Month: May 2018

Come, darkness,  
Close my weary eyes,
For I have said  
My last goodbyes. 

Come, solitude,
And soothe my fear;    
Remind me that
The Lord is near.

Come, stillness,
As my struggles cease,  
And bring me to                     
Eternal peace.

Come, silence,      
After my last breath;
Unite me with the Lord
In death.

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Clouds and thick darkness surround him (Psalm 97:2; NIV).

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

What a blessing was that stillness as he brought them safely into harbour (Psalm 107:30; NLT).

The dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7; NIV).

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Forgive our inhumanity –
We haven’t learned at all

Since torturing your Son to death,
Our violence still appalls. 

For we are lower than the beasts –
Our hate, legitimised;

Please help us, Lord, to turn to you, 
Repent, and be baptised.

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Will those who do evil never learn? They eat up my people like bread and wouldn’t think of praying to the Lord (Psalm 14:4; NLT).

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

The time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing a holy service for God. This is because they have never known the Father or me (John 16:2-3; NLT).

Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptised in the name of Christ Jesus (Acts 2:38; NLT).

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Enlightenment and wisdom  
Grow in stages –

Through shafts of insight
And of inspiration; 

During prayers of thanks, joy,
Or devotion;

Of deep distress;
Or silent contemplation.

References

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). 

Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; NLT).

In my distress I cried out to the Lord (Psalm 18:6; NLT).

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

We all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image (2 Corinthians 3:18; NIV).

Solitude will lead us
To the God who dwells within. 

Stillness helps us to approach 
The God who dwells within.          

Silence draws us closer
To the God who dwells within.

Darkness then unites us 
With the God who dwells within.

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Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed (Mark 1:35; NIV).

Be still, and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10; NIV).

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

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

Moses approached the thick darkness where God was (Exodus 20:21; NLY).

Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16; NKJV).

You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbour’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! (Matthew 5:43-4; NLT).

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34; NIV).

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

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The only thing I hate
Is hate itself, Lord,

So I take my example
From your Son,

Who, though he suffered, 
Never hated others,

But spoke the truth in love
To everyone.

Clouds and thick darkness surround him (Psalm 97:2; NIV).

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

Let my speech settle like dew (Deuteronomy 32:2; NLT).

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

Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand (Philippians 4:7; NLT).

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After the darkness, 
Stillness.

After the stillness,
Speech.

After the speech, Lord,
Silence.

After the silence,
Peace.

The darkness we avoid
Is full of light, Lord.

The desert we reject
Is full of dew.

The suffering we fear
Is full of peace, Lord.

The wilderness we dread 
Is full of you.

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The Lord, my God, lights up my darkness (Psalm 18:28; NLT).

Your strength will be renewed each day like the morning dew (Psalm 110:3; NLT).

In me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world (John 16:33; CSB).

The pastures of the wilderness are again green with grass (Joel 2:22; NET).

He left in a boat to a remote are to be alone (Matthew 14:13; NLT).

Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it (Genesis 28:16; NIV).

How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day? (Psalm 13:2; NLT).

O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me (Psalm 139:1:NLT).

“Lord,” the man said, “if you are willing, you can heal me” (Matthew 8:2; NLT).

Forgive all my sins (Psalm 25:18; NLT).

The oppressed will be set free (Luke 4:18; NLT).

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Lord Jesus,
I am stunted

(That’s no surprise 
To you),

By all the years  
Of mum’s abuse

(You know that
This is true).

Please heal us both
In flesh and bone,

In mind, and heart,
And soul;

Forgive our sins,
And set us free –

Christ Jesus, 
Make us whole! 

We humbly ask forgiveness;
We ask for healing, too.

We ask for faith, and hope,
And strength, besides;

So that we may praise you,
Worship and adore you,

And help to spread your love, Lord,
Far and wide.

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Forgive us our sins (Luke 11:4; NLT).

Heal me, O Lord (Psalm 6:2; NLT).

The […] Spirit gives great faith (1 Corinthians 12:9; NLT).

God [is] the source of all hope (Romans 15:13; NLT).

Give your strength to your servant (Psalm 86:16; NLT).

I will praise the Lord at all times (Psalm 34:1; NLT).

Worship the Lord (Psalm 96: 9; NLT).

We adore you (1 Chronicles 29:11; NLT).

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them (Romans 12.9; NLT).

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

Worship the Lord your God (Luke 4:8; NIV).

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

All night long I search for you; in the morning I earnestly seek for God (Isaiah 26:9; NLT).

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Lord,

I start again,
With every breath,

To concentrate 
My heart and mind on you;

Not just in silent prayer 
And times of worship,

But all day long,
And all night, Father, too.