Category: bless

Don’t let prayer become a burden

Ruth Kirk


Jesus said, “Come to me all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
(Matthew 11:28-30; NLT).

Don’t let prayer become a burden;
Don’t let prayer become a chore:
Listen to the Spirit’s prompting –
Silence is your inner core.

Take it slowly. Take it gently.
Keep it honest; not too long:
One with God in deep communion –
Though you’re weak, your prayers are strong.

Revel in your intercessions;
Pray for those who cross your path,
Begging God to bless and heal them –
Don’t let this become a “task”.

For yourself, ask God to help you
Face, and bear, his perfect will
With humble thanks, and great rejoicing –
Knowing that he loves you, still.

Pray that many unbelievers
Meet Christ Jesus, hear his call,
Repent, and turn to him each day –
Believing that God loves us all.

🖤

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).

Praying for others

Ruth Kirk

Never stop praying, especially for others.
(Ephesians 6:18; CEV). 

Lord,

Bless those who follow you today,
And those who don’t;

Those who talk with you,    
And those who won’t;

All those trying to serve,
And those who aren’t;

Those who glimpse your light,
And those who can’t.

🖤

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.
(1 Timothy 2:1; NLT). 

 

Praying for others

Ruth Kirk

Never stop praying, especially for others (Ephesians 6:18; CEV). 

Every day, when I post my blog, I pray for those who will read it, for those who will only glance at it, for those who won’t be exposed to any prayers, and for those who don’t believe in God. This can sometimes feel like a heavy task, because of my ongoing illness and fatigue, so I’m wondering if any readers might like to share it. 

One way to do this would be to develop the habit of praying briefly for others just before, or after, reading each new blog.

Here is a short, lighthearted poem that could be used:

Praying for others 

Bless all those who read this prayer,
And all those, Lord, who don’t.

Bless those who will pray today,
And all those, Lord, who won’t.

Bless those who can grasp your love,
And all those, Lord, who can’t.

Bless those who are seeking you,
And all those, Lord, who aren’t.

Alternatively, some readers might prefer to use their own words:

  • Pray for those who visit this website. Ask God to bless them, and to enable them to find something here that helps them.
  • Pray for those who glance at the day’s prayer, but dismiss it immediately.
  • Pray for those who never pray, and for all who don’t believe in God. Ask him to bring back those who have strayed, and to draw many new believers to himself each day.

Whatever the approach, I would deeply appreciate any prayers said for those who visit this website, and for the countless millions who don’t.

 

 

Help me to understand

Ruth Kirk

He himself gives life and breath to everything,
and he satisfies every need
(Acts 17:25; NLT).

1. Help me, Lord,
To understand
That you, alone,
Give all I have,

2.  And, that you also
Take away,
For every life
Brings good and bad.

3. Help me to accept
Your will
With gladness, thanks,
And constant prayer,

4. Confident, Lord,
That you bring blessings
In the end,
From all we bear.

🧡

References

1. The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. May the name of the Lord be blessed (Job 1:21; NET).

2. When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other (Ecclesiastes 7:14; NIV).

3. I want your will to be done, not mine (Matthew 26:39; NLT).

Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; RSV).

4. We know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good (Romans 8:28; AMP).

 

 

In prayer

Ruth Kirk


Pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf
(1 Timothy 2:1; NLT). 

Lord,

In prayer,
I often ask you to do things:
To bless, comfort, strengthen
And heal others;

To help me accept
All you send,
Yet still, somehow,
To serve you.

But today, I’m not asking you
To do anything at all;
For I am content
To rest in your presence,

Absorbing your warmth, light
And peace, Lord,
Your truth,
And your love.

This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength” (Isaiah 30:15; NLT).

Help those who never hear

Ruth Kirk

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

Help those who never hear your voice,
Although creation sings your praise. 

Bless those who never see your face,
Although your glance sets stars ablaze.

Heal those who never know your love,
Although you cherish all you make. 

Guide those who never try to pray,
Although their sorry hearts may break.  

Teach those who never seek your Son,
Although he dwells within us all.

Draw those who never grasp, Lord God,
That you must wait, until we call. 

The Lord must wait for you to come to him
so he can show you his love and compassion
(Isaiah 30:18; NLT).

______________________________

The purpose of life

Ruth Kirk

You can make many plans,
but the Lord’s purpose will prevail
(Proverbs 19:21; NLT).

The purpose of life
is to learn from all we experience,
both good and bad;

To take up our cross
and follow Christ,
becoming more like him,

And growing ever closer to God,
until we grasp our oneness with him,
and with all people.

The purpose of life
is to love others,
without exception;

To pray for them, bless them,
and serve them,
however we can,

And to heal those who suffer
in body, or mind,
in heart, or in spirit, or soul.

He sent them out
to tell everyone about the Kingdom of God
and to heal the sick
(Luke 9:2; NLT).

____________________________________

Looking back

Ruth Kirk

The years of pain.
The empty street.
The fruitless wait;
The mid-day heat.

The dying hope;
The voices, near.
The noisy crowd;
The Teacher, here.

His look of love;
His outstretched hand.
His healing touch;
He helps me stand.

I straighten up,
And take a pace;
The people cheer
While we embrace.

A miracle!
He’s set me free!
I thank him,
And he blesses me.

I bow down low.
The crowd moves on.
I raise my eyes,
But he is gone.

The voices fade
Along the way.
I see it all –
Like yesterday.

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

When you give me light (for A.K.)

Ruth Kirk

I send good times and bad times.
I, the Lord,
am the one who does these things
(Isaiah 45:7; 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).

Father,
When you give me light
I praise your holy name.

When you send me
Clouds and darkness,
May I do the same. 

Father,
When you grant me peace
I bless your sacred name.

When you send me
Fear and anguish,
May I do the same.

Father,
When you give me joy
I praise your holy name.

When you send me
Grief and sorrow,
May I do the same.

Father,
When you grant me health
I bless your sacred name.

When you send me
Pain and sickness,
May I do the same.

Father,
While you give me life
I’ll praise your holy name.

When you call me home
In death,
May I do just the same.

I will praise the Lord at all times
(Psalm 34:1; NLT).