Seeking God's face together

Look for the Father

March 1, 2021Ruth Kirk

Image: Dimitris Vetsikas, Pixabay

✝️

1. Look for the Father
Who dwells deep within,
Stirring our hearts
To repent of our sin.

2. Seek the Messiah
Who comes from above,
Sharing our anguish,
Outpouring his love.

3. Search for the Spirit
Who falls from on high,
Comforting everyone,
Hearing each sigh.

4. Turn to the Godhead
Who lives in us all –
Ask his forgiveness,
And welcome his call.

✝️

References

1. You are the temple of the living God (2 Corinthians 6:16; NLT).

Repent of your sins (Matthew 4:17; NLT).

2. I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me (John 6:38; NLT).

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

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

3. The Holy Spirit fell upon them (Acts 11:15; NKJV).

He will give you another Comforter, that he may be with you for ever (John 14:16; DBY).

Don’t you realise that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16; NLT).

4. Turn to God (Matthew 4:17; NLT).

In him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead (Colossians 2:9; ASV).

We will come and make our home with each of them (John 14:23; NLT).

Perhaps even yet they will turn from their evil ways and ask the Lord’s forgiveness before it is too late (Jeremiah 36:7; NLT).

He calls people (Romans 9:12; NLT).

Hold fast!

February 28, 2021Ruth Kirk

Image: Alexander Sopin, Unsplash

✟

1. Walk by faith
And not by sight:
God is in
Your darkest night.

2. Never cease to pray
And love:
Blindly, trust
Christ’s saving blood.

3. You will see his face
At last:
So never give up hope –
Hold fast!

✟

References

1. We walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7; NLT).

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

2. Never stop praying (1 Thessalonians 5:17; NLT).

The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love (Galatians 5:6; NIV).

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

Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance (1 Corinthians 13:7; NLT).

Hold fast to the Lord your God (Joshua 23:8; NIV).

Your will

February 27, 2021Ruth Kirk

Image: Tim Hüfner, Unsplash

❤️

I desire to do your will, my God (Psalm 40:8; NLT).

1. Father,
Please remove from me
All foolish pride and vanity;
All judging of my fellows, Lord:

Your will, my mind –
In full accord.

2. Father,
Please remove from me
All selfishness and jealousy;
All quarrelling, and hatred, Lord:

Your will, my heart –
In true accord.

3. Father,
Please remove from me
All arrogance and gluttony;
All callousness, and slander, Lord:

Your will, my soul –
In one accord.

❤️

References

1. I will not endure conceit and pride (Psalm 101:5; NLT).

Do not judge others, and you will not be judged (Luke 6:37; NLT).

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5; NKJV).

2. When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarrelling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties and other sins like these (Galatians 5:19-21; NLT).

He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love (Romans 5:5; NLT).

I will give them one heart and one purpose: to worship me forever (Jeremiah 32:39; NLT).

3. From within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you (Mark 7:21-22; NLT).

I hate pride and arrogance (Proverbs 8:13; NLT).

I will not tolerate people who slander their neighbours (Psalm 101:5; NLT).

He who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him (1 Corinthians 6:17; NKJV).

Love for God

February 26, 2021Ruth Kirk

Image: PublicDomainPictures, Pixabay

Choose today whom you will serve
(Joshua 24:15; NLT).

1. Our love for God
Cannot be forced –
It grows throughout the years,

2. With prayer and worship,
Faith, and trust;
With sacrifice, and tears.

3. As we live
In his presence,
He will fill us to the brim,

4. Until we overflow
With love,
Becoming  more like him.

✙

References

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

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

If we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering (Romans 8:17; NLT).

3. 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).

4. May the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone (1 Thessalonians 3:12; CSB).

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).

Touch (for A.K.)

February 25, 2021Ruth Kirk

Image: Jackson David, Unsplash

🖤

1. Touch my body,
Bind each wound,
For I am faint,
My strength, consumed.

2. Touch my mind,
Correct each thought,
Until I realise
I am naught.

3. Touch my heart,
Yoke me to good,
And fill me with
Your perfect love.

4. Touch my soul,
Make me like Christ
Your Son –
A living sacrifice.

🖤

References

1. He has injured us but he will bind up our wounds (Hosea 6:1; NIV).

My life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed (Psalm 31:10; KJV).

2. The Lord corrects those he loves (Proverbs 3:12; NLT).

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

3. Those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good (1 Peter 4:19; NIV).

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).

4. 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).

So, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice (Romans 12:1; NLT).

