Category: grace

The strength of my soul

Ruth Kirk

I am sick (Psalm 69:20; YLT). 

Father,
I’m sick, but you are my goal:
Lord,
Please increase
The strength of my soul.

Father,
I’m weak – just ashes and dust:
Lord,
Though I fail you,
Help me to trust.

Father,
Your grace is all that I need:
Lord,
May your Son
Work through me, I plead.

Father,
I’m glad that to you I belong:
Lord,
Though I’m weak,
With you I am strong. 

I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:10; NLT).

 References 

My goal is to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings (Philippians 3:10; CSB). 

On the day I called, you answered; you increased the strength of my soul (Psalm 138:3; Grail Psalms). 

I am weak (Psalm 6:2; NLT). 

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

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

I trust in you, my God! (Psalm 25:2; NLT). 

He said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me (2 Corinthians 12:9; NLT).

I belong to you (Psalm 119:94; NET). 

Good news

Ruth Kirk

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns! (Isaiah 52:7; NLT). 

Lord,
May our footsteps bring good news;
Our lives, encourage all to choose
Your way, so they will be infused
With faith.

Lord,
May our lips be filled with praise;
Our passion for your kingdom blaze
With light, so we can guide your strays
To hope.

Lord,
May our minds be steeped in prayer;
Our hearts be always swift to share;
Our souls delight to offer care
And love.

Lord,
May our days be filled with grace
So we behold your shining face
In everyone, then we’ll make haste
To serve.

Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me (Matthew 25:40; NIV).

References

1. Three things will last forever – faith, hope, and love – and the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:13; NLT). 

This is what the sovereign LORD says to these bones: Look, I am about to infuse breath into you and you will live (Ezekiel 37:5; NET). 

2. Let praise flow from my lips (Psalm 119:17; NLT). 

You are the light of the world – like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden (Matthew 5:14; NLT). 

3. Pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:16; NIV). 

How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings (Psalm 36:7; NLT).

May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else (1 Thessalonians 3:12; NIV). 

4. The LORD God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory (Psalm 84:11; NLT). 

His face shone like the sun (Matthew 17:2; NIV). 

Love the LORD your God, walk in all his ways, obey his commands, hold firmly to him, and serve him with all your heart and all your soul (Joshua 22:5; NLT). 

We lift our hands

Ruth Kirk

Pour out your hearts like water to the Lord. Lift up your hands to him in prayer (Lamentations 2:19; NLT).

We lift our hands to you
And pray for peace,
Begging that all our senseless wars
Will cease. 

We lift our minds to you
And pray for light,
Till everyone is precious
In our sight.

We lift our hearts to you,
And pray for love,
So all our foolish hate
Will end for good.

We lift our souls to you,
And pray for grace –
May everyone on earth, Lord,
See your face. 

Turn us again to yourself, O God. Make your face shine down upon us. Only then will we be saved (Psalm 80:3; NLT).

References 

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

God is light (1 John 1:5; NLT).

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God (John 1:9-12; NIV).

Anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love (1 John 4:8; NLT).

The grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people (Titus 2:11; NLT).

Let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most (Hebrews 4:16; NLT). 

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all (2 Corinthians 13:14; NLT).

Let your face smile on us, LORD (Psalm 4:6; NLT). 

Our stillness

Ruth Kirk
Rosie Beers.

Be still in the presence of the LORD (Psalm 37:7; NLT).

Our stillness
Is God’s much-loved
Resting-place.

Our silence
Is the temple
Of His grace.

Our darkness
Is the birthplace
Of His light.

Our loneliness:
The image
Of His face.

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).

References 

Verse 1:
“This is my resting place forever,” he said. “I will live here, for this is the home I desired” (Psalm 132:14; NLT).

Verse 2:
The LORD is in his holy Temple. Let all the earth be silent before him (Habakkuk 2:20; NLT).
We are the temple of the living God (2 Corinthians 6:16; NLT).

Verse 3:
Moses went into the darkness where God was (Exodus 20:21; BST).
The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light (Genesis 1:2-3; NLT).
God is light (1 John 1:5; NLT).

Verse4:
Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted (Psalm 25:16; NIV).
My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help? (Psalm 22:1; NLT).
My soul (my life, my inner self) thirsts for God, for the living God. When will I come and see the face of God? (Psalm 42:2; AMP).

