Category: breath

28.3.23: Saying “Yes” to God

Ruth Kirk
The Annunciation to Mary by Constantijn Daniel van Renesse & Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn, c. 1652, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin.

Yesterday, as soon as I began to pray without words, these verses arrived:

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

May your perfect will
Be done, Lord,
In my flesh, mind,
Heart and soul,

Throughout my life,
With every breath,
Throughout my dying,
And my death

May I say, “Yes”
To all you send –
For then
I will be whole.

He wounds, but His hands make whole (Job 5:18; NKJV).

References 

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect (Romans 12:2; NLT). 

Mary said, “Yes, I am a servant of the Lord; let this happen to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38; NET).

Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done” (Matthew 26:42; NLT).

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word (Luke 2:29; KJV).

Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last (Luke 23:4t; NIV).

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

The Rosary Hospital

I enjoyed making this unusual Fiat rosary yesterday evening. The olive-wood, tear-drop shaped beads are quite small, but because of their shape they are easy and pleasant to hold. Hopefully, it will be completely finished by tomorrow evening.

15.3.23: God is merciful

Ruth Kirk

The life of every living thing is in his hand, and the breath of every human being (Job 2:10; NLT). 

With us from our first
To our last breath,
God is very merciful
In death.

Even as we face
Our final test,
He gathers every soul
Back to his breast.

So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him (Luke 15:20; NLT). 

References 

The Lord our God is merciful (Daniel 9:9; NLT). 

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3; NLT). 

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

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

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

11.3.23: Your hand

Ruth Kirk

God’s hand was on the people of Israel (2 Chronicles 30:12; NLT).

Father,
Lay your loving hand
On every mind today.
Please call us to repent
And turn to you.

Jesus,
Lay your loving hand
On every heart today.
Please touch us, heal us all,
And make us new.

Spirit,
Lay your loving hand
On every soul today.
Please fill us with your breath,
And cleanse us, too.

Yahweh,
Lay your loving hand
On every life today,
Then we will serve with love,
In all we do.

Do everything with love (1 Corinthians 16:4; NLT).

The Rosary Hospital

Yesterday I made a first communion rosary, using the restored centrepiece I mentioned a day or two ago. It’s not quite finished, but here it is so far:

1.2.23: Safe with you

Ruth Kirk

How quickly our lives can change! A sudden illness, accident, disaster or loss can occur at any time, but God is always with us, no matter what happens.

The Lord holds them by the hand (Psalm 37:24; NLT).

You hold our hands,
And light our path,

You hold us dear,
And help us pray,

You hold us close
Till our last breath:

We’re safe with you,
In life and death.

Whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord (Romans 14:8; NLT).

References

Though the Lord gave you adversity for food and suffering for drink, he will still be with you to teach you (Isaiah 30:20; NLT).

Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me (Psalm 23:4; NKJV). 

1.1.23: I breathe you in

Ruth Kirk

Context: On New Year’s Eve I woke very early, with a migraine. Fortunately, the day before, I had arranged everything I needed to start making hot drinks in my bedroom. So I sat up in bed to pray, a mug  of tea to hand, holding my cross, and repeating Jesus’ name in time with my breathing.

Out of this came a stream of four short, linked prayers. Despite their brevity, they were extremely difficult to put into words. I plan to post them over the next few days, God willing.

The whole group springs from a special prayer said daily by the Community of Our Lady of Walsingham – a prayer which has made a real difference to my quality of life. If anyone is interested, I could ask permission to post it here.

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). 

I breathe you in,
And breathe you out, Lord Jesus.

No matter what you send,
I will say, “Yes”.

You live in me,
And I in you, Lord Jesus –

With you, I can endure
Each new distress.

With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall (2 Samuel 22:30; NIV). 

In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind (2 Corinthians 6:4; NLT).

References 

In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind (Job 12:10; NIV).

Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad? (Job 2:10; NLT).

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

God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them (1 John 4:16; NLT). 

Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will leave this life. The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away. Blessed be the name of the LORD (Job 1:21; CSB).

27.11.22: Better than life

Ruth Kirk

Context: Today’s prayer arrived early yesterday morning when I woke at around 4am with a migraine. After taking my medications, I sat propped up in bed, alternately dozing and writing. These verses slowly emerged over the course of the day, finishing late in the evening:

What is sweeter than honey? (Judges 14:18; NLT). 

What’s sweeter than honey,
And choicer than wine?
Higher than knowledge,
And vaster than time?

What’s brighter than sunlight,
And greater than wealth?
Warmer than friendship,
And finer than health?

What’s stronger than sharing,
And deeper than love?
Kinder than giving,
And richer than blood?

What’s wiser than serving,
And dearer than breath?
Simpler than worship,
And closer than death?

What’s better than living,
And makes us all one?
It’s Christ, our salvation,
God’s dearly-loved Son.

There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12; NLT).

This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy (2 Peter 1 17; NLT).

