Author: Ruth Kirk

My leading light

Ruth Kirk

I am the Alpha and the Omega,
the First and the Last,
the Beginning and the End
(Revelation 22:13; NIV).

1. Lord,
You are my leading light:
My origin
From ages past.

2. Lord,
You are my guiding star:
My dawn, my sun,
My First, my Last.

3. Lord,
You are my cornerstone:
My sanctuary, my home,
My Friend.

4. Lord,
You are my heart’s desire:
My way, my truth, my life,
My end.

References

1. You will be a light to guide the nations (Isaiah 42:6; NLT).

I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life (John 8:12; NLT).

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made (John 1:1-3; NIV).

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

You, O God, are my king from ages past (Psalm 74:12; NLT).

2. The star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem (Matthew 2:9; NLT).

Your salvation will come like the dawn (Isaiah 58:8; NLT).

No longer will you need the sun to shine by day, nor the moon to give its light by night, for the Lord your God will be your everlasting light (Isaiah 60:19; NLT).

I am the First and the Last; there is no other God (Isaiah 44:6; NLT).

3. The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone (Psalm 118:22; NLT).

He will conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary (Psalm 27:5; NLT).

Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them” (John 14:23; NLT).

You are my friends (John 15:15; NLT).

So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God (Romans 5:11; NLT).

4. Our heart’s desire is to glorify your name (Isaiah 26:8; NLT).

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6; NLT).

The dust will returns to the earth, and the spirit will return to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7; NLT).

These words

Ruth Kirk

These words you hear are not my own;
they belong to the Father who sent me
(John 14:24; NIV).

1. Your kingdom come:
These words give hope,
Reviving my weak faith.

2. Deliver us:
These words speak truth;
They show me you are great.

3. Forgive our sins:
These words grant peace;
Your pardon makes me whole.

4. As we forgive:
These words pledge rest
To my poor mind and soul.

5. Your will be done:
These words bring calm
To my last days on earth.

6. For evermore:
My spirit flies
To you, who gave me birth.

References

1. May your kingdom come soon (Luke 11:2; NLT).

2. Deliver us from evil (Matthew 6:13; KJV).

3. Forgive us our sins… (Matthew 6:12; NLT).

4. …as we have forgiven those who sin against us (Matthew 6:13; NLT).

5. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10; NLT).

6. Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever (Matthew 6:13; NKJV).

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).

In solitude

Ruth Kirk

1. In solitude, be silent,
Still,
And wait upon the Lord,
Until

2. You’re overwhelmed
With waves of light:
Intense, majestic,
Golden, bright.

3. Absorb God’s love
As you breathe in:
Forget your cares,
Your pain, your sin.

4. Then talk to him
As you breathe out:
Share every longing,
Fear, and doubt.

5. Listen to
His still, small voice;
Accept his remedies;
Rejoice

6. And learn from him
With humble grace,
For, one day,
You will see his face.

References

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

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

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

2. God shines in glorious radiance (Psalm 50: 2; NLT).

Golden splendour comes from the mountain of God. He is clothed in dazzling splendour (Job 37:22; NLT).

3. Unfailing love, O Lord, is yours (Psalm 62:12; NLT).

Come to me all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28; NLT).

4. Pray about everything. Tell God what you need (Philippians 4:6; NLT).

You desire honesty from the womb (Psalm 51:6; NLT).

5. Listen to his voice (Deuteronomy 13:4; NLT).

After the fire [came] a still small voice (1 Kings 19:12; NKJV).

God talks with man (Deuteronomy 5:24; DBY).

Wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy (Proverbs 2:10; NLT).

He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy (Psalm 28:7; NLT).

6. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle (Matthew 11:29; NIV).

Now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face (1 Corinthians 13:12; NRSV).

Remember, we will all stand before the judgement seat of God (Romans 14:10; NLT).

Action prayer (dedicated to M.R.)

Ruth Kirk

Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for.
Keep on seeking, and you will find.
Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you
(Luke 11:9; NLT).

