Category: emotion

According to your will

Ruth Kirk

Image: Engin Akyurt, Pixabay

This is the confidence we have in approaching God:
that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us
(1 John 5:14; NIV).

Lord,

1. May I treat myself with love
According to your will,
Sharing all I feel with you
As I face each new test.

2. May I capture all my thoughts
According to your will,
Changing judgements into love –
Then I’ll have done my best.

3. May I speak the truth in love
According to your will,
Choosing all my words with care,
Though sometimes I’ll be blamed.

4. May I do all things with love
According to your will,
Serving you with all my heart –
Then I won’t be ashamed.

References

1. Love your neighbour as yourself (Leviticus 19:18; NLT).

You desire honesty from the womb (Psalm 51:6; NLT).

Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested (Hebrews 2:18; NLT).

2. We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5; NIV).

Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For […] the standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged (Matthew 7:1-2; NLT).

We have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16; NLT).

I have always tried my best to let wisdom guide my thoughts (Ecclesiastes 7:23; NLT).

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

I have many aggressive enemies; they hate me without reason (Psalm 38:19; NLT).

4. Do everything with love (1 Corinthians 16:14; NLT).

Serve the Lord with all your heart (1 Samuel 12:20; NIV).

Let me not be ashamed; let not my enemies triumph over me (Psalm 25:2; NKJV).

Let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in you (Psalm 25:20; NKJV).

Consequences (#2 of 2 linked prayers)

Ruth Kirk
Image: geralt, Pixabay

Choose today whom you will serve
(Joshua 24:15; NLT).

1. Consequences flow
From from how I handle
All I feel.

2. Every choice I make
Brings others pain,
Or helps them heal.

3. Every course of action
Leaves me feeling bad,
Or good.

4. So help me, Lord,
To grow like you,
And choose your Way of Love.

References

1. You did not reflect on your actions or think about their consequences (Isaiah 47:7; NLT).

2. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart (Luke 6:45; NLT).

3. When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarrelling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these (Galatians 5:19-21; NLT).

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-3; NRSV).

4. The Lord – who is the Spirit – makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image (2 Corinthians 3:18; NLT).

Follow the way of love (1 Corinthians 14:1; NIV).

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged (1 Corinthians 13:4; NLT).

Like you

Ruth Kirk
Image: Tama66; Pixabay

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

1. Lord Jesus,
My example,
Help me to grow like you,
By treating all my feelings
With love, just as you do.

2. Lord Jesus,
My Rabboni,
Help me to grow like you,
By changing each judgemental thought
Into the love that’s due.

3. Lord Jesus,
My Messiah,
Help me to grow like you,
By saying everything with love,
And making sure it’s true.

4. Lord Jesus,
My Salvation,
Help me to grow like you,
By doing everything with love:
May your life be my cue.

References

1. God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:9; NLT).

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

The Lord – who is the Spirit – makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image (2 Corinthians 3:18; NLT).

In all their suffering he also suffered (Isaiah 63:9; NLT).

He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows (Isaiah 53:4; NIV).

2. She turned to him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”) (John 20:16; NLT).

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5; NKJV).

We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5; NIV).

Do not judge others, and you will not be judged (Luke 6:37; NLT).

Love your enemies! (Matthew 5:44; NLT).

3. You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:16; NLT).

You must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (Jude 1:25; NLT).

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

4. The Lord is my light and my salvation (Psalm 27:1; NLT).

The Lord – who is the Spirit – makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image (2 Corinthians 3:18; NLT).

Do everything with love (1 Corinthians 16:14; NLT).

Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps (1 Peter 2:21; RSV).

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

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

With love

Ruth Kirk

Do everything with love
(1 Corinthians 16:14; NLT).

1. Face all you feel with love:
Grief, anger, shame, pain, fear.
Share everything with God,
For he is always near.

2. Observe your thoughts with love:
Hate, envy, judgement, pride.
Confess them all to God,
Who will not blame, or chide.

3. Speak every word with love:
Don’t mock, abuse, or lie.
Admit your sins to God,
Who hears our victims cry.

4. Do everything with love:
This principle is clear;
Just ask the Father’s help,
For he is always here.

References

1. You are near (Psalm 75:1; NLT).

2. I confess my sins (Psalm 38:18; NLT).

He will not always chide (Psalm 103:9; RSV).

3. Speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15; NLT).

The Lord hears the cries of the needy (Psalm 69:33; NLT).

4. Do everything with love (1 Corinthians 16:14; NLT).

Love your enemies! (Matthew 5:44; NLT).

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them (Romans 12:9; NLT).

Help me, Lord (Psalm 30:10; NLT).

I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, that he may be with you forever (John 14:16; NASB).