plea:
With him, there’s neither
Slave, nor free.

4. God longs for us
To change, and trust:
With him, there’s neither
Them, nor us.

5. God treasures us,
And this is key:
With him, there’s neither
He, nor she.

6. God offers us
His much-loved Son:
With him, all humankind
Is one.

References

1. God speaks again and again, though people do not recognise it (Job 33:14; NLT).

No one will be hurt or destroyed on my holy mountain (Isaiah 65:25; NLT).

Perfect love drives out fear (1 John 4:18; NIV).

2. The Lord protects the foreigners among us. He cares for the orphans and widows (Psalm 146:9; NLT).

Do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also (Matthew 5:39; NLT).

3. In all their suffering he also suffered (Isaiah 63:9; NLT).

He hears their cries for help and rescues them (Psalm 145:19; NLT).

There is neither slave nor free (Galatians 3:28; NKJV).

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

Repent and turn to me again (Revelation 3:3; NLT).

Trust in God (John 14:1; NLT).

5. He loves us with unfailing love (Psalm 117:2; NLT).

There is neither male nor female (Galatians 3:28; NKJV).

6. God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16; NLT).

This is my beloved Son (Luke 9:35; NKJV).

You are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28; NLT).

Many more

Ruth Kirk

Because of his words many more became believers
(John 4:41; NIV).

1. I pray that many more
Will come to seek you,
Son of Man,
And find great faith
By following your steps
The best they can.

2. I pray that many more
Will come to trust you,
Prince of Peace,
And find great joy
In thanking you,
And praising without cease.

3. I pray that many more
Will come to love you,
Chosen One,
And find great hope
Through helping others
Know you as God’s Son.

References

1. You will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all soul (Deuteronomy 4:29; NIV).

The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28; NLT).

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me (Luke 9:23; NLT).

2. Trust in God and trust also in me (John 14:1; NLT).

He will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6; NIV).

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; NIV).

3. May God’s grace be eternally upon all who love our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 6:24; NLT).

Teach them to know the truth that shows them how to live godly lives (Titus 1:1; NLT).

Then a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, my Chosen One. Listen to him” (Luke 9:35; NLT).

Bear all God sends

Ruth Kirk

At last, the people will look to their Creator
(Isaiah 17:7; NLT).

1. Bear all God sends
Until life ends,
For when we sigh,
He hears our cry.

2. And though each soul
Has missed its goal,
Our heavenly King
Still waits within.

3. So, face the past,
Then say, at last:
Your kingdom come;
Your will be done.

4. God shares our woes;
His mercy flows:
He will forgive;
Then we will live!

References

1. My sickness is incurable, but I must bear it (Jeremiah 10:19; NLT).

Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble? (Job 2:10; NIV).

While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh (2 Corinthians 5:4; NLT).

He hears their cries for help (Psalm 145:19; NLT).

2. Everyone has sinned; we all fall far short of God’s glorious standard (Romans 3:23; NLT).

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

The kingdom of God is within you (Luke 17:21; KJV).

3. When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone (Psalm 32:5; NLT).

At last they will know and understand that I am the Lord (Jeremiah 16:21; NLT).

Your kingdom come, your will be done (Matthew 6:9-10; NIV).

4. In all their suffering he also suffered (Isaiah 63:9; NLT).

In his love and mercy he redeemed them (Isaiah 63:9; NLT).

He forgives all my sins (Psalm 103:2; NLT).

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10; NLT).

So dazzling

Ruth Kirk

The Lord your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords
(Deuteronomy 10:17; NLT).

1. Lord,
You’re dazzling,
Wise, and fair.

2. You’re so good
And kind;
You care.

3. Lord,
You’re mighty,
Great, and pure.

4. You’re so close;
Help us
Endure.

5. Lord,
You’re faithful,
Deep, and true.

6. You’re so just
In all
You do.

7. Lord,
You’re holy,
Strong, and vast.

8. You are God:
The first;
The last.

References

1. He is clothed in dazzling splendour (Job 37:22; NLT).

God is so wise (Job 9:4; NLT).

2. Only God is truly good (Mark 10:18; NLT).

He cares for the humble (Psalm 138:6: NLT).

3. God is mighty (Job 36:5; NLT).

God is so great (Job 22:12; NLT).

4. The Lord your God is close to all who call on him (Psalm 145:18; NLT).

God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation (James 1:12; NLT).

5. God is faithful (1 Corinthians 10:13; NLT).

God is true (Romans 3:4; NLT).

6. How just and upright he is! (Deuteronomy 32:4; NLT).

7. The Lord our God is holy! (Psalm 99:9; NLT).

His power is vast (Job 9:4; NIV).

8. Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from beginning to end, you are God (Psalm 90:2; NLT).

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End (Revelation 22:12; NLT).