Category: Father

At your pleasure

Ruth Kirk

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

I live at your pleasure, my Father:
I’m wholly dependent on you.

You give me the breath which sustains me
In all that I think, say and do.

You give me food, water, and shelter;
The riches of land, sea, and sky.

You give me your loving salvation –
And when you say the word, I will die.

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

Broken (#2 of 2 linked prayers)

Ruth Kirk

My health is broken (Psalm 38:7; NLT).

My heart is broken (Lamentations 1:20; NLT).

Father,

I am broken:
Please redeem me.

Heal me with your deep,
Unfailing love.

Then I’ll try again,
And never weary

Of following your Son
To heaven above.

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).

You share your strength with me

Ruth Kirk

The Lord is glorious and strong
(1 Chronicles 16:28; NLT).

Lord,
You share your strength with me,
Which makes my weakness
Wholly unimportant.

Lord,
You share your mind with me,
Which makes my ignorance
Of small account.

Lord,
You share your heart with me,
Which makes my lack of love
Inconsequential.

Lord,
You share your soul with me,
So we are one,
And that is paramount!
You have been united with Christ Jesus
(Ephesians 2:13; NLT).

If I never lay my cross down

Ruth Kirk


Come to me, all of you who are weary
and carry heavy burdens,
and I will give you rest
(Matthew 11:28; NLT).

Father,

If I never lay my cross down,
If I never pause to rest,
If I never try to pray:
I’ll never bear each test.

If I never stop to listen,
If I never care to seek,
If I never wait on you:
I’ll never hear you speak. 

If I never ask forgiveness,
If I never feel remorse,
If I never start afresh:
I’ll never stay the course. 

If I never spread your Gospel,
If I never praise your grace,
If I never worship you:
I’ll never see your face.

If I never share your body,
If I never taste your blood,
If I never strive to follow Christ:
I’ll never know your love.

Those who wish to boast should boast in this alone:
that they truly know me
and understand that I am the Lord,
who demonstrates unfailing love
(Jeremiah 9:24; NLT).

When you give me light (for A.K.)

Ruth Kirk

I send good times and bad times.
I, the Lord,
am the one who does these things
(Isaiah 45:7; NLT).

The Lord gave me what I had,
and the Lord has taken it away.
Praise the name of the Lord
(Job 1:21; NLT).

Father,
When you give me light
I praise your holy name.

When you send me
Clouds and darkness,
May I do the same. 

Father,
When you grant me peace
I bless your sacred name.

When you send me
Fear and anguish,
May I do the same.

Father,
When you give me joy
I praise your holy name.

When you send me
Grief and sorrow,
May I do the same.

Father,
When you grant me health
I bless your sacred name.

When you send me
Pain and sickness,
May I do the same.

Father,
While you give me life
I’ll praise your holy name.

When you call me home
In death,
May I do just the same.

I will praise the Lord at all times
(Psalm 34:1; NLT).

Old and weary

Ruth Kirk

Now that I am old and grey,
do not abandon me, O God
(Psalm 71:18; NLT). 

Father,
I am old and weary,
Sick and fragile,
Weak, in pain.

Give me, Lord,
The hope I long for;
Grant me, Lord,
Your strength again.

Father,
I am sad and lonely,
Selfish,
Sinful to the core.

Send me, Lord,
The faith I search for;
Show me, Lord,
Your love once more.

Show me your unfailing love
(Psalm 17:7; NLT).

Together

Ruth Kirk

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).

Father,
Let us live together
In your love,
For evermore.

Jesus,
Let us walk together
In your light,
For evermore.

Spirit,
Let us rest together
In your bliss,
For evermore;

And, Lord,
Let us stay together –
Here, on earth,
And evermore.

We will be with the Lord forever
(1 Thessalonians 4:17; NLT).