Month: October 2023

Whatever you want (for L.S.)

Ruth Kirk

I want your will to be done, not mine (Luke 22:42; NLT).

Give me teaching so that I may do your pleasure; for you are my God: let your good Spirit be my guide into the land of righteousness (Psalm 143:10; BBE). 

Whatever you want me to do,

I will do;
And whatever you want me to say,
I will say.

Whenever you want me to write,
I will write;
And whenever you want me to pray,
I will pray.

Wherever you want me to be,
I will be;
And however you want me to serve,
I will try.

Lord,
While you want me to live,
I will live;
And the moment you take back my soul,
I will die.

This night your soul will be required of you (Luke 12:20; NKJV).

 

Love-letter

Ruth Kirk

Dear Jesus,

Lord, I love you very much.

Please help me to love you twice as much, on behalf of those I pray for.

Help me to love you ten times more, for the sake of all who, sadly, don’t love you.

Jesus, today, please show yourself to everyone who needs you, especially those who wouldn’t think of asking for your help.

Whatever they have to face, Lord, may it lead them straight to you, thus bringing good from all that’s bad, however bad their very worst may be.

Then, may they begin, at last, to follow your perfect way: the way of love.

I ask this in your own dear name: Amen

References 

I love you, Lord (Psalm 18:1; NLT).

In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28; NIV).

God’s way is perfect (2 Samuel 22:31; NLT).

Follow the way of love (1 Corinthians 14:1; NIV).

 

Rejoice, pray, thank

Ruth Kirk

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; NIV). 

Lord,

May I rejoice
And praise,
Here, in your presence,
All my days,

And, may I pray
Constantly
To you, the God
Who ransoms me. 

May my thanks, Lord,
Never end
For all the good
And bad you send,

So, may I worship,
Serve, and sing,
Hid in the shadow
Of your wing.

In the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy (Psalm 63:7; ESV).

Hide me in the shadow of your wings (Psalm 17:8; NLT).

 

Flying colours

Ruth Kirk

I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us (Philippians 3:13-14; NLT).

Come through life with flying colours:
Make each loss you face, a gain.
Come through every test with honours:
Trust in Jesus’ Holy Name.

Come through death in shining robes:
Be guided by his staff and rod.
Come, at last, borne by his Spirit:
Then unite with Christ, our God.

Come, for evermore, to heaven:
Merge with Him, our resting-place.
Come, receive the victor’s prize:
To gaze, forever, on his face.

His servants will worship him. And they will see his face (Revelation 22:3-4; NLT).

References

We look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed (Titus 2:13; NLT).

This faith was given to you because of the justice and fairness of Jesus Christ, our God and Savior (2 Peter 1:1; NLT).

Peace

Ruth Kirk

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward humankind (Luke 2:14; NHEB). 

I pray for peace on earth, Lord God:
Please free us from our past.

In every mind, and heart, and soul,
Please give us peace at last.

In every home, and every school,
And every workplace, too,

In every village, town and city,
Help us start anew.

Between all nations, tribes and states,
Of every faith, and none,

I pray for peace in every heart, Lord God:
Thy will be done.

Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10; RSV).

Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation (Luke 11:4; NLT).

 

Acceptance (for M.)

Ruth Kirk

Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble? (Job 2:10; NIV). 

Accept whatever way of life
God sends:
The ups and downs;
The enemies; the friends.

Follow the way of death
Our Saviour trod:
Back to the Father;
Back to the Lord, Our God.

Comforted by his Spirit’s
Constant care,
Always remember:
God is everywhere –

In every person,
Situation, place:
Pouring out love, forgiveness,
Hope, and grace.

We praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son (Ephesians 1:6; NLT).

 

Set on you

Ruth Kirk

Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth (Colossians 3:2; NKJV).

My mind is set on you, Lord God,
My heart is set on you –
No matter where I go, Lord God,
No matter what I do.

No matter how I am, Lord God,
No matter how I stray –
My soul is fixed on you, Lord God:
Please keep me on your way.

Though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself any more, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left (Isaiah 30:20-21; NLT).

References

Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God (1 Chronicles 22:19; NASB95).

O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep this forever in the intent of the thoughts of the heart of Your people, and fix their heart toward You (Chronicles 29:18; NKJV).

Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith (Hebrews 12:2; NIV).

Set your heart on the right path (Proverbs 23:19; NIV).

Pray in the Spirit

Ruth Kirk

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion (1 Corinthians 14:15; NLT). 

Plead with the Father,
Call on his Son,
And pray in the Spirit of God.

Worship the Father,
Follow his Son,
And pray in the Spirit of God.

Join with the Father,
Serve with his Son,
And pray in the Spirit of God.

Live in the Father,
Rest in his Son,
And pray in the Spirit of God.

All who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God (Romans 8:14; NLT).

A reading: Romans 8:26-7; AMP.

We do not know what prayer to offer or how to offer it as we should, but the Spirit Himself [knows our need and at the right time] intercedes on our behalf with sighs and groanings too deep for words. And He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because the Spirit intercedes [before God] on behalf of God’s people in accordance with God’s will.

 

Search for God

Ruth Kirk

Keep searching, and you will find (Luke 11:9; HCSB).

Search for God
In all that happens.

Search for God
In everyone.

Search for God
In good and bad –

Finding, always,
His dear Son.

The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40; NIV).

References 

O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water (Psalm 63:1; NLT).

I create the light and make the darkness. I send good times and bad times. I, the LORD, am the one who does these things (Isaiah 45:7; NLT). 

God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them (Romans 8:28; NLT).

Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9; NLT).

 

Jesus, I trust in you

Ruth Kirk

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

Whenever you’re anxious,
Or burdened by sin,
Say: “Jesus, I trust in you” –
He is within.

Whenever you’re angry,
With bitter words said,
Pray: “Jesus, I trust in you” –
Weeping, instead.

Whenever you’re sorry,
Ashamed and contrite,
Cry: “Jesus, I trust in you” –
He is your Light;

And when people hurt you,
Reject you, or chide,
Sigh: “Jesus, I trust in you” –
Thanking your Guide.

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

Jesus [is] the guide and end of our faith (Hebrews 12:2; BBE).