Lift arms, palms upward

1. Lord,
I’m reaching up to you,
Asking help
From heaven above.

Arms in front, palms upward

2. Lord,
I’m reaching out to you,
Seeking peace of mind,
And love.

Cross arms on chest. Tap one hand on shoulder

3. Lord,
I’m reaching inward, too,
Knocking on your door
Within.

Open arms wide, as if on a cross

4. Lord,
At last, I’m finding you:
Over, in, through
Everything!

References

1. He will send help from heaven to rescue me (Psalm 57:3; NLT).

2. The Kingdom of God is near (Mark:1:15; NLT).

3. The Kingdom of God is within you (Luke 17:21; NKJV).

4. There is one […] God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all (Ephesians 4:5-6; NLT).

Enlightenment

Ruth Kirk


The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world
(John 1:9; HNV).

1. Each human life brings trials
And suffering.
God gives, and takes away;
He wounds, and heals.

2. He helps us learn
From all we undergo,
Until, at last,
Enlightenment reveals

3. His purpose: change and growth
For every soul;
For as we learn to love,
We are made whole.

References

1. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows (John 16:33; NLT).

The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord (Job 1:21; NLT).

I am the one who wounds and heals (Deuteronomy 32:39; NLT).

2. We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him (Romans 8:28; NIV).

Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding (Hebrews 6:1; NLT).

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).

3. His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him (Acts 17:27; NLT).

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

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them (Romans 12:9; NLT).

I am the Lord who heals you (Exodus 15:26; NLT).

He restores my soul (Psalm 23:3; NKJV).

God speaks

Ruth Kirk


1. God speaks to us
But we don’t hear:
With him, there’s neither
Hate, nor fear.

2. God cares for us
Although we fight:
With him, there’s neither
Black, nor white.

3. God aches for us,
And hears each plea:
With him, there’s neither
Slave, nor free.

4. God longs for us
To change, and trust:
With him, there’s neither
Them, nor us.

5. God treasures us,
And this is key:
With him, there’s neither
He, nor she.

6. God offers us
His much-loved Son:
With him, all humankind
Is one.

References

1. God speaks again and again, though people do not recognise it (Job 33:14; NLT).

No one will be hurt or destroyed on my holy mountain (Isaiah 65:25; NLT).

Perfect love drives out fear (1 John 4:18; NIV).

2. The Lord protects the foreigners among us. He cares for the orphans and widows (Psalm 146:9; NLT).

Do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also (Matthew 5:39; NLT).

3. In all their suffering he also suffered (Isaiah 63:9; NLT).

He hears their cries for help and rescues them (Psalm 145:19; NLT).

There is neither slave nor free (Galatians 3:28; NKJV).

4. The Lord longs to be gracious to you (Isaiah 30:18; NIV).

Repent and turn to me again (Revelation 3:3; NLT).

Trust in God (John 14:1; NLT).

5. He loves us with unfailing love (Psalm 117:2; NLT).

There is neither male nor female (Galatians 3:28; NKJV).

6. 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).

This is my beloved Son (Luke 9:35; NKJV).

You are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28; NLT).

Many more

Ruth Kirk

Because of his words many more became believers
(John 4:41; NIV).

1. I pray that many more
Will come to seek you,
Son of Man,
And find great faith
By following your steps
The best they can.

2. I pray that many more
Will come to trust you,
Prince of Peace,
And find great joy
In thanking you,
And praising without cease.

3. I pray that many more
Will come to love you,
Chosen One,
And find great hope
Through helping others
Know you as God’s Son.

References

1. You will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all soul (Deuteronomy 4:29; NIV).

The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28; NLT).

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. Trust in God and trust also in me (John 14:1; NLT).

He will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6; NIV).

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; NIV).

3. May God’s grace be eternally upon all who love our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 6:24; NLT).

Teach them to know the truth that shows them how to live godly lives (Titus 1:1; NLT).

Then a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, my Chosen One. Listen to him” (Luke 9:35; NLT).