Category: comfort

Exile

Ruth Kirk
Image: Marko Lovric, Pixabay

The Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you
(Deuteronomy 31:6; NIV).

1. Father,
You’re in exile
With those living far from home,
For Christ, your Son, dwells in us all,
No matter where we roam.

2. Father,
You’re in hospital
With every patient there,
For Christ, your Son, dwells in us all,
To comfort, heal, and care.

3. Father,
You’re in prison
With each lonely detainee,
For Christ, your Son, dwells in us all,
To set our spirits free.

4. Father,
You’re in everyone;
You never cease to give;
For Christ, your Son, dwells in us all,
So we may fully live.

I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride on the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me (Psalm 139:7-10; NLT).

References

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

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

2. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me (Psalm 23:4; NIV).

He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7; NIV).

3. The Lord was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love (Genesis 39:21; NLT).

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners (Luke 4:18; NIV).

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

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need (Luke 12:31; NLT).

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10; NLT).

Damaged (#1 of 2 linked prayers)

Ruth Kirk
Image: PublicDomainPictures

If the Son sets you free, you are truly free
(John 8:36; NLT).

1. Lord,
You live in every damaged body;
Every wounded, fragile, anxious mind.

2. Lord,
You live in every injured spirit;
Every broken heart, and those confined.

3. Lord,
You want to heal each mind and body,
Giving us new life, for you are kind.

4. Lord,
You want to set free every spirit,
And every broken heart you want to bind.

Image: lechenie-narkomanii

References

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

The Spirit of God lives in you (1 Corinthians 3:16; NLT).

He knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust (Psalm 103:14; NLT).

2. My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise (Psalm 51:17; NIV).

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds (Psalm 147:3; NIV).

3. A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. “If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,” he said. Move with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” Mark 1:41; NLT).

Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God (1 Peter 1:23; NLT).

How kind the Lord is! How good he is! So merciful, this God of ours! (Psalm 116:5; NLT).

4. He will give you another Advocate [Comforter, Encourager, Counsellor], who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth (John 14:16-17; NLT).

The Lord has anointed me to proclaim the good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners (Isaiah 61:1; NIV).

Image: Alexas_Fotos

The hopes of the helpless

Ruth Kirk
Photo: KELLEPICS

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

Lord,

1. You know the hopes
Of the helpless,

2. The dreams
Of the damaged,

3. The faith
Of the friendless,

4. And the prayers
Of the poor:

5. Hear our cries
And comfort us, we beg you;

6. Mend our bodies,
And our anxious minds;

7. Fill our hearts with care
For one another –

8. Then we will share your love,
Which heals and binds.

References

1-5. Lord, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them (Psalm 10:17; NLT).

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

7. I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other (John 13:34; NLT).

If we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us (1 John 4:12; NIV).

8. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony (Colossians 3:14; NLT).

All one

Ruth Kirk
Photo: geralt

1. Lord,
You’re the Father of Jesus,
The Christ:
And also our Father within.

2. Mary,
Christ’s Mother, the Lady of Grace:
You’re our Mother;
Your children: our kin.

3. Immanuel,
Brother, born here on the earth:
You share in our frail flesh
And blood.

4. Comforter,
Spirit in all humankind:
You make us all one
In your love.

References

1. 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).

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

2. God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings favoured woman!” […] You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High” (Luke 1:28,31-2; NLT).

When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home (John 19:26-7; NLT).

3. She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us’ (Matthew 1:23; NLT).

Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother (Mark 3:35; NIV).

It was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters (Hebrews 2:17; NLT).

4. The Comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and remind you of all things I said to you (John 14:26; YLT).

“In the last days,” God says, “I will pour out my Spirit upon all people” (Acts 2:17; NLT).

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

I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one (John 17:22; NLT).

Nothing is wasted

Ruth Kirk
Photo: MichaelGaida

Jesus said to his disciples,
“Gather up the broken pieces that are left over,
so that nothing is wasted”
(John 6:12; NET).

1. Nothing, Lord, is wasted
In your kingdom –
All things work together
For our gain.

2. May we accept what comes,
Both good and bad, Lord,
With thanks for every pleasure,
Loss, and pain.

3. Help us to learn
From all our trials and sorrows,
Rejoicing in your wisdom
And your name,

4. Then, even that which breaks us
Won’t be wasted,
For we will comfort those
Who share the same.

References

1. The Kingdom of God is already among you (Luke 17:21; NLT).

We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God (Romans 8:28; NLT).

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

Give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18; NIV).

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

In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name (Psalm 33:21; NLT).

4. I am like a broken vessel (Psalm 31:12; NKJV).

He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others (2 Corinthians 1:4; NLT).

Listening

Ruth Kirk
Photo: falco

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

Lord,

1. I’m neither strong,
Nor energetic.

2. There’s very little
I can do for others.

3. But I can listen patiently,
Offering love and comfort,

4. Sharing the load
Of those I meet

5. Who struggle with life’s
Burdens, trials, and sorrows.

References

1,2. He knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust (Psalm 103:14; NLT).

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

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

[God] comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble (2 Corinthians 1:4; NIV).

4. If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles (Matthew 5:4; NLT).

As they led Jesus away, a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, happened to be coming in from the countryside. The soldiers seized him and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus (Luke 23:26; NLT).

Mourn with those who mourn (Romans 12:15; NRSV).

5. Come to me all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30; NLT).

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

Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me (Matthew 25:40; NIV).

Thank you

Ruth Kirk

Thank him for all he has done (Philippians 4:6; NLT).

1. Thank you, Lord,
For your example,
Patience, goodness,
Care.

2. Thank you, Lord,
For your forgiveness,
Kindness, healing,
Prayer.

3. Thank you, Lord,
For your atonement,
Courage, body,
Blood.

4. Thank you, Lord,
For your salvation,
Guidance, comfort,
Love.

References

1. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ (Ephesians 5:2; NLT).

2. Through this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins (Acts 13:38; NLT).

3. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood (Romans 3:25; NIV).

4. He [Jesus] became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him (Hebrews 5:9; NLT).