Category: Ecstasy

Ecstasy

Ruth Kirk

Hello everyone, well, after an exhausting day, I arrived at my care home yesterday evening.

Then she was in ecstasy (2 Chronicles 9:4; BES).

Lord,

Ecstasy is always
Just a breath away;
A closing of the eyes
And of the hands away;

A turning straight to you, Lord God,
In love away;
An opening of mind and heart
And soul away.

For you are always here
At every moment;
Always here within,
And here in love.

Yes, here, with us
No matter where we are, Lord,
And we are one with you,
In heaven above.

I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away 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 (Psalm 139:7-10; NLT).

References

It came to pass when I had returned to Jerusalem, and as I was praying in the temple, that I became in ecstasy (Acts 22:17; DBY).

Turn to God (Matthew 3:2; NLT).

We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them (1 John 4:16; NLT).

There is…one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all (Ephesians 4:5-6; NLT).

Surely the LORD is in this place, and I wasn’t even aware of it! (Genesis 28:16; NLT).

My mind

Ruth Kirk

Give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:20; NLT).

I create the light and make the darkness. I send good times and bad times. I, the LORD, am the one who does these things (Isaiah 45:7; NLT).

Lord, I want to thank you for my mind, and for all the experiences which have formed it. Every one of them, both good and bad, has come from you. They include:

  • Abuse, unkindness, blame and punishment
  • Tragedy, trauma, failure, sin and shame
  • Bereavement, panic, anxiety, depression and phobias
  • Marriage, motherhood and home-making
  • Walking, cycling, music, writing and art-work
  • Study, assertiveness and boundaries
  • Therapy, change, growth, personal development, work and achievement
  • Prayer, insight, joy, bliss and ecstasy
  • Faith, longing, searching and finding
  • Injury, fatigue, sickness, suffering, disability, pain, loss and isolation

Thank you for all these things, Lord, without exception. For the first time in my life, I feel that even if I could go back and start again, I wouldn’t want to change any of them. This is because these experiences, both good and bad, have formed, and continue to form, my individual mind, in relationship with you. Nothing could be more precious to me.

The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord (Job 1:21; CSB).

Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10; NIV).

References

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

Whatever happens to you, accept it (Sirach 2:4; NJB).

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

Everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory (Romans 11:36; NLT).

The LORD gives both death and life (I Samuel 2:6; NLT).

He wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal (Job: 5:17; NIV).

Those who suffer he delivers in their suffering; he speaks to them in their affliction (Job 36:15; NIV).

You who have made me see many troubles and calamities will revive me again (Psalm 71:20; NRSV).

I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things (Isaiah 45:7; NIV).

Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces; now he will heal us. He has injured us; now he will bandage our wounds (Hosea 6:1; NLT).

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).

When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other (Ecclesiastes 7:14; NIV).

Sharing (for B.B.)

Ruth Kirk

Yesterday I woke at 3am, began to pray, and was immediately flooded with the joy of God’s presence. As today’s verses began to flow, I marvelled at all the different experiences God wants to share with us during prayer.

Although I received the first few lines in words, and could see the shape and rhythm of the whole poem, it proved astonishingly difficult to put into words. The first rough draft was completed just after 8am, but the whole piece wasn’t finished until 11.30 last night!

In your presence is fullness of joy. In your right hand there are pleasures for evermore (Psalm 16:11; WEB). 

Prayer is such a pleasure, Lord,
So, may I rest in you alone,
Sharing the joy and peace you bring:
Father, you want my soul to sing.

Prayer is such a banquet, Lord,
So, may I feast with you each day,
Sharing your pain and ecstasy:
Father, you set my poor soul free.

Prayer is such a wellspring, Lord,
So, may I intercede for all,
Sharing the love that you outpour:
Father, you help my soul to soar.

Prayer is such a comfort, Lord,
So, may I lodge here through life’s storms,
Sharing your perfect truth and light:
Father, you make our souls unite.

The person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him (1 Corinthians 6:17; NLT).

References

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

Listen to my prayer and my plea, O LORD my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is making to you today (1 Kings 8:28; NLT).

Since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering (Romans 8:17; NLT).

Those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles (Isaiah 40:31l NLT). 

May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light (Colossians 1:12; NLT).

 

In your hands

Ruth Kirk

I woke at 4am yesterday, and the moment I began to pray, these verses began to flow with very little input from me at all:

Our lives are in his hands (Psalm 66:9; NLT). 

In your hands, dear Lord,
I’ll rest,
Throughout each danger,
Loss and test,
However scared,
However stressed:
My Father.

In your hands, dear Lord,
I’ll stay,
Despite my troubles,
Every day,
However weary,
I will pray:
My Jesus.

In your hands, dear Lord,
I’ll die,
Then straight to you
My soul will fly,
For you are God,
Who shares each sigh:
My Spirit.

In your hands,
Dear Trinity,
I’ll live, forever
Joyful, free
To worship you
In ecstasy:
My Saviour.

God poured out the Holy Spirit abundantly on us through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that by his grace we might be put right with God and come into possession of the eternal life we hope for (Titus 3:6-7; GNT).

