breath – A prayer for today

Everything I am

May 5, 2024Ruth Kirk

You and I both belong to God (Job 33:6; NLT).

Everything I am
Belongs to you:

Body, mind, heart, soul,
And breath, Lord, too.

You made them all
So I can be your shrine:

Lord God,
I’m wholly yours,
And you are mine.

I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine (Song of Songs 6:3; NIV).

References

Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us! (1 Chronicles 29:14; NLT).

You made me; you created me (Psalm 119:73:NLT).

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13; NLT).

The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life (Job 33:4; NLT).

We are the temple of the living God (2 Corinthians 6:16; NLT).

I am yours (Psalm 119:24; NLT).

My body is yours

May 1, 2024Ruth Kirk

Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself (1 Corinthians 6:19; NLT).

My body is yours, Lord,
To use as you please.

My mind, your domain:
I embrace each disease.

My heart is your home, Lord,
From birth until death.

My spirit is yours,
For my soul is your breath.

My strength comes from you, Lord:
May your will be done,

For though life brings sorrow and pain,
We are one.

Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him (Philippians 3:8-9; NLT).

References

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).

This is what the sovereign LORD says to these bones: Look, I am about to infuse breath into you and you will live (Ezekiel 37:5; NET).

The LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul (Genesis 2:7; KJV).

The LORD is my strength (Exodus 15:2; NLT).

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

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

My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever (Psalm 73:26; NLT).

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

Life

April 30, 2024April 30, 2024Ruth Kirk

Your hands have made me and fashioned me (Psalm 119:73; KJV).

You fashioned me, Lord,
From the dust of the ground,
Mixed with earth’s waters,
And warmed by the sun.

You quickened me, Lord,
With your life-giving breath:
Your Spirit within is my soul –
We are one.

The person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him (1 Corinthians 6:17; NLT).

References

The LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul (Genesis 2:7; NKJV).

This is what the sovereign LORD says to these bones: Look, I am about to infuse breath into you and you will live (Ezekiel 37:5; NET).

The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life (Job 33:4; NKJV).

God is Spirit (John 4:24; NKJV).

The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you (Romans 8:11; NLT).

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

Part of God

April 22, 2024April 22, 2024Ruth Kirk

Everything comes from him; everything happens through him; everything ends up in him (Romans 11:36; TM).

We’re part of you
Before our birth.

We’re yours in exile
Here, on earth.

You live in us:
Our souls, your breath,

Then, one with you, Lord,
After death.

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

God never meant us to experience the Retribution, but to win salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that, alive or dead, we should still live united to him (1 Thessalonians 5:9-10; JB).

References

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

Although I have scattered you in the countries of the world, I will be a sanctuary to you during your time in exile (Ezekiel 11:16; NLT).

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

We are the temple of the living God (2 Corinthians 6:16; NLT).

The LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul (Genesis 2:7; KJV).

The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life (Job 33:4; KJV).

God will redeem me from the realm of the dead; he will surely take me to himself (Psalm 49:15; NIV).

Hosanna!

April 16, 2024April 28, 2024Ruth Kirk

Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-3; NIV).

Good morning, Father, Elohim,
The God of gods, my Rock, my King,
I lift my heart to you, and sing:
Hosanna.

Good morning, Christ, Adonai,
The Son of God, who stays close by,
The One who always hears my cry:
Hosanna.

Good morning, Spirit of the Lord,
The Breath of God, His love outpoured,
My Advocate, my truth, my sword:
Hosanna.

Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Mark 11:8-9; NIV).

References

When I wake up, you are still with me! (Psalm 139:18; NLT).

When I awake, I will see you face to face and be satisfied (Psalm 17:15; NLT).

Behold, I am with you every day, even unto the end of time (Matthew 28:20; ABPI).

Each day the LORD pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life (Psalm 42:8; NLT).

The Spirit is truth (1 John 5:6; NKJV).

God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this.Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us (Acts 2:32-3; NLT).

Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Hebrews 4:12; NLT).

Sharing with God

April 8, 2024April 8, 2024Ruth Kirk

Introduction
Human beings are made up of five distinct, inter-related elements: body, mind, heart, soul and spirit. When we choose to share these parts of ourselves with God, we can move into an ever-deepening relationship with him, for: We are the temple of the living God (2 Corinthians 6:16; NLT).

