Category: evil

24.5.23: Shame

Ruth Kirk
Plaque with Doubting Thomas, German ca. 1140–60.

Today’s prayer came to me most unexpectedly yesterday, whilst I was saying grace before breakfast.

Everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard (Romans 3:23; NLT). 

We all have sins that shame us,
Behaviour we regret;
We all have faults and failures,
But Jesus loves us yet.

We know our inner darkness,
The things we can’t put right,
The evils on our conscience,
But Jesus is our light.

We all have guilty secrets,
We haven’t done God’s will;
We’ve judged and wounded others,
But Jesus loves us still.

We know that we are nothing,
Just grains of sand, or dust,
But through Christ comes forgiveness,
So in His name we trust.

Through this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins (Acts 13:38; NLT).

There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12; NLT). 

Trust in God, and trust also in me (John 14:1; NLT).

References 

I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark (John 12:46; NLT). 

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life” (John 8:12; NLT).

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

I am nothing but dust (Genesis 18:27; NIV). 

There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent (Luke 24:47; NLT). 

A reading: Romans 3:22-25; NLT.

We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood.

Save us!

Ruth Kirk

Lord, save us! (Matthew 8:25; NLT). 

Save us, Lord! We live in thrall
To evil: please forgive us all.

Change each foolish human mind:
Lend us patience; make us kind.

Melt our hearts, Lord God, above:
Give us grace, so we may love.

Heal each fragile, human soul
And grant us wisdom: make us whole.

Give me wisdom (2 Chronicles 1:10; NIV). 

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

 

My heartfelt prayer

Ruth Kirk

Hear my prayer, O Lord, and let my cry come unto thee.
(Psalm 102:1; KJV).

1. Hear my heartfelt prayer, Lord God:
End our greed and hatred.
Take away our minds of stone,
And make our thinking like your own:
Loving; joyous; full of peace –
Help us, I implore you.

2. Hear my earnest prayer, Lord God:
Turn us from all evil.
Take away our hearts of stone,
And make our passions like your own:
Patient; kindly; generous –
Till everyone adores you. 

3. Hear my urgent prayer, Lord God:
Forgive our sins; have mercy.
Take away our souls of stone,
And give us spirits like your own:
Faithful; gentle; self-controlled –
Then all will bow before you.  

🖤

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

Bow down and worship the Lord (Ezekiel 46:3; NLT).

 

References

1. The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. Do all these evildoers know nothing? They devour my people as though eating bread; they never call on the Lord (Psalm 14:2-4; NIV).

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

All of you should be of one mind. Sympathise with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will bless you for it (1 Peter 3:8-9; NLT).

2. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it (Psalm 34:14; NIV).

I will give you a new heart … I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26; NIV).

I will give them one heart and one purpose: to worship me forever (Jeremiah 32:39; NLT).

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things (1 Chronicles 29:11; NLT). 

3. Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously (Isaiah 55:7; NLT). 

I will …put a new spirit in you (Ezekiel 36:26; NIV).

We have all been baptised into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13. 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). 

 

 

Open my eyes (#3 of 3)

Ruth Kirk


Open my eyes so that I will observe amazing things from your instruction.
(Psalm 119:18; ISV). 

He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.
(Ecclesiastes 3:11; NLT).

Lord,

Open my eyes, so I can see
The scope of all you give to me:
Genesis; conception; birth;
Your realm within me, here, on earth.

Open my mind, so I can see
The scope of all you do for me:
The gift of Christ, your only Son;
His battle against evil, won.

Open my heart, so I can see
The scope of all you offer me:
Forgiveness, faith; your truth; your way;
Your Spirit, helping me each day.

Open my soul, so I can see
The scope of all you promise me:
Salvation; life with you above
For evermore, in joy and love.

🖤

You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.
(Psalm 16:11; NLT).

Look

Ruth Kirk

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).

Look at our selfishness,
Wastage,
And greed.

Look at our conflict,
And all those
In need.

Look at our prejudice,
Hatred,
And blame.

Look at our evil,
And bow down,
In shame.

Turn from your evil ways, each of you,
and do what is right
(Jeremiah 18:11; NLT).

Reach out

Ruth Kirk

Image: Myriams-Fotos, Pixabay

🖤

Someone who falls alone is in real trouble
(Ecclesiastes 4:10; NLT).

