Category: cross

At the heart of our faith

Ruth Kirk
Photo: TheDigitalArtist

People look at the outside appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart
(1 Samuel 16:7; NIV).

1. At the heart of our faith, Lord:
Your way to the cross.

2. At the heart of our sorrow:
Your truth, and its cost.

3. At the heart of our worship:
Your body and blood.

4. At the heart of our mourning:
Your death, and your love.

Photo: geralt

5. At the heart of our hope, Lord:
Your rising again.

6. At the heart of our gladness:
Your kingdom, and reign.

7. At the heart of our purpose:
Your gospel and grace.

8. At the heart of our yearning:
Your kiss, and embrace.

Photo: sthelenachurch.net

References

1. He humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross (Philippians 2:8; NLT).

2. Pilate turned to the leading priests and to the crowd and said, “I find nothing wrong with this man!” Then they became insistent. “But he is causing riots by his teaching wherever he goes” (Luke 23:4-5; NLT).

3. He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me. In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you” (Luke 22:19-20; NIV).

4. We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us (1 John 3:16; NLT).

5. He is the faithful witness to these things, the first to rise from the dead, and the ruler of all the kings of the world (Revelation 1:5; NLT).

6. The kingdom of God is within you (Luke 17:21; NKJV).

7. My life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned to me by the Lord Jesus – the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God (Acts 20:24; NLT).

We are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus (Acts 15:11; NLT).

8. While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him (Luke 15:20; NIV).

Photo: suju

Without complaint

Ruth Kirk
Photo: Antranias

1. Jesus Christ, the Son of Man,
I love you.
May I bear my cross
Without complaint,
Rejoicing in your presence
Day and night, Lord,
And loving all I meet
Without restraint.

2. Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace,
I love you.
May I bear my cross
Without reproach,
Thanking you for all,
Both good and bad, Lord,
And bringing those who suffer
Your fresh hope.

3. Jesus Christ, the Son of God,
I love you.
May I bear my cross
Without lament,
Praying for the world, Lord,
Without ceasing,
And praising you,
The Saviour 
God has sent.

References

1. Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24; NLT).

Rejoice always (1 Thessalonians 5:16; NIV).

Be kind to everyone (2 Timothy 2:24; NLT).

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

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

3. He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word (Isaiah 53:7; NLT).

Pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17; NIV).

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).

Little prayers

Ruth Kirk


This set of little prayers came to me whilst I was asleep. As I woke up, I could still hear the words being spoken aloud in my mind. Grabbing my ipad, I started writing them down immediately, as I knew from experience that they would disappear within seconds. Each prayer can be used at a specific moment, or said repeatedly in difficult situations.

1. When I wake to face each day:
Lord, I’m yours; you are my way.

2. When I hear your gentle voice:
Lord, I’m yours; you are my choice.

3. When I am about to eat:
Lord, I’m yours; this is a feast.

4. When I pray to you at night:
Lord, I’m yours; you are my light.

5. When I want to judge, and win:
Lord, I’m yours; forgive my sin.

6. When I suffer fear and pain:
Lord, I’m yours; I praise your name.

7. When I think I’m going to drown:
Lord, I’m yours; don’t let me down.

8. When I kneel before your cross:
Lord, I‘m yours, but I am dross.

9. When I see you, risen, scarred:
Lord, I’m yours, though life is hard.

10. When I share your bread and wine:
Lord, I’m yours, and you are mine.

References

1. I am the way (John 14:6; NLT).

2. I am yours (Psalm 119:94; NLT).

3. You prepare a feast for me (Psalm 23:5; NLT).

4. I am the light of the world (John 8:12; NLT).

5. He forgives all my sins (Psalm 103:3; NLT).

6. The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord (Job 1:21; NIV).

7. Lord, save us! We’re going to drown (Matthew 8:25; NLT).

8. O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner (Luke 18:13; NLT).

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

10. My beloved is mine and I am his (Song of Songs 2:16; NIV).

Child of God

Ruth Kirk

1. May I be a child of God,
Whose Spirit helps me hear his call
To pray with him incessantly,
And ask him to forgive us all.

2. May I be a friend of Jesus,
Taking up my cross each day,
Serving him by loving all humanity
Along the way.

3. May I be a friend of God,
Our Father, who makes all things new,
Begging him to help us heal
This Eden, and its people, too.

References

1. Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God (1 John 5:1; NLT).

The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness (Romans 8:26; NLT).

O that today you would listen as he speaks! (Hebrews 4:7; NET).

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion (Ephesians 6:18; NLT).

2. [Jesus said] 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. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me (John 15:12-15; NLT).

Then [Jesus] 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).

Supplement your faith with […] love for everyone (2 Peter 1:5-7; NLT).

3. Our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God (Romans 5:11; NLT).

The one sitting on the throne said, “Look! I am making everything new” (Revelation 21:5; NLT).

The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it (Genesis 2:15; NIV).

The Lord looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if anyone is truly wise, if anyone seeks God. But no, all have turned away; all have become corrupt. No one does good, not a single one. Will those who do evil never learn? They eat up my people like bread and wouldn’t think of praying to the Lord (Psalm 14:2-4; NLT).

Morning prayer

Ruth Kirk


1. Thank you, Father, for my night,
For all my dreams,
And this new day.

2. Help me to pick up my cross,
And follow Christ,
And always pray,

3. Rejoicing in your Spirit, Lord,
Who loves me,
Though I’m fully known,

4. While waiting patiently in exile,
Till you come
To take me home.

References

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

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

2. 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).

Pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17; NIV).

3. Rejoice always (1 Thessalonians 5:16; NIV).

The believers were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:52; NLT).

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

I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb (Jeremiah 1:5; NLT).

He knows the secrets of every heart (Psalm 44:21; NLT).

4. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him (Psalm 37:7).

I sent them away to exile and brought them home again (Ezekiel 39:28; NLT).

Love and dust

Ruth Kirk

Lord,

1. You make us all from love
And dust.

2. Help us to follow Christ,
And learn to trust

3. That his forgiveness
Cleanses all our sins –

4. Then we will know the peace
Salvation brings.

Lord,

5. You make us all for love
And loss.

6. Help us to face our lives,
Take up our cross,

7. Serve you in all we meet,
And spread your grace –

8. Then we will share your joy,
And see your face.

References

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

The Lord God formed man of dust from the ground (Genesis 2:7; RSV).

2. Take up your cross daily, and follow me (Luke 9:23; NLT).

3. He forgives all my sins (Psalm 103:3; NLT).

4. He will be the source of peace (Micah 5:5; NLT).

5. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised (Job 1:21; NIV).

6. Take up your cross daily, and follow me (Luke 9:23; NLT).

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

8. Come and share your master’s happiness! (Matthew 25:23; NIV).

They will see his face (Revelation 22:4; NLT).

Work without resentment

Ruth Kirk

1. Help me, Lord,
To work without resentment,

2. Carrying my cross
Without complaint.

3. Then help me, Lord,
To wait on you in silence,

4. So I can serve afresh,
Without restraint.

References

1. Mary sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:39-42; NLT).

What gain has he that he toiled for the wind, and spent all his days in darkness and grief, in much vexation and sickness and resentment? (Ecclesiastes 5:17; RSV).

2. Then he said to them all, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23; NIV).

3. Be silent before the Lord, all humanity (Zechariah 2:13; NLT).

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28; NIV).

4. Serve him wholeheartedly (Joshua 24:14; NLT).