Category: Dream

My mind is blank

Ruth Kirk

Last night I woke suddenly from a bad dream, kicking out at someone who was threatening me. As soon as I began to pray, this prayer instantly appeared in my mind. It was as if I had been woken up to hear it. I knew I had to write it down and post it straight away. This prayer is not about me, or my own state of mind, so I quickly realised that it must be for someone else who will read it. I have already prayed for that person.

May your Kingdom come soon…

Lord, my mind is blank,
My heart is numb –
Yet still I pray, and beg:
Your kingdom come.

Lord, my flesh is dust,
My soul is void –
Yet still I pray, and plead:
Your will be done.

Lord, may I rejoice,
Though all seems lost –
Help me to cling to you,
And bear my cross.

…May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10; NLT).

Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me” (Mark 8:34; NLT). 

Reference

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

Cling tightly to the LORD your God (Joshua 22:8; NLT).

Never stop praying (1 Thessalonians 5:17; NLT).

“The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!” (Mark 1:15; NLT).

Reading: Habakkuk 3:17-19; NLT.

Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign LORD is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.

In our dreams

Ruth Kirk

He speaks in dreams, in visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they lie in their beds (Job 33:15; NLT).

In our dreams, God,
You reveal
The hidden fall-out
Of our past,
And in our dreams, God,
You reveal
Our fears about
What lies ahead.

In our dreams, God,
You reveal
What we must face
Along the way,
And in our dreams, God,
You reveal
Your healing treasures,
Day by day.

I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness – secret riches. I will do this so you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name (Isaiah 45:3; NLT).

Coming out as face blind

Ruth Kirk

Today’s blog speaks directly about how I am dealing with my recently-discovered face blindness. However, I hope it will also speak to other readers who are currently “coming out”, by being honest with others about previously unknown or concealed aspects of  themselves and their lives. The more congruence there is between our inner and outer lives, the more healthy, happy, relaxed and vibrant we will be.

We will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ (Ephesians 4:15; NLT). 

You don’t have to act,
And you don’t have to fake.
You don’t have to ask,
And you don’t have to ache.

Just take a deep breath,
Then speak from your heart.
Come out with the Son,
And make a fresh start.

So, say a brief prayer,
Then speak from your soul:
Come out with the Son,
And he’ll make you whole!

His hands make whole (Job 5:18; NKJV).

 

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).

 

Christ at my waking

Ruth Kirk

Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you (Ephesians 5:14; NIV).

Christ at my waking,
And Christ in my dreams –

Whatever I’m facing
Your presence redeems.  

Christ in my living,
And Christ at my death –

No matter what happens
Beyond my last breath.

I am with you all the days, even to the end of time (Matthew 28:20; SLT).

Whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord (Romans 14:8; NIV).

References

There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am (John 14:2-3; NLT).

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).

The dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7; NIV).

You have brought me into your presence forever (Psalm 41:12; NLT).

 

I cannot rest

Ruth Kirk

Their days of labor are filled with pain and grief; even at night their minds cannot rest (Ecclesiastes 2:23; NLT).

Lord,
I cannot rest, or pray,
Because my mind
Is full of dread.
Nor do I have inner peace –
For I am ruled
By fear, instead.

Lord,
I cannot work, or sleep.
My heart is overwhelmed
By stress.
I eat for comfort; have bad dreams –
Because I’m living
In distress.

Lord,
I cannot sense your presence,
For my soul
Is dulled by pain.
I see no light; I hear no voice –
So I must walk by faith
Again.

If you are walking in darkness, without a ray of light, trust in the LORD and rely on your God (Isaiah 50:10; NLT).

We walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7; NKJV).

Bad dreams

Ruth Kirk

While I was asleep in bed, this is what I dreamed (Daniel 4:10; NLT). 

Lord God,
I dream of failure every night;
Of suffering, depression,
Shame, and dread.

Before, I might have
Begged you, Lord,
To take these dreams away,
But now,
I choose to welcome them,
Instead.

So, I will face these dreams,
And when I wake,
I’ll pray for all those
Living with defeat:

Draw near, Lord God,
Please cleanse and soothe
Our wounds with oil and wine.
May all who fail
Be healed,
And made complete.

Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him (Luke 10:34; NLT). 

May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God (Ephesians 3:19; NLT). 

 

In my dreams

Ruth Kirk

This prayer came to me at bedtime one evening, when I was saying goodnight before my icon of Jesus:

He speaks in dreams, in visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they lie in their beds (Job 33:15; NLT).

I will fear no evil, for you are with me (Psalm 23:4; NIV).

Even in my dreams you’re with me:
All around me and within.

Even in my dreams you love me,
And protect me from all sin.

Even in my dreams you teach me:
Always walking by my side.

Even in my dreams you help me:
Lord, my Shepherd, and my Guide.

He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake (Psalm 23:3; NIV).

I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me (Psalm 3:5; NIV).

 

Dream: 4.5.23.

Ruth Kirk

Regular readers will know about my childhood, but for those who don’t, here is a link to a blog which summarises it: https://wp.me/p45bCr-dTm.

While I was lying in my bed, this is what I dreamed (Daniel 4:10; NLT).

Last night I dreamed that my mother and I were in charge of catering for group of 15-20 adults and children. One day we completely forgot to discuss what to make for their dinner. 

While everyone was out for the afternoon, I tried to make some scones as a surprise for them when they came in. However, I couldn’t find the recipe I was looking for, and everything I tried to do went wrong.

Long before I expected them, the group returned, hungry, and eager for their evening meal. Realising with horror that my mother and I had forgotten all about it, I searched around for some biscuits and leftovers to keep them going. However, what I found was clearly inadequate; I felt ashamed as I offered it around. There wasn’t even any butter or jam to make the stale, dry food a little more palatable.

When my mother appeared, she quickly grasped the situation, went to the kitchen, and started cooking, though we had very few ingredients available, and no meat. Meanwhile, I spent time with our guests.

Eventually she served them with small portions of plain boiled vegetables. The recipients looked very disappointed. It was a woefully inadequate meal, and we both knew it. I expected my mother to be furious with me, but to my utter astonishment, she didn’t try to dump all the blame on me for our joint mistake. We shared our failure without a word of recrimination.

This dream might not sound very surprising to other people, but was very remarkable for me, because nothing remotely like it ever happened while my mother was alive. In fact, throughout my 70 years of life, it was by far the most positive dream I’ve ever had about her.

It’s a long time since my mother died, but I’m starting to wonder if God is slowly moving me towards healing, one dream at a time…

Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you! (Isaiah 49:15; NLT).

 

Moving on

Ruth Kirk

Last Sunday, at the end of a late-night writing session, I suddenly began to receive today’s prayer. It’s taken me three days to express it in a way that fully and accurately reflects what I saw.

The background to this blog is that for several weeks I have been living with a constant sense of dread. This sensation was triggered by a dream which called to mind a sin I committed many years ago. I had never confessed it to the person concerned.

Despite having now been honest with that person, who forgave me immediately, the sense of dread has continued. Long experience has shown that once my dread has been re-triggered, it can continue for many months. Unable to “feel” forgiven, I simply continue to be extremely anxious. Sadly, I have never found out how to “let go” of this dread, so I can move on.

Mercifully, today’s prayer offers a way to begin moving forward, which I’m now practicing repeatedly, many times each day.

He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5; NLT).

I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more (Hebrews 8:12; NIV).

Lord,

You’ve washed away my sin,
And promised to remember it
No more.

Having sent it far away,
You love me just as deeply
As before.

This time, I won’t wait,
And only feel forgiven
When my dread has passed –

Instead, I’ll try repeatedly
To trust your promise,
And move on, at last.

In God – I boast in his promise – in God I trust, I am not afraid (Psalm 56:4; NET).

God willing, we will move forward to further understanding (Hebrews 6:3; NLT).

References 

He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people (Titus 2:14; NLT). 

Who am I? I’m the one who wipes out your offenses! For my own sake, I do not remember your wrongs (Isaiah 43:25; TIB). 

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29; NLT).

He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12; NLT).

He loves us with unfailing love; the LORD’s faithfulness endures forever (Psalm 117:2; NLT). 

Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me (John 14:1; NLT).

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