Prayer for the dying

Ruth Kirk

He was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his garments became as white as light (Matthew 17:2; RSV). 

Lord,
I pray for all the dying:
May they see your shining face.
May they hear your gentle voice,
And feel your touch, so full of grace.

Lord,
I pray for all the dying:
Comfort them, and hold them tight.
Lift them; carry them today,
And fill their darkness with your light.

Lord,
I pray for all the dying:
Bear them to the Father’s breast.
Beg him to forgive and heal them,
Granting them eternal rest.

He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies (Psalm 103:3; NLT).

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). 

The dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7; NIV). 

God will redeem me from the realm of the dead; he will surely take me to himself (Psalm 49:15; NIV).

God never meant us to experience the Retribution, but to win salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that, alive or dead, we should still live united to him (1 Thessalonians 5: 9-10; JB).

God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever (1 Thessalonians 5:9-10; NLT).

My Lord, my God

Ruth Kirk

I put my hope in you, LORD;
you will answer me, my Lord, my God.
(Psalm 38:15; CSB). 

When I say: “My Lord, my God”,
This means:
The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

I say these words with all who love
The Lord our God,
And with the heavenly host.

I say them with all living things,
With all creation, height, depth, time
And space:

My Lord, my God, I praise your Name:
One Love, one Light, one Truth,
One boundless grace.

The grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people.
(Titus 2:11; NLT).

References 

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace (Luke 2:13-14; KJV). 

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

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

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12; NLT).

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

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all (2 Corinthians 13:14; NLT). 

You make me hear

Ruth Kirk



He makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak (Mark 7:37; JB). 

Lord,
You make me hear,
And help me speak.

Though I am nothing,
You guide me
As I seek

Your light, your truth,
Your kingdom,
And your face.

May I reflect, and spread,
Your love
And grace.

All of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And 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). 

31.1.24: What will I need? (for J.Y.)

Ruth Kirk
Tymco: Pixabay; modified by RK.

He told them: “Take nothing for the journey – no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt” (Luke 9:3; NIV). 

What will I need for my journey, Lord God?
What should I ask for, and pack?
Just take my love and my kindness, dear child,
For then you will never look back. 

What will I need for my lifetime, Lord God?
What should I carry along?
Just take my courage and wisdom, dear child,
For then you will never go wrong. 

What will I need when I’m dying, Lord God?
How shall I face the dark vale?
Just take my peace and my patience, dear child:
My Spirit will not let you fail.

What will I need back in heaven, Lord God,
When my long testing is done?
Only my grace and forgiveness, dear child,
My healing, my kiss, and my Son.

Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?” “Nothing,” they answered (Luke 22:35; NIV).

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).

References 

Then God said, “Let Us (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) make man in Our image, according to Our likeness [not physical, but a spiritual personality and moral likeness] (Genesis 1:28; AMP).

Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart (Job 1:21; NIV).

The LORD your God is testing you to see if you truly love him with all your heart and soul (Deuteronomy 13:3; NLT).

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing (James 1:3; NLT).

23.1.24: When?

Ruth Kirk
Wood and trees: Ruth Kirk.

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). 

When will I know
Your presence again;
Your inner peace,
And your warm embrace?

When will I see
Your glory again;
Your wounded hands,
And your precious face?

When will I feel
Your pardon again;
Your healing touch,
And your faithful love?

When will I find
Your grace again:
On earth, Lord God,
Or in heaven, above?

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

References 

My soul (my life, my inner self) thirsts for God, for the living God. When will I come and see the face of God? (Psalm 42:2; AMP).

I long for the Lord more than sentries long for the dawn, yes, more than sentries long for the dawn (Psalm 130:6; NLT).

We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus (Acts 15:11; NLT). 

15.12.23: Turn to God

Ruth Kirk

Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38; NLT).

Turn to God, and follow Christ;
Repent, and be baptised:
Then you’ll receive His clemency,
And will not be chastised.

Don’t be selfish; bear your cross;
Receive His Spirit’s grace:
Then you will know, as you are known,
And see Him face to face.

Now we see in a mirror indirectly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known (1 Corinthians 13:12; NET).

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).