 

Golden darkness

Ruth Kirk

Yesterday morning, as I greeted my icons one by one, the first words of this prayer came directly into my mind. These verses attempt to describe experiencing the presence of Christ during wordless prayer, in life, whilst dying, and in paradise. We can dip in and out of this experience until we die, but after death it will be all we know, and all we want to know.

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

Moses approached the thick darkness where God was (Exodus 20:21; NLT).

Golden darkness deep within,
Far from stress, and shame and sin;
Lost in worship, bliss and peace –
Rest, in life, with Christ, our Priest.

Golden splendour all about,
Letting go of dread and doubt;
Lost in rapture, joy and love –
Walk, with Christ, to heaven above.

Golden glory all around,
Free from pain, with mercy crowned;
Lost in ecstasy, we soar –
To be with Christ, for evermore.

Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever (1 Thessalonians 4:17; NLT).

 

Ecstasy

Ruth Kirk

Almost every day, I dance, and it’s always good. But today when I danced before the Lord, I experienced the most wonderful ecstasy. This has happened to me before in various circumstances, and always takes me by surprise.

No matter what God gives or takes, I am completely safe in his hands, one with him forever. I have nothing to fear, so my heart just can’t help overflowing with joy and delight.

As soon as I finished dancing, I sat on the floor to write today’s blog:

David danced before the LORD with all his might (2 Samuel 6:14; NLT). 

Dancing here before you, Lord:
I’m overwhelmed by ecstasy.

Living, dying, in your hands:
I overflow with ecstasy.

One with you, my Lord, my God:
Our love explodes in ecstasy,

Sharing everything you send:
At one with you, through ecstasy.

I became in ecstasy (Acts 22:17; DBY).

References 

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

The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away. Blessed be the name of the LORD (Job 1:21; CSB). 

I will go to the altar of God, to the God who gives me ecstatic joy, so that I express my thanks to you, O God, my God (Psalm 34:4; NET).

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; NIV).

 

Wrapped

Ruth Kirk

This song of praise began to form whilst I was dancing for joy in the shower. When I got out to wrap myself in a large, homely towel, I was able to note it down. It was a pleasure to work on it during a completely unstructured day of rest following my long journey.

Don’t be afraid. Just have faith (Mark 5:36; NLT). 

I’m wrapped in faith, in hope and truth;
In praise and peace that never end.

I’m wrapped in joy, in thanks and prayer;
In all you give, and take and lend.

I’m wrapped in weakness and in strength;
In everything you make and send.

I’m wrapped in sickness, life and death;
In all you wound, and break and mend.

I’m wrapped in ecstasy and light;
In shadow, and the love of Christ.

I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings (Psalm 63:7; NLT). 

May you experience the love of Christ (Ephesians 3:19; NLT).

God’s nearness

Ruth Kirk

This blog was very difficult to write. I’m deeply tired as I approach the end of my holiday, and had to work on it in amongst all the inevitable tidying and packing which come with leaving rented accommodation. As always, the inspiration took only a moment to arrive, but expressing what I saw was almost beyond me.

Yet, to my great surprise, just before posting today’s prayer I discovered that it’s actually two prayers in one, woven together. If you read just the first line of each verse (those in non-italic text), they make sense, and the same is true if you read just the italicised lines. God is truly amazing!

We thank you, O God! We give thanks because you are near (Psalm 75:1; NLT). 

Thank you for your nearness, Lord:
In everything, I see your face,

And for your supreme transcendence:
Far beyond all time and space.

Thank you for your constant presence:
Here, on earth, in everyone,

And for your sublime completeness:
All exist within your womb.

The Almighty …blesses you with blessings of the skies above, blessings of the deep springs below, blessings of the breast and womb (Genesis 49:25; NIV).

Recognition

Ruth Kirk

Last Friday I had lots of steroid injections into the joints between my sternum and ribs, and into an intercostal muscle. It was a painful, but ecstatic experience. Afterwards, I couldn’t sleep, which is always a very welcome time for writing. So I spent several hours focused entirely on today’s and tomorrow’s prayers, which arrived as an inseparable pair:

In my heart, I am thirsty for you, the living God. When will I see your face? (Psalm 42:2; CEV).

Jesus,
May I seek your presence
Here, in everyone, today,
And, Lord, may I recognise your presence
Here, in all, today.

Jesus,
May I love and serve you
Here, in everyone, today,
Then I’ll see your image, Lord
Reflected in each face today.

Humankind was created as God’s reflection: in the divine image God created them; female and male, God made them. (Genesis 1:27; TIB).

It’s dreadful

Ruth Kirk

It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10:31; NIV).

It’s dreadful, Lord,
To fall into your hands,
Although there’s nowhere else
I’d rather be.

It’s terrible
To gaze upon your face,
Although there’s no one else
I’d rather see.

It’s harrowing
To touch your hands and feet,
Although there’s nothing else
I’d rather do.

It’s ecstasy
To share your warm embrace –
Because there is no other god
But you.

There is no other god but me! (Deuteronomy 32:39; NLT).