Like you

Ruth Kirk

Jesus,
You’re our perfect Brother –
Everything you say is true.
Help us learn to speak the truth
In love, so we grow more like you.

Mary,
You’re our perfect Mother –
Faith in God guides all you do.
Help us learn to trust the Father,
So we may rejoice, like you.

Spirit,
You’re our perfect Sister –
Comforter and Teacher, too.
Help us learn to keep on praying,
So we live as one with you.

Lord,
You are our perfect Father –
Good or bad, you bring us through.
Help us learn to keep on loving,
Then we will be more like you.

References

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

Mary responded, “Oh how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour!” (Luke 1:46-7; NLT).

We don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words (Romans 8:26; NLT).

You are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:48; NLT).

Just the same

Ruth Kirk

To say: I love you, Lord, my God,
Is just the same as saying: You love me.
To say: You love me, Lord, my God,
Is just the same as saying: I love you.

To say: I live in you, Lord God,
Is just the same as: Lord, you live in me.
To say: You live in me, Lord God,
Is just the same as: Lord, I live in you.

To say: I’m one with you, Lord God,
Is just the same as: Lord, you’re one with me.
To say: You’re one with me, Lord God,
Is just same as: Lord, I’m one with you.

And so we live in love, Lord God,
For you are Love, just like your only Son.
Together, Lord, you pour out love
Within us, where your Spirit makes us One.

References

I love you, Lord (Psalm 18:1; NLT).

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

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

In Christ lives all the fulness of God in a human body (Colossians 2:9; NLT).

I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one – as you are in me, Father, and I am in you (John 17:21; NLT).

Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart’ (John 7:38; NLT).

Whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit (1 Corinthians 6:17; NIV).

When I’m terrified

Ruth Kirk

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).

Father,
When I’m terrified
You carry me all day;
Even when I’m hurt, or trapped,
Your Spirit helps me pray.

Father,
When my world’s upturned
You are my conscious choice;
Even when the future’s bleak,
My soul will still rejoice.

Father,
When disaster strikes
You bring good from all things;
So I will offer thanks to you,
Whatever my life brings.

References

The Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words (Romans 8:26; NLT).

Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil: for thou art with me (Psalm 23:4; KJV).

We know that all things work together for good for those who love God (Romans 8:28; NRSV).

Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you (Deuteronomy 31:8; NLT).

I love you

Ruth Kirk

Hello, everyone. I’ve just discovered that yesterday’s post again only reached those who follow me by email. I don’t know why this happened, but will try to guard against it in future. Meanwhile, I’m re-posting that day’s prayer, so no one will miss out. I’m really sorry this happened.

How powerful you are, Lord God,
I love you.
My rock and refuge every day,
I love you.

May I walk in your narrow way,
I love you,
And always praise your name, and pray,
I love you.

How wonderful you are, Lord God,
I love you.
My teacher and my steadfast guide,
I love you.

May I give up all hate and pride,
I love you,
And always journey at your side,
I love you.

How glorious you are, Lord God,
I love you.
My advocate and comfort still,
I love you.

May I thank you for good and ill,
I love you,
And always try to do your will,
I love you.

References

God is all-powerful (Job 36:22; NLT).

He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me (Psalm 62:7; NLT).

The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is a wonderful teacher (Isaiah 28:29; NLT).

How glorious is our God! (Deuteronomy 32:3; NLT).

I will send you the Advocate [or Comforter] – the Spirit of truth (John 15:26; NLT).

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

I want your will to be done, not mine (Matthew 26:39; NLT).

Without you

Ruth Kirk

Father,
Without you I’m nothing –
You alone give life and breath.

Jesus,
Without you I’m nothing –
You alone have conquered death.

Mary,
Without you I’m nothing –
You alone have made me whole.

Spirit,
Without you I’m nothing –
You alone live in my soul.

References

I am nothing but dust and ashes (Genesis 18:27; NIV).

He [God] himself gives life and breath to everything (Acts 17:25; NLT).

He [Christ] broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life (2 Timothy 1:10; NLT).

He [Jesus] said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home (John 19:27; NLT).

The Spirit of God lives in you (1 Corinthians 3:16; NLT).

When we’re engulfed by fear

Ruth Kirk

Lord,
When we’re engulfed by fear,
Remind us you are always near.

Lord,
When we are put to shame,
Remind us of your holy Name.

Lord,
When we are full of care,
Remind us of the thorns you wear.

Lord,
When we are hurt and bruised,
Remind us how you were abused.

Lord,
When we are racked with pain,
Remind us all how you were slain.

Lord,
When we think life’s unfair,
Remind us of the wounds you bear.

Lord,
When death is close at hand,
Remind us of God’s angel band.

Lord,
We share one flesh and blood:
Remind us of our Father’s love.

References

Being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground (Luke 22:44; NIV).

Herod and his soldiers began mocking and ridiculing Jesus (Luke 23:11; NLT).

The soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head (John 19:2; NLT).

They spat on him and took the staff and struck him repeatedly on the head (Matthew 27:30; NET).

Then the soldiers nailed him to the cross (Mark 15:24; NLT).

Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side (John 20:27; NLT).

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (Mark 15:34; NLT).

When we bless the cup at the Lord’s Table, aren’t we sharing in the blood of Christ? And when we break the bread, aren’t we sharing in the body of Christ? And though we are many, we all eat from one loaf of bread, showing that we are one body (1 Corinthians 10:16-17; NLT).

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).

Love

Ruth Kirk

Let love be your highest goal (1 Corinthians 14:1; NLT).

God our Father,
You are Love –
Boundless, blazing, raw.

To be like you
Must be our goal,
For love fulfils your law.

Christ, our Saviour,
You are Love –
Patient, gentle, kind.

To grow like you
Must be our goal,
So others seek and find.

Holy Spirit,
You are Love –
Faithful, honest, strong.

To live in you
Must be our goal,
Then we will all be one.

References

God is love (1 John 4:16; NLT).

Put on your new nature, created to be like God (Ephesians 4:24; NLT).

Love is the fulfilment of the law (Romans 13:10; NIV).

In Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form (Colossians 2:9; NIV).

Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ (Ephesians 5:2; NLT).

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

We know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love (Romans 5:5; NLT).

Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit (Romans 7:6; NLT).

We have all been baptised into one body and one Spirit (Ephesians 4:4; NLT).