References

I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. 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 3:7; NLT).

There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28; NLT).

Your unfailing love is better than life itself (Psalm 63:3; NLT).

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).

9.11.22: All souls

Ruth Kirk

Context: A few days ago, I suddenly saw that the souls of the living and the souls of the dead are exactly the same. As always, I looked for further information about this in the Scriptures, and here is the result:

  • The souls of all the living, and the souls of all the dead are just the same, because to God all are alive:

He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive (Luke 20:38; NIV). 

  • Our souls come from God, remain part of God during our exile here, then return to God:

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). 

Behold, all souls are mine (Ezekiel 18:4; HNV). 

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

  • Every soul belongs to God:

Whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord (Romans 14:8; NIV). 

  • The purpose of our lives is to become more and more like God:

Learn to know your Creator and become like him (Colossians 3:10; NLT). 

Put on your new nature, created to be like God – truly righteous and holy (Ephesians 4:24; NLT). 

23.10.22: One word

Ruth Kirk

Context: Today’s prayer arrived very soon after yesterday’s (https://wp.me/p45bCr-cFG). It recognises still further how incredibly fragile and vulnerable we all are:

Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. The men seized Jesus and arrested him (Mark 14; 45-6; NIV).

One word,
One kiss,
One cross,
One breath:

We’re just one step
Away from death.

One blow,
One shot,
One bomb,
One breath:

We’re all one step
Away from death.

When you take away their breath, they die and turn again to dust (Psalm 104:29; NLT).

References

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

How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog – it’s here a little while, then it’s gone (James 4:14; NLT).

Then the soldiers nailed him to the cross (Mark 15:24; NLT).

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

You do not know the day or hour of my return (Matthew 25:13; NLT). 

We blossom like a flower and then wither. Like a passing shadow, we quickly disappear (Job 14:2; NLT). 

God, the LORD, created the heavens and stretched them out. He created the earth and everything in it. He gives breath to everyone, life to everyone who walks the earth (Isaiah 42:5; NLT).

I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!” But God said to him, “You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?” (Luke 12:19-20; NLT). 

He knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust. Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die. The wind blows, and we are gone – as though we had never been here. But the love of the LORD remains forever with those who fear him (Psalm 103:14-17; NLT).

We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves (2 Corinthians 4:7; NLT).

19.10.22: High above

Ruth Kirk

Context: Yesterday I was able to pray, to receive inspiration and to write again, after a week when this has been almost impossible. You can probably picture my joy, relief and thankfulness. This is what I was given:

As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and declared,
“Look! There is the Lamb of God!” (John 1:36; NIV). 

1. High above: your flawless sky;
Far below: your hidden depth.

2. Here, on earth: your spotless life;
Deep within: your sacred breath.

3. All around: your perfect love;
Soon, beyond: your humble death.

4. Close beside: your joyful voice –
Then, just ahead: your blissful rest.

Truly my soul finds rest in God (Psalm 62:1; NIV). 

References 

1.The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world. God has made a home in the heavens for the sun (Psalm 19:1-4; NIV).

I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness – secret riches. I will do this so you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name (Isaiah 45:3; NLT). 

2.God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God (1 Peter 1:18-19; 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). 

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

“Abba, Father,” he cried out, “everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine” (Mark 14:36; NLT). 

He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death –  even death on a cross (Philippians 2:8; NIV).

4.Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me (Psalm 23:4; NLT). 

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” (Matthew 11:28-9; NLT).

God’s rest is there for people to enter (Hebrews 4:6; NLT).

2.10.22: I’m nothing

Ruth Kirk

Context: Since my hospital trip to London, I’ve been feeling drained and empty. Prayer is almost impossible. All I can do is to wait, resting in God’s hands, knowing I’m nothing, and placing all my trust in God. Yesterday morning, when I tried to pray, this is what came to me:

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

Lord God, I know I’m nothing.

The only thing that’s good about me is that your Spirit lives in my soul.

Without your help, I can do nothing, Lord; I can’t even pray. 

Without you, I’m spiritually dead, though my body lives on.

I’m in your hand. You alone give me life, breath and everything I need to stay alive. When you close your hand, I will die. 

No matter what happens, Lord, please help me to become more like your dear Son in everything I think, say and do.

I ask this in his holy name. Amen.

References

I am nothing (Job 49:4; NLT). 

Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16; NET).

Apart from me you can do nothing (John 15:5; NLT).

The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God (Romans 8:26-7; NRSV).

I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive – but you are dead (Revelation 3:1; NLT).

The life of every living thing is in his hand, and the breath of every human being (Job 12:10; NLT). 

When you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things. When you hide your face, they are terrified; when you take away their breath, they die and return to the dust (Psalm 104:28-9; NIV). 

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

The Lord – who is the Spirit – makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image (2 Corinthians 3:18; NLT). 

Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus (Colossians 3:17; NIV).