King of kings (#2 of 2 linked prayers)

February 24, 2021Ruth Kirk

Image: redcharlie, Unsplash

🖤

Notice how God is both kind and severe
(Romans 11:22; NLT).

1. Righteous, raging,
King of kings:
You, alone,
Deserve my praise.

2. Jealous, judging,
Lord of lords:
You, alone,
Allot my days.

3. Watchful, wrathful,
God of gods:
You, alone,
Are just, and good.

4. Vengeful, zealous,
First and Last:
You, alone,
Are fire, and love.

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

🖤

References

1. There is no God but me, a righteous God and Saviour (Isaiah 45:21; NLT).

O Lord, don’t rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your rage (Psalm 6:1; NLT).

God [is] the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings (1 Timothy 6:15; NIV).

2. God is jealous (Nahum 1:2; NKJV).

The Lord judges the great people of the world and brings them all to nothing (Isaiah 40:23; NLT).

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

3. God is always watching them (Job 24:23; NLT).

At his wrath the earth will tremble, and the nations will not be able to endure his indignation (Jeremiah 10:10; NKJV).

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

The Lord is just! (Psalm 92:15; NLT).

Only God is truly good (Mark 10:8; NLT).

4. The Lord is a jealous God, filled with vengeance and rage (Nahum 1:2; NLT).

I will be zealous for my holy name (Ezekiel 39:25; NIV).

I am the First and the Last; there is no other God (Isaiah 44:6; NLT)

God is a consuming fire (Deuteronomy 4:24; NIV).

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

King of kings (#1 of 2 linked prayers)

February 23, 2021Ruth Kirk

Image: Rui Silva sj, Unsplash

🤎

Notice how God is both kind and severe
(Romans 11:22; NLT).

1. Matchless, mighty,
King of kings,
I worship you –
Please hear my sighs.

2. Peerless, perfect,
Lord of lords,
I honour you –
Please hear my cries.

3. Sacred, spotless,
God of gods,
I trust in you –
Please hear my call.

4. Flawless, faithful,
First and Last,
I bow to you,
Who loves us all.

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

🤎

References

1. You, O Lord are supreme over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods (Psalm 97:9; NLT).

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

God [is] the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings (1 Timothy 6:15; NIV).

2. I am the Lord; there is no other God (Isaiah 45:5; NLT).

Your heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:48; NIV).

He is Lord of lords (Revelation 17:14; NKJV).

3. Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory (Isaiah 6:3; NIV).

It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God (1 Peter 1:19; NLT).

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

4. The Lord’s word is flawless (2 Samuel 22:31; NIV).

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

I am the First and the Last; there is no other God (Isaiah 44:6; NLT).

Thank you

February 22, 2021Ruth Kirk

Image: Duncan Sanchez, Unsplash

🤎

Give thanks in all circumstances
(1 Thessalonians 5:18; NIV).

1. Thank you, Lord,
For all you give
To us, both good
And bad.

2. Thank you, Lord,
For all you send:
The joyful,
And the sad.

3. Thank you, Lord,
For all you grant:
For life, and health,
And loss.

4. Thank you, Lord,
For all you share:
Our fear, our pain,
Our cross.

🤎

References

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

2. When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other (Ecclesiastes 7:14; NIV).

3. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised (Job 1:21; NIV).

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

This cross

February 21, 2021Ruth Kirk

Image: Ruth Kirk

🧡

The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18; NLT).

1. Lord, this cross is made of fire –
It burns within my hands,
And gives me all the strength I need
To face life’s harsh demands.

2. This little cross is made of light –
It shines on my dark road,
And gives me all the strength I need
To bear my heavy load.

3. This simple cross is made of truth –
It teaches me your way,
And gives me all the strength I need
To follow you each day.

4. This humble cross is made of peace –
It tells me you are near,
And gives me all the strength I need
To face my pain and fear.

5. This precious cross is made of love –
It shows me how you save,
And gives me all the strength I need
To hold fast, and be brave.

I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength
(Philippians 4:13; NLT).

🧡

References

1. God is a raging fire (Deuteronomy 4:24; GW).

With your help I can advance against a troop, with my God I can scale a wall (2 Samuel 22:30; NIV).

2. God is light (1 John 1:5; NIV). 

Then Jesus said, “Come to me all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light” (Matthew 11:28-30; NLT).

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

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).

4. The Lord is peace (Judges 6:24; NLT).

If we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering (Romans 8:17; NLT).

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

It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him (Deuteronomy 13:4; NIV).

Be brave and courageous (Psalm 27:14; NLT).