Month: April 2015

“Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless!” (Ecclesiastes 1:2; NLT).

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged (1 Corinthians 13:4-5; NLT).

Three things will last forever – faith, hope and love – and the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:13; NLT).

“May your kingdom come soon” (Matthew 6:10; NLT).

Father,
Without you
Life is meaningless.

But with you
The possibilities created by love
Are endless.

May your kingdom come
In our hearts –
Today and for evermore.

Amen.

“My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed (John 20:28; NLT).

My Lord and my God,
You are my life,
My light,
My help,
My joy,
My love,
My heart,
My soul,
My hope,
And my journey’s end.

“My Father’s house has many rooms” (John 14:2; NIV).

All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord (Psalm 86:9).

Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him” (Acts 10:34-5).

People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God (Luke 13:29).

And all people will see God’s salvation (Luke 3:6).

“And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength” (Mark 12:30; NLT).

“Love your neighbour as yourself” (James 2:8; NLT).

Lord,
It doesn’t matter
Whether we worship you
In a mosque,
Or a temple,
A church,
Or a chapel,
A room,
Or a street,
A cave,
Or a bar.

What matters
Is our love for you,
For other people,
And even for ourselves.

Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught (Luke 10:39; NLT).

All the while, you will grow as your learn to know God  better and better (Colossians 1:10; NLT).

“You must worship the LORD your God and serve only him” (Matthew 4:10; NLT).

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

Lord,
May I sit at your feet,
To listen,
Learn,
Worship,
And pray
Forever.

Through Jesus’ name,
Amen.

Hatred stirs up conflict (Proverbs 10:12; NIV).

“Love your neighbour as yourself” (Mark 12:31; NLT).

“Love your enemies” (Luke 6:27; NLT).

To acquire wisdom is to love oneself (Proverbs 19:8; NLT).

Wisdom is more precious than rubies (Proverbs 3:15; NLT).

Lord,
Hatred is so dangerous.

It turns partners,
Families,
Friends,
And neighbours
Against each other.

It stirs up war –
Tribe against tribe,
State against state,
Faith against faith –
And leads to death.

Help us to overcome our hatred,
Loving our neighbours,
Our enemies,
And even ourselves,
So we may grow in wisdom –
As you desire.

We ask this in Jesus’ name,
Amen.

“Keep on seeking, and you will find” (Matthew 7:7; NLT).

Lord,
It can take me
Half an hour,
Or more,
To find you
In contemplation –
But you are worth
Every moment
Of effort
And concentration!

They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’  He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me’ (Matthew 25:44-45; NIV).

You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realise that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked (Revelation 3:17; NIV).

Lord,
How can I pray for myself,
When others are hungry,
Thirsty,
Lonely,
Naked,
Sick,
And in prison?

Instead,
I pray for all humanity –
For every one of us is wretched,
Pitiful,
Poor,
Blind,
And naked
Before you.

In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

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

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

“How can someone like me, your servant, talk to you, my lord? My strength is gone, and I can hardly breathe” (Daniel 10:17; NLT).

Lord,
You are here.

I’m still,
I’m silent,
And I hardly dare to breathe –
In case I spoil the moment.

Thank you for your presence,
And your love.

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

Lord,
When someone
Speaks to me aggressively,
Please help me to protect
My frozen, terrified,
Helpless inner child –
By speaking the truth with love,
Like your dear Son.