Category: Contemplation

God is an ocean

Ruth Kirk

During contemplation, we can lose ourselves in God, no matter how we are:

Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the ocean depths (Psalm 36:6; NLT).

He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed (Matthew 26:37; NKJV).

God is an ocean of sorrow;
An ocean of bliss.

God is an ocean of darkness;
An ocean of light.

God is an ocean of healing;
An ocean of good.

God is an ocean of oneness –
An ocean of love.

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

 

Contemplation

Ruth Kirk

We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them (1 John 4:16; NLT).

Contemplation, Yahweh God,
Is waiting in your love;
It’s sharing in your love,
And praying in your love.

Contemplation, Son of Man,
Is walking in your love;
It’s serving in your love,
And resting in your love.

Contemplation, Holy Ghost,
Is dancing in your love;
It’s sighing in your love,
And weeping in your love.

Contemplation, Elohim,
Is living in your love;
It’s fading in your love,
And dying in your love.

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).

 

Contemplation

Ruth Kirk

A few days ago, I suddenly understood contemplation in a way that is new to me. I saw that no special techniques of any kind are needed, because even whilst we are waiting for God, wordlessly, perhaps even despairingly, we are already one with God.

The phrase, “Waiting in God’s womb”, burst into my mind as a new definition of contemplation. For me, this means that that no matter what we experience, every aspect of our intention is shared with, and by, our amazing God.

Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act (Psalm 37:7; NLT). 

Contemplation:
Waiting in God’s womb.

Contemplation:
Merging with God’s love.

Contemplation:
Sharing in God’s joy.

Contemplation:
Resting in God’s peace.

You will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand (Philippians 4:7; NLT).

References

Will I, who causes others to give birth, not also give birth myself, says the Lord? Will I, who bestows generation upon others, be barren myself, says the Lord your God? (Isaiah 66:9; CPDV).

You deserted the Rock, who fathered you; you forgot the God who gave you birth (Deuteronomy 32:18; NIV).

Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from eternity to eternity, you are God (Psalm 90:2; CSB).

The LORD is in his holy Temple (Habakkuk 2:20; NLT).

Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28; NLT).

 

Waiting, alone

Ruth Kirk

Be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20; NLT).

Waiting, alone, and in silence:
We’re one with you, God.

Searching, alone, and in stillness:
We’re one with you, God.

Wrestling, alone, and in darkness:
We’re one with you, God.

Longing, alone, and in anguish:
We’re one with you, God.

Nothing can ever separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:38; NLT).

Reference

Moses went into the darkness where God was (Exodus 20:21; BES).

Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day (Genesis 32:24; NKJV).

I can never get away from your Spirit! I can never escape 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 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. I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night – but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you (Psalm 139: 7-12; NLT).

 

Adoration

Ruth Kirk

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O LORD, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things (1 Chronicles 29:11; NLT). 

Lord,

May I spend time with you
In humble adoration.

No intercessions; no appeals:
Just silent contemplation.

No sad confessions; no despair:
Just wordless bliss and praise –

Lost in you, and lost in love:
One spirit, Lord, ablaze.

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

Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:28-9; NIV).

References 

When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you (Isaiah 43:2; NLT). 

The bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed (Exodus 3:2; NKJV). 

We know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them (1 John 4:16; NIV).

 

I open up my mind

Ruth Kirk

You know my thoughts even when I’m far away (Psalm 139:2; NLT). 

Yahweh,
First, I open up my mind
To you, in silent prayer,

Jesus,
Next, I open up my heart
To you, in childlike love,

Spirit,
Then, I open up my soul
To you, in simple trust –

And worship you,
The God who makes
Both earth below, and heaven above.

In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth (Genesis 1:1; BST). 

The LORD your God is the supreme God of the heavens above and the earth below (Joshua 2:11; NLT).

 

No need

Ruth Kirk

Be still in the presence of the LORD (Psalm 37:7; NLT).

No need to move,
And no need to speak;
No need to think:
Lord, I love you.

Nothing to hear,
And nothing to see;
Nothing to search for:
I love you.

No need to pray,
And no need to bless;
No need to praise:
Lord, I love you.

Nothing to ask for,
And nothing to do;
Nothing to say, but:
“I love you.”

I love you, LORD (Psalm 18:1; NLT).

 

When you send a prayer

Ruth Kirk

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

Father,

When you send a prayer
I make a willing sacrifice:
I listen, thank you, write, and share
Each insight, for the sake of Christ.

When you give a revelation,
I will leave my contemplation,
Giving up your consolation:
Every prayer, a consummation.

So, this is my promise, Lord:
I’ll gladly give up anything
You ask. May every word outpoured
Be nurtured well, and then take wing.

When you give a revelation,
I will leave my contemplation,
Giving up your consolation:
Every prayer, a consummation.

And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word (Luke 1:38; KJV).

References

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

“Give whatever he takes, with a big smile” (Saint Mother Theresa).

 

Silent worship

Ruth Kirk

After waking yesterday morning, I laid still for a long time in silent, wordless worship, which was bliss. Eventually, when today’s prayer began to flow, I stirred, and gladly wrote it down.

This is how I was shown a simple spiritual practice I had never grasped before: an effective way of consciously living in God’s presence all the time. Perhaps this is part of what Jesus was talking about when he 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).

Jesus also said: “You are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed – or indeed only one” (Luke 10:41-2; NIV). Perhaps constant silent worship is all that is needed, with everything else springing from this daily practice.

Anyway, here are the verses which came to me. Combined with their references, I hope they will help to explain what I experienced and learned.

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

Worship him continually (1 Chronicles 16:11; GNT).

Wake: adore in silent worship;
Sit and stand: do just the same;
Walk and talk in silent worship –
Inwardly, revere God’s name.

Work and play in silent worship;
Honour God, and never cease;
Rest and sleep in silent worship –
You will share His perfect peace.

Offer constant silent worship,
Giving all that love demands;
Live and pray in God’s dear Spirit –
Safe, forever, in His hands.

He will keep them safe forever (Psalm 37:28; NLT).

Our lives are in his hands (Psalm 66:9; NLT).

 

Beyond praise

Ruth Kirk

Yesterday I was praying without words in brilliant, white light when this hymn of praise began to arrive. Thinking about it afterwards, the light seemed to be both inside me and all around me. Everything was one, and I was one with everything. I couldn’t see anything but the brightness, which was very beautiful. These verses proved exceptionally difficult to express in words, and I don’t feel I did the whole experience justice at all.

Who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire (Malachi 3:2; NKJV).

You are my Maker,
Earth’s living Creator:
A shining, refining,
Unquenchable blaze.

You are my Teacher,
My Prophet and Preacher;
My yearning: returning, Lord,
All of my days.

You are my treasure,
My wealth beyond measure;
Compelling, indwelling:
My spirit obeys.

You are my story,
My future, my glory;
My crying, my dying, Lord:
Far beyond praise.

The Lord our God is great beyond all gods (2 Chronicles 2:5; BST).