Category: cross

May I walk

Ruth Kirk

💙

1. May I walk, Lord Jesus;
Walk your narrow way.

2. May I eat, Lord Jesus;
Eat your bread of tears.

3. May I drink, Lord Jesus;
Drink your bitter cup.

4. May I know, Lord Jesus;
Know your pains and fears.

5. May I love, Lord Jesus;
Love all those I meet.

6. May I serve, Lord Jesus;
Serve your people, too.

7. May I share, Lord Jesus;
Share your heavy cross.

8. May I be, Lord Jesus,
Always one with you.

💙

References

1. The gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life (Matthew 7:14; NASB).

2. You have fed them with the bread of tears (Psalm 80:5; NIV). 

3. He has filled me with bitterness and given me a bitter cup of sorrow to drink (Lamentations 3:15; NLT). 

4. He took up our pain and bore our suffering (Isaiah 53:4; NIV). 

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

6. Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all (Mark 9:35; NIV).

7. 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).

8. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one – as you are in me, Father, and I am in you (John 17:21; NLT).

I fix my eyes

Ruth Kirk

Look straight ahead,
and fix your eyes on what lies before you.
(Proverbs 4:25; NLT).

I fix my eyes
Beyond this world –
On Christ,
Who shares my life.

I fix my mind
Beyond this grief –
On Christ,
Who shares my loss.

I fix my heart
Beyond this fear –
On Christ,
Who shares my dread.

I fix my soul
Beyond this pain –
On Christ,
Who shares my cross.

🧡

I focus on this one thing:
Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us (Philippians 3:13-14; NLT).

Why am I here?

Ruth Kirk

I desire to do your will, my God.
(Psalm 40:8; NIV).

Why am I here, Lord?
What is my task?
How can I do your will?

By turning from sin,
And trusting my Son;
Praying, alone, every day.

Why am I here, Lord?
What is my task?
How can I do your will?

By taking your cross,
And following Christ;
Uniting with us, as one.

Why am I here, Lord?
What is my task?
How can I do your will?

By seeking my face,
And learning to love;
Forgiving both friend and foe.

Why am I here, Lord?
What is my task?
How can I do your will?

By bearing what comes,
And growing in faith;
Accepting both good and ill.

💜

The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away;
blessed be the name of the Lord.
(Job 1:21; NKJV).

I seek you

Ruth Kirk

He sent his own Son in a body
like the bodies we sinners have
(Romans 8:3; NLT).

I seek you in my body, Lord,
And find you in my weariness,
And pain.

I seek you in my thinking, Lord,
And find you in my sinfulness,
And shame.

I seek you in my feelings, Lord,
And find you in my emptiness,
And loss.

I seek you in my spirit, Lord,
And find you in my journey,
And my cross.

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).

When I wake

Ruth Kirk

Your hand will guide me,
and your strength will support me
(Psalm 139:10; NLT).

Father,
When I wake, each day,
I reach out straightaway
To take your hand.

Father,
When I wake, each day,
I start to pray,
Using your Son’s own words.

Father,
When I wake, each day,
I choose his way,
Lifting my heavy cross.

Father,
When I wake, each day,
Help me to say
With him: Your will be done.

Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven
(Matthew 6:9-10; NLT). 

My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done (Matthew 26:42; NLT).

May others glimpse your light (#2 of 2 linked prayers)

Ruth Kirk


Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him, and he began to teach them … “You are the light of the world”
(Matthew 5:1-2,14; NLT).

1. Lord,
May others glimpse your light,

2. Your fire, peace, truth and love
In me,

3. So they will seek you, Lord,
Repent,

4. Take up their cross
And follow thee.

“Come follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men”
(Mark 1:17; BSB).

References

1. God is light (1 John 1:5; NLT).

2. God is a consuming fire (Deuteronomy 4:24; NIV).

The Lord is peace (Judges 6:24; NLT). 

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

God is love (1 John 4:8; NLT).

3. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me (Jeremiah 29:13; NLT).

Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near (Matthew 4:17; NLT).

4. Then he said to the crowd, “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).

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The purpose of life

Ruth Kirk

You can make many plans,
but the Lord’s purpose will prevail
(Proverbs 19:21; NLT).

The purpose of life
is to learn from all we experience,
both good and bad;

To take up our cross
and follow Christ,
becoming more like him,

And growing ever closer to God,
until we grasp our oneness with him,
and with all people.

The purpose of life
is to love others,
without exception;

To pray for them, bless them,
and serve them,
however we can,

And to heal those who suffer
in body, or mind,
in heart, or in spirit, or soul.

He sent them out
to tell everyone about the Kingdom of God
and to heal the sick
(Luke 9:2; NLT).

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