Month: September 2019

I’m agoraphobic

Ruth Kirk

Lord,

1. I’m agoraphobic –
It’s a thorn within my flesh,
For I must face the threat of dread
Each day.

2. When I’m away from safety,
And panic strikes afresh,
My desperation urges me
To pray.

3. So I rely on you, Lord,
My Comforter and Guide:
No matter where I am
You’re always near;

4. And you understand completely,
As you walk, Lord, at my side,
For in the grove
You shared this wretched fear.

References

1. To keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh. […] Three times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:7-9; NLT).

2. My heart pounds in my chest. The terror of death assaults me. Fear and trembling overwhelm me, and I can’t stop shaking (Psalm 55:4-5; NLT).

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you (Psalm 56:3; NIV).

3. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me (Psalm 23:4; NLT).

4. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do (Hebrews 4:15; NLT).

They went to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and Jesus said, “Sit here while I go and pray.” He took Peter, James and John with him, and he became deeply troubled and distressed (Mark 14:32; NLT).

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

Always one with you

Ruth Kirk

I sent them away to exile and brought them home again (Ezekiel 39:28; NLT).

1. Lord,
We’re one with you
From the beginning;
Always one with you
Before our birth.

2. Lord,
We’re one with you
While we’re in exile;
Always one with you
Here on the earth.

3. Lord,
We’re one with you
While we are living;
Always one with you
Till our last breath.

4. Lord,
We’re one with you
As we are dying;
And always one with you
Beyond our death.

References

1. I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb (Jeremiah 1:5; NLT).

2. I will be a sanctuary to you during your time in exile (Ezekiel 11:16; NLT).

3. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them (1 John 4:16; NIV).

I will praise my God to my last breath (Psalm 104:33; NLT).

4. Into your hands I commit my spirit (Psalm 31:5; NIV).

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

Help me to face this fear (#2 of 2 linked prayers)

Ruth Kirk

Today’s prayer is similar to yesterday’s. It can be said before facing feared situations,
or repeated whilst experiencing fear or panic.

A child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders.
And he will be called: Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
(Isaiah 9:6; NLT).

1. Jesus,
Wondrous Counsellor,
You know the cross I bear.

2. Jesus,
Mighty God and King,
You understand, and care.

3. Jesus,
Everlasting Father,
You are always here.

4. Jesus,
Prince of Peace, my Lord:
Please help me face this fear.

References

1. 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. He made their hearts, so he understands everything they do (Psalm 33:15; NLT).

He cares for those who trust in him (Nahum 1:7; NIV).

3. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me (Psalm 23:4; NKJV).

Be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20; NLT).

4. Then I called on the name of the Lord, “Please, Lord, save me!” (Psalm 116:4; NLT).

Come quickly to help me, O Lord, my saviour (Psalm 38:22; NLT).

He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood (Luke 22:44; NLT).

He helps me (Psalm 28:7; NLT).

If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine (Matthew 26:39; NLT).

Help me to face this task (#1 of 2 linked prayers)

Ruth Kirk

Today’s prayer can be said repeatedly both before, and whilst, facing any task we find hard.

A child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders.
And he will be called: Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
(Isaiah 9:6; NLT).

1. Jesus,
Wondrous Counsellor,
You care for me each day.

2. Jesus,
Mighty God and King,
You hear me when I pray.

3. Jesus,
Everlasting Father,
Grant me what I ask:

4. Jesus,
Prince of Peace, my Lord,
Please help me face this task.

References

1. He cares for those who trust in him (Nahum 1:7; NIV).

2. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us (1 John 5:14; NIV).

3. Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for (Matthew 7:7; NLT).

Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours (Mark 11:24; NIV).

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

Come quickly to help me, O Lord, my saviour (Psalm 38:22; NLT).

He helps me (Psalm 28:7; NLT).

The Word of God

Ruth Kirk

His title was the Word of God (Revelation 19:13; NLT).

1. Christ is the spoken Word of God,
Through whom all things are made.

2. Christ is the holy Word of God,
Who comes to heal and save.

3. Christ is the living Word of God,
Born of the Virgin’s womb.

4. Christ is the silenced Word of God,
Laid in a borrowed tomb.

5. Christ is the resurrected Word of God,
Eternally.

6. Christ is the universal Word of God,
Who sets us free.

7. Christ is the ever-present Word of God,
Who makes us whole.

8. Christ is the everlasting Word of God,
Within each soul.

References

1. In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1; NLT).

God created everything through him (John 1:3; NLT).

2. He healed every kind of disease and illness (Matthew 4:23; NLT).

God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:9; NLT).

3. The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God (Luke 1:35; NLT).

The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel [God with us] (Isaiah 7:15; NIV).

4. He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter (Isaiah 53:7; NLT).

When the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!” (Mark 15:39; NIV).

Joseph took the body and […] placed it in his own new tomb (Matthew 27:59-60; NLT).

5. Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25; NIV).

6. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released (Luke 4:18; NLT).

7. Be sure of this: I am with you always (Matthew 28:20; NLT).

He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:5; RSV).

He wounds, but his hands make whole (Job 5:18; NKJV).

8. Christ lives within you (Romans 8:10; NLT).

Nothing

Ruth Kirk

1. Lord,
Overlook the fact
That I am nothing –

2. A sinner
Who’s no use to you
At all.

3. Have mercy on me,
Father God,
Forgive me,

4. And rescue me, Lord,
Every time
I fall.

References

1. I am nothing (Job 40:4; NLT).

2. The tax collector stood at  distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, “O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner” (Luke 18:13; NLT).

3. Have mercy on me, a sinner (Luke 18:13; NIV).

4. He rescues me (Psalm 36:9; NLT).

You walk upon the earth

Ruth Kirk

1. You walk upon the earth, Lord God,
You ride across the skies;

2. You flow through every sea, Lord God,
Creating paradise.

References

1. When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden (Genesis 3:8; NLT).

He rides across the heavens to help you, across the skies in majestic splendour (Deuteronomy 33:26; NLT).

You make your clouds your chariot; you ride upon the wings of the wind (Psalm 104:3; NLT).

2. Your road led through the sea, your pathway through the mighty waters (Psalm 77:19; NLT).

Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43; NLT).

Awestruck

Ruth Kirk

1. Lord,
You overwhelm me
With your power.

2. I am afraid.
Silenced.
Awestruck.

3. I want to run away,
But cannot move,
And there is nowhere to hide.

4. I am nothing.
You are all:
Lord, save me!

5. Yet despite my fear,
I love you so much,
And know that you love me.

6. Therefore,
I dare
To worship you.

 

References

1. The Lord Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth (Psalm 47:2; NIV).

2. It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10:31; NIV).

3. “Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?” declares the Lord. “Do I not fill heaven and earth?” (Jeremiah 23:24; NIV).

4. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Psalm 111:10; NIV).

The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us!” (Matthew 8:25; NIV).

6. Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise (Psalm 52:15; NIV).