Last Saturday evening I took my last dose of the drug which has made prayer and writing impossible for me. The effects had become intolerable. Today I heard the faint return of God’s voice, so I wanted to share it with you straight away, my friends.
With love from Ruth xxx.
Don’t stress, don’t strain –
Just love the Lord.
Say yes to pain –
And no to sin.
In life, in death,
With every breath,
Whatever comes,
We share with Him.
Today’s prayer comes from a place of a really bad patch of migraines, anxiety, sadness and long‑standing wounds. As I offer my scars and fears to Jesus, I pray it may help you bring your own pain to him as well.
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6; NLT).
I offer my past –
It’s an angry scar –
To you: my way,
And my guiding star.
I offer the dread
Of my darkest night –
To you: my truth,
And my shining light.
I offer my cross,
And my bitter pain –
To you: the Christ,
Who rose again.
I offer my thoughts,
My heart, and soul –
To you: my Lord,
My life, and my goal.
“My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed (John 20:28; NLT).
I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14; NIV).
Be still in the presence of the LORD (Psalm 37:7; NLT).
Here, in stillness,
Here, in silence,
Here, in darkness –
You are light.
Here, in splendour,
Here, in rapture,
Here, in oneness –
You are truth.
Here, in trouble,
Here, in failure,
Here, in ruin –
You are peace.
Here, in sorrow,
Here, in longing,
Here, in anguish –
You are love.
God is love (1 John 4:16; NLT).
References
God is light (1 John 1:5; NLT).
The Spirit is truth (1 John 5:6; NKJV).
The Lord is peace (Judges 6:24; NLT).
We are all fragile, fallible, and mortal. Today, in prayer, I saw clearly that the purpose of life is to face its inevitable challenges, sorrows, and sufferings, learning to accept and endure them as patiently as we can, while still loving and serving Jesus in others. This was Christ’s mission, and it is ours as well, for Jesus is resurrected in us all.
Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23; NLT).
Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us (Colossians 3:11; NLT).
Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me (Matthew 25:40; NIV).
So here is today’s prayer:
I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb (Jeremiah 1:5; NLT).
You make us,
You see us,
And hear us.
You know us,
You guide us,
And help us.
You feed us,
You love us,
And hold us.
You wound us,
You teach us,
And heal us.
Look now; I myself am he! There is no other god but me! I am the one who kills and gives life; I am the one who wounds and heals; no one can be rescued from my powerful hand! (Deuteronomy 32:39; NLT).
References
I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world (John 16:33; NLT).
Though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself any more, but your eyes shall see your Teacher (Isaiah 30:20; RSV).
May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ (2 Thessalonians 3:5; NLT).
Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised (Hebrews 10:36; NLT).
Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin? (Romans 2:4; NLT).
Pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17; NIV).
In prayer,
We peel away our masks,
Revealing all the dread
We try to hide.
In prayer,
We loosen up our minds,
Disclosing all the thoughts
We keep inside.
In prayer,
We open up our hearts,
Releasing the emotions
We conceal.
In prayer,
We set our spirits free,
Exposing all our wounds
For you to heal.
He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds (Psalm 147:3; NLT).
Is not all human life a struggle? (Job 7:1; NLT).
How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day? (Psalm 13:2; NLT).
When you struggle:
I am near.
When you suffer:
I am here –
Sharing all your
Grief and pain –
Come, be one with me
Again!
The person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him (1 Corinthians 6:17; NLT).
References
Though the Lord gave you adversity for food and suffering for drink, he will still be with you to teach you (Isaiah 30:20; NLT).
I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb (Jeremiah 1:5; NLT).
The LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul Genesis 2:7; KJV).
The dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7; NIV).
Reading: Philippians 3:8-11.
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).
Here,
In my body,
My mind, heart,
And soul,
There is darkness,
And loneliness;
Silence,
And emptiness;
Thirsting,
And suffering;
Anguish,
And hopelessness;
Agony;
Loss –
And God;
And my cross.
At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” (Matthew 27:46; NLT).
Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last (Luke 23:46; NLT).
This prayer came to me the moment I woke and started to pray on Christmas morning. It is a special prayer for all of us who find Christmas very difficult, whatever the reason. With my warmest love, and with thanks to you all for your support, from Ruth xxx
I love you, LORD; you are my strength (Psalm 18:1; NLT).
With eyes fully open,
And eyes fully closed:
Yahweh, I love you so much!
No matter what happens
You’re here, at my side:
Jesus, I love you so much!
Speaking, or silent,
You’re here, in my soul:
Spirit, I love you so much!
And you love me too,
Though I can’t see you yet:
But soon, Lord, I’ll reach out, and touch!
Reach out your hand and put it into my side (John 20:27; NIV).
If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed (Matthew 9:21; NLT).
References
Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do. As he spoke, he showed them his hands and feet (Luke 24:39-40; NLT).
Blessed are those who believe without seeing me (John 20:29; NLT).
Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me (Psalm 23:4; NLT).
After my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God! I will see him for myself. Yes, I will see him with my own eyes (Job 19:26-7; NLT).
He loves us with unfailing love; the LORD’S faithfulness endures forever. Praise the LORD! (Psalm 117:2; NLT).
For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known (1 Corinthians 12:12; NIV).
The dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7; NIV).
So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him (Luke 15:20; NLT).
When you pray, go to your room, shut the door, and pray to God who is in that secret place (Matthew 6:6; TIB).
We’re one in silence,
One in stillness,
One in secret:
One with God.
We’re one in dryness,
One in trouble,
One in failure:
One with God.
We’re one in darkness,
One in sorrow,
One in anguish:
One with God.
We’re one in exile,
One in torment,
One in dying:
One with God.
Nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:39; NLT).
My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help? (Psalm 22:1; NLT).
Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me LORD, my faithful God (Psalm 31:5; NIV).
References
Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world (John 16:33; NLT).
Praise be to the Lord, to God our Saviour, who daily bears our burdens (Psalm 68:19; NIV).
In all their suffering he also suffered, and he personally rescued them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them. He lifted them up and carried them through all the years (Isaiah 63:9; NLT).
God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them (1 John 4:16; NLT).
The dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7; NIV).
I love you, Lord; you are my strength (Psalm 18:1; NLT).
I love you, Lord Jesus –
I love you, forever.
You love me, Lord Jesus –
We share life’s endeavour.
I love you, Lord Jesus –
We’re in this together.
You love me, Lord Jesus –
No doubt whatsoever!
He loves us with unfailing love; the LORD’s faithfulness endures forever. Praise the LORD! (Psalm 117:2; NLT).
References
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6; NLT).
My beloved is mine and I am his (Song of Songs 2:16; NIV).