1. I reach out for your peace, Lord God,
When troubles overcome me.

2. I reach out for your shining light
When darkness hides my way.

3. I reach out for your perfect truth
When lies are overwhelming.

4. I reach out for your constant love
When hatred wins the day.

5. I reach out for your raging fire
When evil overtakes me.

6. I reach out for your ceaseless hope
When no one hears my plea.

7. I reach out for your steady faith
When all my trust has vanished.

8. I reach out for your hand, Lord God –
And you reach out to me.

Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith, “ he said, “why did you doubt me”? (Matthew 14:31; NIV).

🧡

References

1. The Lord is peace (Judges 6:24; NLT).

Troubles without number have surrounded me (Psalm 40:12; CSB).

2. God is light (1 John 1:5; NIV).

The way of the wicked is like total darkness (Proverbs 4:19; NLT).

3. The Spirit is truth (1 John 5:6; NKJV).

All day long they scheme and lie (Psalm 38:12; NIV).

4. God is love (1 John 4:16; NLT).

Hatred stirs up conflict (Proverbs 10:12; NIV).

5. God is a raging fire (Deuteronomy 4:24; GW). 

“They have infuriated me with all their evil deeds,” says the Lord (Jeremiah 32:30; NLT).

You will see what an evil, bitter thing it is to abandon the Lord your God (Jeremiah 2:19; NLT).

6. God [is] the source of hope (Romans 15:13; NLT).

There is no one who hears your words (Isaiah 41:26; NKJV).

7. The promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift (Romans 4:16; NLT).

My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? (Psalm 22:1; NLT).

8. Then he [Jesus] said to Thomas, […] “Reach out your hand” (John 20:27; NIV).

You reach out your hand, and the power of your right hand saves me (Psalm 138:7; NLT).

Tempests rage

Ruth Kirk

Image: Hans Braxmeier, Pixabay


You are the temple of the living God
(2 Corinthians 6:16; NLT).

1. Tempests rage
Beyond this church,
Yet all is calm inside.

2. Whirlwinds roar
Beyond these walls,
So here, Lord God, I hide.

3. Floods rise up
Beyond these doors,
But I will fear no ill,

4. For though life ends
Beyond this place,
You whisper: Peace, be still.

 

References

1. The wrath of the Lord will come like a storm! (Jeremiah 23:19; NET).

With his love, he will calm all your fears (Zephaniah 3:17; NLT).

2. A whirlwind of the Lord has gone forth in fury (Jeremiah 23:19; NKJV).

The Lord is my fortress; my God is the mighty rock where I hide (Psalm 94:22; NLT).

3. The floods have risen up, O Lord. The floods have roared like thunder; the floods have lifted their pounding waves (Psalm 93:3; NLT).

Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me (Psalm 23:4; KJV).

4. The Lord gives both life and death (1 Samuel 2:6; NLT).

No one can live forever; all will die. No one can escape the power of the grave (Psalm 89:48; NLT).

After the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper (1 Kings 19:12; NLT).

He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm (Mark 4:39; NKJV).

Choice

Ruth Kirk
Image: Antranias, Pixabay

Don’t you realise that you become the slave
of whatever you choose to obey?
(Romans 6:16; NLT).

1. May I let go of vanity,
And choose to seek your face.
May I let go of judging, Lord,
And choose, instead, your grace.

2. May I let go of bitterness,
And chose to know your balm.
May I let go of anger, Lord,
And choose, instead, your calm.

3. May I let go of jealousy,
And choose to share your bliss.
May I let go of hatred, Lord,
And choose, instead, your kiss.

4. May I let go of selfishness,
And choose to love, each day.
May I let go of evil, Lord,
And choose, instead, your way.

References

1. My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, Lord, I will seek (Psalm 27:8; NIV).

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

2. Don’t sin by letting anger control you (Ephesians 4:26; NLT).

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

4. Turn from your selfish ways (Luke 9:23; NLT).

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

The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-3; NLT).

God’s way is perfect (Psalm 18:30; NLT).

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

Bad dreams

Ruth Kirk
Image: vicart26, Pixabay

He will wipe every tear from their eyes,
and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain
(Revelation 21:4; NLT).

1. May bad dreams fade, Lord,
Leaving only night,
And darkness lessen,
Giving way to light.

2. May anger wane, Lord,
Leaving only grace,
And doubts diminish,
Giving way to faith.

3. May sorrow end, Lord,
Leaving only calm,
And worries scatter,
Giving way to balm.

4. May evil cease, Lord,
Leaving only good,
And hatred vanish,
Giving way to love.