Category: anguish

Bear fruit

Ruth Kirk

Three things will last forever – faith, hope, and love –
and the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:13; NLT).

Lord,
May my doubting
Wither, and decay;

But, may my faith in you
Gain strength each day.

Lord,
May my anguish
Fade, and die away;

But, may my hope in you
Increase each day.

Lord,
May my sins
Reduce, and cease, I pray;

But, may my love for you
Bear fruit each day.

🖤

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing (John 15:5; NIV). 

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-3; NRSV).

 

Life is short

Ruth Kirk

How frail is humanity! How short is life, how full of trouble!
(Job 14:1; NLT).

No one can live forever; all will die.
(Psalm 89:48; NLT).

Life is short;
From birth, I face its end.
Life is hard,
But I am in your hand.
Life is a test,
Yet you, Lord, care from on high:
Sharing my sorrows;
Hearing every sigh.

Life is short,
And death is drawing near.
Life is hard,
But I am safe, with you.
Life is a test,
Yet you, Lord, come from above:
Sharing my anguish;
Pouring out your love.

Life is short;
My days are numbered here.
Life is hard,
But I need have no fear.
Life is a test,
Yet you, Lord, suffer within:
Sharing my pain, my failure,
And my sin.

Life is short;
My time on earth is brief.
Life is hard,
But I belong to you.
Life is a test,
Yet you, Lord, dwell in my soul:
Sharing my life and death,
To make me whole.

🖤

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).

 

In anguish (for M)

Ruth Kirk

Blessed be the Lord!
Day after day he bears our burdens;
God is our salvation.
(Psalm 68:19; CSB).

Lord,
In anguish,
And distress,
Hour after hour,
You watch with us.

Lord,
In sickness,
Fear, and pain,
Day after day,
You care for us.

Lord,
In heartbreak,
Loss, and grief,
Month after month,
You comfort us.

Lord,
In birth, and life,
And death,
Year after year,
You carry us.

♥️

He lifts them up, and carries them.
(Isaiah 63:9; LSV).

 

 

Remembrance Day

Ruth Kirk

Nation will go to war against nation,
and kingdom against kingdom.
(Matthew 24:7; NLT). 

I pray for all
Who go to war:
They suffer fear, like you;

For all whose lives
Are scarred by war:
They know your anguish, too.

I pray for all those
Crushed by war:
They share your pain, dear Lord;

For all those
Who are killed by war:
Each lonely death, like yours.

♥️

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
(Mark 15:34; NLT).

 

You’re here

Ruth Kirk

God is with us
(Isaiah 7:14; NLT).

Father God,
You’re here, in sorrow:
Heal us through your holy name.

Son of Man,
You’re here, in sickness:
Share our anguish, and our pain.

Holy Ghost,
You’re here, in darkness:
Guide us with your staff and rod.

Three-In-One,
You’re here, within us:
Light our path to you, Lord God.

💜

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

Does God withdraw?

Ruth Kirk

He makes darkness his secret place
(Psalm 18:11; LSV). 

When the sun sets on the hill,
Does God withdraw?

No, for he’s in darkness,
As in light.

When affliction blights my life,
Does God withdraw?

No, for he’s in weakness,
As in might.

When depression breaks my heart,
Does God withdraw?

No, for he’s in weeping,
As in cheer.

When anguish fills my soul,
Does God withdraw?

No, for he’s in all,
And he is here.

💙

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

Please heal my sickness (#5 of 6 linked prayers)

Ruth Kirk

He forgives all my sins
and heals all my diseases
(Psalm 103:3; NLT).

Lord,
Please heal my sickness,
My wretchedness,
My pain;

Forgive my sins;
Renew my youth;
Restore my strength again.

Lord,
Please rescue me from death:
Look down from heaven above,

Cut short my anguish;
End my pain;
And crown me with your love.

He redeems me from death
and crowns me with love
(Psalm 103:4; NLT).

Your healing touch

Ruth Kirk

I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels, which present the prayers of the saints, and which go in and out before the glory of the Holy One
(Tobit 12:15; KJV).

God sent me […] to cure you
(Tobit 12:13-14; GNTA).

Lord Jesus, 

Please give Raphael
Your gentle, healing touch,
Then send him down to help us,
For you love us all so much.

You see our trials and sorrows, Lord,
You hear our anguished cries;
You share our grief and pain;
Your Spirit prays for us with sighs.

You know, Lord, how we suffer here
In mind and body, heart and soul,
But with his help we will be healed:
Your touch will make us whole.


In one of the villages, Jesus met a man with an advanced case of leprosy. When the man saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground, begging to be healed. “Lord,” he said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.” Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared (Luke 5:12-13; NLT).