Category: God

Lifetime

Ruth Kirk

There is a recording of today’s prayer here: Lifetime

Draw near to God and he will draw near to you (James 4:8; NET). 

Spend your lifetime
Drawing close to God.

Spend your lifetime
Learning from the King.

Spend your lifetime
Following Christ’s way.

Spend your lifetime
Growing more like him.

This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ (Ephesians 4:13; NLT).

References 

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me (Matthew 11:29; NIV). 

At just the right time Christ will be revealed from heaven by the blessed and only almighty God, the King of all kings and Lord of all lords (1 Timothy 6:15; NLT). 

Jesus told him, “I am the way” (John 14:6; 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).

God awakes

Ruth Kirk

Here is a video of today’s blog: God awakes

Sing to the one who rides across the ancient heavens
(Psalm 68:33; NLT). 

God awakes the ancient heavens:
Time begins in endless space.
All creation flows within him:
Earth, light, water; life, peace, grace.
Then, he makes both men and women,
Each reflecting his dear face.

Disobedience; selfishness:
Oh, how the lust for power grows!
Watching; waiting; weeping; raging:
Still, the God of mercy shows
Unfailing love. He sends his Son:
Most precious gift, although he knows

Exactly what will happen next.
They spurned his Way, and all he said,
Scorned him; beat him; jeered, and spat,
As, hanging on the cross, he bled
And died that day, for all our sins.
Since then, his Spirit comes, instead,

To those who trust his holy name.
Shun selfishness! Take up your cross.
Put others first. Accept what comes
With thanks, and see the rest as dross.
Then, follow Christ through life’s dark vale,
Clinging to him in pain and loss.

Cling to your faith in Christ (1 Timothy 1:19; NLT).

His body [lamenting its decay] grieves in pain over it, and his soul mourns over [the loss of] himself (Job 14:22; AMP).

References

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1; NLT). 

God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them (Genesis 1:27; NLT).

The [population of the] earth was corrupt [absolutely depraved – spiritually and morally putrid] in God’s sight, and the land was filled with violence [desecration, infringement, outrage, assault, and lust for power] (Genesis 6:11; AMP).

The Lord your God is a raging fire (Deuteronomy 4:24; GW).

He loves us with unfailing love (Psalm 117:2; NLT).

God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16; NLT).

On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4; NLT). 

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God (John 1:12; NIV). 

Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23; NLT).

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:18; NIV).

Everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him (Philippians 3:8-9; NLT).

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me (Psalm 23:4; NLT).

What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and suffer the loss of his soul? (Mark 8:36; DBY). 

Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will leave this life. The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away. Blessed be the name of the LORD (Job 1:21; CFSB).

Start afresh

Ruth Kirk

Here is a video recording of today’s prayer: Start afresh

Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-3; NIV). 

Father God,
Please help us all
To start afresh each day,

To take our cross,
And bear it well,
And follow Jesus’ way.

Father God,
Please help us all
To lift our hearts in prayer,

To love you, praise,
And serve you,
Till we meet you in the air.

First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. 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 4:16-17; NLT).

References

Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23; NLT).

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” (John 14:6; NLT). 

Let us lift up our hearts and our hands to God in heaven (Lamentations 3:41; NIV). 

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

‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’ (Luke 10:27; NLT). 

Praise the Lord; praise God our savior! For each day he carries us in his arms (Psalm 68:19; NLT). 

Serve only the LORD your God and fear him alone. Obey his commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him (Deuteronomy 13:4; NLT). 

One Spirit

Ruth Kirk

Here is a video recording of today’s prayer: One Spirit

God is Spirit (John 4:24; NLT).

There is… one Spirit (Ephesians 4:4; NLT).

Spirit of God,
You help us in our weakness,
Teaching us what to ask
And how to pray.

Spirit of Christ,
You walk with us in sorrow,
Pleading on our behalf
Both night and day.

Spirit of Truth,
You guide us in our darkness,
Lighting our path with love
Along the way.

Holy Spirit,
You are in all creation,
So we are one with you,
Though we are clay.

Thine incorruptible spirit is in all things (Wisdom of Solomon 12:1; KJV). 

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

We are the clay, and you are the potter. We all are formed by your hand (Isaiah 64:8; NLT).

References 

Verse 1:
The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you (Romans 8:11; NLT). 

The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for (Romans 8:26; NLT).

The Spirit teaches you everything you need to know (1 John 2:27; NLT).

Verse 2:
They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ’s suffering and his great glory afterward (1 Peter 1:11; NLT).

The Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me (Philippians 1:19; NLT). 

Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us (Romans 8:34; CSB). 

He entered into heaven itself to appear now before God on our behalf (Hebrews 9:24; NLT). 

Verse 3:
When He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth (John 16:13; AMP). 

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

Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light (Micah 7:8; NLT).

Verse 4:
Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13; NLT).

Rejoice

Ruth Kirk

Here is a recording of today’s prayer: Rejoice

Rejoice always (1 Thessalonians 5:17; NIV).