Every night, just before settling down to sleep, I silently open these five aspects of myself to God, sharing them with him one by one. This process is a journey to the deepest part of myself. It’s not easy to describe, but I will do my best.

Body
The body I live in belongs to God, who made it (Isaiah 64:8; BBE). He has lent it to me for a limited time, during my exile on earth, so I begin my journey by sharing it with him in stillness and silence.

Mind
Then I go a step further, sharing my mind with God. I don’t need to say a single word, because he already knows all my thoughts (Psalm 139:2; NLT). There is nothing I want to hide from him, and nothing I can hide from him.

Heart
Next, moving a little further on my inward journey, I share the emotions in my heart with him, though, once again, he already knows them in full (1 Samuel 16:7; NLT). Essentially, I am opening my whole self more and more fully to God, step by step.

Soul
Sharing my soul with him takes me still deeper, for I become acutely conscious that my soul is his life-giving breath within me (Genesis 2:7; KJV).

Spirit
Finally, at the deepest level of all, I reach my spirit. There is no need for me to “open” it, or to “share” it. Neither is there any “me”. There is only oneness with God. As St. Paul writes: The person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him (1 Corinthians 6:17; NLT).

Conclusion
At my death, when I leave behind my earthly body, my mind, heart and soul will cease, but my spirit will continue to be one with God forever: The dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7; NIV).

So, may my last words be the same as those of Jesus: Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands (Luke 23:46; NLT).

14.1.24: Three prayers

January 13, 2024Ruth Kirk

I long for the Lord more than sentries long for the dawn, yes, more than sentries long for the dawn (Psalm 130:6; NLT).

All night long I prayed, with hands lifted toward heaven, but my soul was not comforted (Psalm 77:2; NLT).

In the darkness of night:
Lord, I long for your light.

In the stress of each day:
Lord, please show me your way.

I’m the dust of the earth,
Without merit, or worth –

Yet my soul is your breath:
Lord, redeem me from death.

God will redeem me from the realm of the dead; he will surely take me to himself (Psalm 49:15; NIV).

References

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life (Psalm 143:8; NIV).

I am nothing but dust and ashes (Genesis 18:27; NIV).

The LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul (Genesis 2:7; KJV).

When I was in deep trouble, I searched for the Lord (Psalm 77:2; NLT).

29.12.23: Blood (#3 of 3)

December 28, 2023Ruth Kirk

Three unusual prayers came to me in very quick succession at bedtime on Christmas Day. They go together, so I’m posting them in the order in which they arrived. Here is the third:

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son (Luke 2:6-7; KJV).

Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last (Luke 23:46; NLT).

The blood of birth;
The blood of death:
Both spilled on earth –
We fight for breath.

The pain of birth;
The pain of death:
A final push;
A final breath.

All birth, and life,
And death are one
For us, and even you –
God’s Son.

It was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people (Hebrews 2:17; NLT).

References

This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins (Matthew 26:28; KJV).

Do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day (2 Peter 3:8; NIV).

All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time (Jude 1:25; NLT).

He was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 1:4; NLT).

13.12.23: You make us

December 12, 2023December 13, 2023Ruth Kirk

The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life (Job 33:4; NLT).

Holy Ghost,
You make us,
Bear us,
Shake us,
Breathe us –
Never leave us.

Holy Ghost,
You wake us,
Pray us,
Take us,
Sigh us –
And baptise us.

Holy Ghost,
You walk us,
Teach us,
Talk us,
Move us –
And reprove us.

Holy Ghost,
You still us,
Touch us,
Fill us,
Use us –
And suffuse us.

Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself for God bought you with a high price (1 Corinthians 6:20; NLT).

References

John answered their questions by saying, “I baptize you with water; but someone is coming soon who is greater than I am – so much greater that I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire” (Luke 3:16; NLT).

I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor-Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever – the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive [and take to its heart] because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He (the Holy Spirit) remains with you continually and will be in you (John 14:16-17; AMP).

The Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor-Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you (John 14:26; AMP).

On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4; NLT).

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13; NLT).