Month: July 2023

Filling my soul

Ruth Kirk

I had to wake up early yesterday morning for some work to be done in my house. Whilst I was praying, these verses arrived:

The Spirit, too, comes to help us in our weakness. For we don’t know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit expresses our plea with groanings too deep for words. And God, who knows everything in our hearts, knows perfectly well what the Spirit is saying, because her intercessions for God’s holy people are made according to the mind of God (Romans 8:26-7; TIB). 

Filling my soul,
You pray within me –
Lord, I’m your willing slave.

Pleading on my behalf
For others –
Lord, please forgive and save.

Making me weep,
With sighs and groaning –
Lord, please touch every mind,

Ending our hatred, wars
And bloodshed –
Heal us, for we are blind.

In their blind conceit, they cannot see how wicked they really are (Psalm 36:2; NLT). 

You will open the eyes of the blind (Isaiah 42:7; NLT).

I love you

Ruth Kirk

Yesterday morning this prayer came to me whilst I was worshipping very sleepily. I didn’t want to break off, but I had to start writing it down in the end. It proved very difficult to express. I’m really sorry that my words are so inadequate and pedestrian, and wish I could do better.

I love you, Lord (Psalm 18:1; NLT). 

I love you –
This, my spirit’s song;
May I repeat it
All day long,
And serve you well,
And do no wrong:
My Teacher.

I love you –
Though my heart may break,
I’ll say these words
When I awake,
And lift up others
For your sake:
My Saviour.

I love you –
This, my only prayer,
For you are with me
Everywhere;
One Lord, one God,
Without compare:
My Jesus.

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

Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:9-11; NLT).

 

Bathed in light

Ruth Kirk

These verses arrived during a period of wordless prayer yesterday morning. I resisted breaking off to write them down for as long as I could, but in the end there was no choice. This piece was extremely difficult to put into words.

God is light (1 John 1:5; NLT).

I’m bathed in light,
In peace, and joy;
In your forgiveness
From above.

I sense your pity,
Grief and tears;
Your fire, your strength,
Your tender love.

I’m bathed in faith,
In truth, and grace,
As I receive
Your gentle touch.

You share my sorrow,
Loss, and pain –
Because you care for me
So much.

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).

To hold a cross

Ruth Kirk

After a very demanding day on Saturday, plus a migraine, I slept late yesterday. The migraine continued, so I really didn’t expect to receive a prayer, but God can always surprise me:

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). 

Just to hold a cross, Lord,
Is to pray,

Knowing you are with me
Night and day,

Living all around me
And within:

Safe here, in the shadow
Of your wing. 

How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings (Psalm 36:7; NLT).

 

Thank you

Ruth Kirk

This prayer came to me one morning, when I kissed my beautiful picture of Jesus on the cross, and said, “Thank you,” to him:

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:18; NIV). 

Thank you, Christ Jesus,
For all you have done for me.

Thank you for helping me, Lord,
Through today.

Thank you, my Saviour,
For all you will do for me.

You are my Lord and my God –
Come what may.

I am with you always, even to the end of the world (Matthew 28:20; WNT).

References

The LORD is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving (Psalm 28:7; NLT). 

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

Here

Ruth Kirk

Yesterday, when I woke and started to pray as usual, these two groups of linked couplets quickly came to me. They were quite hard to put into words, but slowly, line by line, the whole piece emerged from my inner darkness.

Be silent before the LORD, all humanity for he is springing into action from his holy dwelling (Zechariah 2:13; NLT).

Here, in silent adoration,
Lord, I wake, and start to pray.

Here, in stillness: exultation –
Thus, Lord, I begin each day.

Here, I find you, always waiting:
Yahweh, you’re not far away.

Here, alone, in wordless worship,
Lord, you set my spirit free.

Here, in darkness: one with you –
There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.

Here, in timeless liberation:
This is heaven, Lord, for me.

Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I wasn’t even aware of it!” (Genesis 28:16; NLT).

Guide me

Ruth Kirk

This simple, heartfelt prayer came straight to me as I kissed my icon of Christ yesterday morning. It laid hold of me, and moved me deeply.

Send out your light and your truth; let them guide me. Let them lead me to your holy mountain, to the place where you live (Psalm 43:3; NLT). 

Guide my mind, Lord,
And my thoughts,
So I grow more like you.

Guide my heart
Till I love all,
Then I’lI be more like You.

Guide my soul,
And help me pray,
Till I become like you.

Guide my life,
My steps, my way –
Then bring me back to You.

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

Instead

Ruth Kirk

Today’s prayer proved surprisingly difficult to put into words. I’ve been slowly working on it over the last couple of weeks.

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).

I pray that your great love for all
Will reign in every life, Lord God,
But if we won’t receive your love
Please send us peace, instead.

I ask that your eternal peace
Will dwell in every mind, Lord God,
But if we don’t accept your peace
Please teach us truth, instead.

I beg that your enduring truth
Will rule in every heart, Lord God,
But if we can’t believe your truth
Please grant us light, instead.

I plead that your unceasing light
Will shine in every soul, Lord God,
But if we don’t perceive your light
Please give us hope, instead.

The Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled (Romans 15:4; NLT).

 

Believe in God

Ruth Kirk

These verses emerged yesterday at the end of a period of shining, blissful, timeless prayer. The lines came one by one, and within just a few minutes the initial writing was complete.

You have been chosen to know me, believe in me, and understand that I alone am God. There is no other God – there never has been, and there never will be. I, yes I, am the LORD, and there is no other Savior (Isaiah 43:10-11; NLT). 

Believe in God,
And worship Him.
Serve him alone,
And do not sin.

Then follow Christ
His only Son.
Take up your cross;
Love everyone.

His Holy Ghost
Will fill your soul,
And, flowing out,
Make others whole

On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him)
(John 7:37-9; NLT).

 

Sunlight and rain

Ruth Kirk

This prayer came to me at around six’ o’clock in the morning a couple of days ago, after I’d been awake for about two hours:

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:18; NIV).

Thank you, my Father,
For sleeping and wakefulness,
Loving and loneliness,
Sunlight and rain.

Thank you, my Father,
For pleasure and wretchedness,
Good health and suffering,
Comfort and pain.

The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away. Blessed be the name of the LORD (Job 1:21; CSB).