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior (Habakkuk 3:17; NIV).

No matter what befalls me, Lord,
May I rejoice in you;
And when I suffer pain or loss,
May I rejoice in you.

No matter how depressed I am,
May I rejoice in you;
And when I’m feeling anxious, Lord,
May I rejoice in you.

When I’m in death’s dark valley, Lord,
May I rejoice in you;
Then, when I reach your Kingdom, Lord,
I will rejoice in you.

My soul will rejoice in the LORD and delight in his salvation (Psalm 32:11; NIV).

References

Yea, 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). 

He will remove the cloud of gloom, the shadow of death that hangs over the earth. He will swallow up death forever! The Sovereign LORD will wipe away all tears. He will remove forever all insults and mockery against his land and people. The LORD has spoken! In that day the people will proclaim, “This is our God! We trusted in him, and he saved us! This is the LORD, in whom we trusted. Let us rejoice in the salvation he brings!” (Isaiah 25:7-9; NLT). 

You love me

Ruth Kirk

O LORD, you have examined my heart and know everything about me (Psalm 139:1; NLT). 

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

You know all about me,
Yet you love me –

It’s very hard to grasp, Lord,
But you do.

You know all about me,
Yet you’re always by my side –

It’s very hard to grasp, Lord,
But it’s true.

“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you (Isaiah 54:10; NIV).

References 

I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb (Jeremiah 1:5; NLT). 

You, God, know my folly; my guilt is not hidden from you (Psalm 69:5; NIV). 

Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely (Psalm 139:2; NIV). 

You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar (Psalm 139:2; NIV). 

In his unfailing love, my God will stand with me (Psalm 59:10; NLT). 

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me (Psalm 23:4; NLT). 

With the LORD there is unfailing love. His redemption overflows (Psalm 130:7; NLT). 

Be sure of this: I am with you always (Matthew 28:20; NLT).

A reading: Ephesians 3:16-19; NIV.

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Everything I am

Ruth Kirk

You and I both belong to God (Job 33:6; NLT).

Everything I am
Belongs to you:

Body, mind, heart, soul,
And breath, Lord, too.

You made them all
So I can be your shrine:

Lord God,
I’m wholly yours,
And you are mine.

I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine (Song of Songs 6:3; NIV).

References 

Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us! (1 Chronicles 29:14; NLT). 

You made me; you created me (Psalm 119:73:NLT). 

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13; NLT). 

The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life (Job 33:4; NLT). 

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

I am yours (Psalm 119:24; NLT). 

I’m not asking

Ruth Kirk

The Spirit [comes to us and] helps us in our weakness. We do not know what prayer to offer or how to offer it as we should, but the Spirit Himself [knows our need and at the right time] intercedes on our behalf with sighs and groanings too deep for words…

Spirit,
I’m not asking you
To teach me how to pray:
Instead, please pray on my behalf
For all those who are ill.

Spirit,
I’m not asking you
To tell me what to say:
Instead, please intercede for them
According to God’s will.

…And He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because the Spirit intercedes [before God] on behalf of God’s people in accordance with God’s will (Romans 8:26-7; AMP).

References 

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them (1 Timothy 2:1; NLT). 

He knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust (Psalm 103:14; NLT). 

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

If you have faith when you pray for sick people, they will get well. The Lord will heal them, and if they have sinned, he will forgive them (James 5:15; CEV). 

So mighty

Ruth Kirk

God is mighty (Job 36:5; NLT). 

You are so mighty, Lord,
Constantly there;
Strength and compassion
Beyond all compare.

You are so tender, Lord,
Endlessly here;
Sharing our sickness, our grief,
And our fear.

You are so loving, Lord,
Always within;
Hearing our prayers,
And forgiving our sin.

You are so steadfast,
Our staff and our rod;
Our Guide, our Good Shepherd,
Our Lord, and our God.

“My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed (John 20:28; NLT).

My offering

Ruth Kirk

When Christ came into the world, he said to God, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings. But you have given me a body to offer” (Hebrews 10:5; NLT). 

Offer your sacrifice to God (Matthew 5:24; NLT).

I offer you my sickness, Lord,
Of body, heart and mind.

Accept this willing sacrifice, Lord God,
For humankind.

I pray for those who suffer, Lord,
With all my strength and soul

As Jesus did, and ask you
To have mercy: make them whole.

He wounds, but His hands make whole (Job 5:18; NKJV). 

References 

I am glad when I suffer for you in my body, for I am participating in the sufferings of Christ (Colossians 1:24; NLT).

To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps (1 Peter 2:21; NIV).

Since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too (1 Peter 4:1; NLT).

You have had the privilege granted you on behalf of Christ – not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer on His behalf (Philippians 1:29; WNT).

If we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering (Romans 8:17; NLT). 

If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it (Luke 9:24; NLT). 

Use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God (Romans 6:13; NLT). 

May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do (2 Thessalonians 1:11; NLT).

Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfil the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2; RSV).