Live a life filled with love,
following the example of Christ
(Ephesians 5:2; NLT).
1. Take up my cross, and follow Christ –
That’s all I need to do.
2. No matter what my cross may be,
I’ll take it up anew,
3. And follow him as best I can,
Accepting all he sends,
4. Whilst loving him in everyone,
Until my journey ends.
🧡
References
1. If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me (Luke 9:23; NLT).
2. God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps (1 Peter 2:21; NLT).
3. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble? (Job 2:10; NIV).
4. Do everything with love (1 Corinthians 16:14; NLT).
Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me (Matthew 25:40; NIV).
Cling tightly to the Lord your God (Joshua 23:8; NLT).
1. Lord,
I’m in the desert.
My faith is dry as dust.
May I, like Jesus, cling to you,
So I don’t lose all trust.
2. Lord,
I’m in the foothills.
My hope is almost gone.
May I, like Jesus, cling to you,
For you, alone, are strong.
3. Lord,
I’m in the mountains.
My love is weak and thin.
May I, like Jesus, cling to you,
Though I’m weighed down by sin.
4. Lord,
I’m in the valley,
The shadowland of death.
May I, like Jesus, cling to you,
As I take my last breath.
References
1. O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water (Psalm 63:1; NLT).
I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? (Psalm 56:4; NLT).
2. Our bones are dry, our hope is lost (Ezekiel 37:11; NKJV).
If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine (Matthew 26:39; NLT).
3. 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).
I know my transgressions and my sin is always before me (Psalm 51:3; NIV).
4. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me (Psalm 23:4; KJV).
Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last (Luke 23:46; NLT).
1. Healing is a painful, lifelong journey:
A pilgrimage
In search of inner peace.
2. I struggle up the path to my next insight;
What joy to reach the top,
And what relief!
3. But every crest reveals a higher mountain,
And more beyond,
As far as I can see,
4. Until, at last, I glimpse my destination:
The hill, Lord, where you died
To set me free.
References
1. He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds (Psalm 147:3; NLT).
Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage […] They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion (Psalm 84:5,7; NIV).
I search for peace (Psalm 120:7; NLT).
2. Send out your light and your truth; let them guide me. Let them lead me to your holy mountain, to the place where you live (Psalm 43:3; NLT).
Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand (Philippians 4:7; NLT).
3. The mountain of the Lord’s house will be the highest of all (Isaiah 2:2; NLT).
4. It is high and magnificent; the whole earth rejoices to see it! Mount Zion, the holy mountain, is the city of the great King! (Psalm 48:2; NLT).
They brought Jesus to a place called Golgotha […] Then the soldiers nailed him to the cross (Mark 15:22,24; NLT).
Christ […] has died as a ransom to set them free (Hebrews 9:15; NIV).
If the Son sets you free, you are truly free (John 8:36; NLT).
When they came to the place called The Skull,
they nailed him to the cross,
[and] Jesus said,“Father, forgive them,
for they don’t know what they are doing”
(Luke 23,33-4. NLT).
1. My anxious brooding Generates this dread, Lord:
My mind goes through what happened
Without pause –
2. My friend, the one I trusted,
Turned against me,
Attacking me, and wounding,
Without cause.
3. Every time I think of him
Please prompt me
To pray: “Lord, bless my enemy
With good”,
4. Then leave him in your hand
For my protection,
Whilst you, Lord, heal us both,
With your great love.
References
1. The churning inside me never stops; days of suffering confront me (Job 30,27. NIV).
2. My close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me (Psalm 41,9. NIV).
They beset me with words of hate, and attack me without cause (Psalm 109,3. RSV).
3. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you (Luke 6.28, NLT).
Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! (Matthew 5,44. NLT).
4. In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind (Job 12,10. NIV).
My God is my rock, in whom I find protection (2 Samuel 22,3. NLT).
By his wounds you are healed (1 Peter 2,24. NLT).
This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends (John 15,13. NLT).
Image: Alok Timsina, Pixabay
