Category: Grief

Peace

Ruth Kirk

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God (Matthew 5:9; NIV).

Pray for peace (Psalm 122:6; NLT).

I pray for the end
Of hate and fear;

I pray for the end
Of pain and grief;

I pray for the end
Of greed and war –

So peace will reign
For evermore.

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

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

References

I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid (John 14:27; NLT).

Oh, that you had listened to my commands! Then you would have had peace flowing like a gentle river and righteousness rolling over you like waves in the sea (Isaiah 48:18; NLT).

The Lamb on the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe every tear from their eyes (Revelation 7:17; NLT).

 

Abuse

Ruth Kirk

They all do evil and abuse what power they have (Jeremiah 23:10; NLT).

Abuse
Gives birth
To fear.

Abuse
Engenders
Shame.

Abuse
Produces
Grief and dread.

Abuse
Results
In pain.

Do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them (Ephesians 6:4; NLT).

The land is full of people unfaithful to the LORD; they live wicked lives and misuse their power (Jeremiah 23:10; GNT).

 

Suffering and selfishness

Ruth Kirk

“Abba, Father,” he cried out, “everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine” (Mark 14:36; NLT).

Please take away our suffering;
Please take away our pain;
Please take away our grief and dread –
Then we’ll be whole again. 

Please take away our selfishness;
Please take away our hate;
Please take away our foolishness –
Before it’s far too late.

Perhaps even yet they will turn from their evil ways and ask the LORD’s forgiveness before it is too late (Jeremiah 36:7; NLT).

References

The effect of an upright rule will be to take away fear for ever (Isaiah 32:17; BBE).

Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him (Hebrews 9:28; NLT).

 

A secret cave

Ruth Kirk

When you pray, go into your most private room, close the door and pray to your Father who is in secret (Matthew 6:6; AMP). 

Prayer can be
A secret cave,
A quiet chat,
A tidal wave.

Prayer can be
An honest glance,
A flood of grief,
A joyful dance.

Prayer can be
A worry faced,
A bitter cup,
A trackless waste.

Prayer can be
A silent tomb,
An empty shrine,
God’s sacred womb.

Who held back the sea behind partitions when it burst forth from my womb? (Job 38:8; TIB).

Will I, who causes others to give birth, not also give birth myself, says the Lord? Will I, who bestows generation upon others, be barren myself, says the Lord your God? (Isaiah 66:9; CPDV).

 

Go inside

Ruth Kirk

When you pray, go to your room, shut the door, and pray to God who is in that secret place (Matthew 6:6; TIV).

Go inside your body,
For God is found within.

Go inside, where Christ is,
Who sets us free from sin.

Go inside your breathing,
For it is God’s own soul.

Go inside your spirit,
Where you are strong and whole.

Go inside your darkness,
Where Christ shines like the sun.

Yes, go inside your darkness,
Where you and God are one.

Moses went into the darkness where God was (Exodus 20:21; BST).

Yes, 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).

References

I am God, and not man; the Holy One within thee (Hosea 11:9; BST).

Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us (Colossians 3:11; NLT).

He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds (Titus 2:14; NLT).

Don’t you realise that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16; NLT).

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

The LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul (Genesis 2:7; KJV).

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

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it (John 1:5; NLT).

 

In pain

Ruth Kirk

Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering (Isaiah 53:4; NIV).

In pain, you share my suffering,
Whilst, Jesus, I share yours.
We also share with those enduring
Sickness, strife, and wars.

In fear, you share my suffering,
Whilst, Lord, I share your own.
We also share with those who must
Face tears and dread, alone.

In grief, I share your suffering,
Whilst, Jesus, you share mine.
We also share with those who mourn
Until the end of time.

In life, I share your suffering,
Whilst, Lord, you share mine, too;
So, may we share with everyone,
Till you make all things new.

He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever. And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” (Revelation 21:4-5; NLT).

Rejoice that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed at the revelation of His glory (1Peter 4:13; CSB).

Life and death

Ruth Kirk

The city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light (Revelation 21:23; NLT).

So, is life over,
And is death all done?
Yes, look around you, child: 
There is no sun!

So, is life finished;
My pain gone so soon?
Yes, look around you, child:
There is no moon!

So, is life done with,
My tears at an end?
Yes, look around you, child:
I am your Friend!

So, is life over,
My grief gone for good?
Yes, look around you, child:
I, God, am Love!

God is love (1 John 4:8; NLT).

References

I heard a loud voice calling from the throne, “Look! God’s Tabernacle is among humankind! God will live with them; they will be God’s people, and God will be fully present among them. The Most High will wipe away every tear from their eyes. And death, mourning, crying and pain will be no more, for the old order has fallen” (Rev 21:3-4; TIB).

God’s love toward us is great, God’s faithfulness, eternal (Psalm 117:2; TIV).

 

Naked prayer

Ruth Kirk

You say, “I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing!” But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked (Revelation 3:17; NIV).

The Spirit, too, comes to help us in our weakness. For we don’t know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit expresses our plea with groanings too deep for words (Romans 8:26; TIB).

Naked prayer: don’t prepare –
Spontaneity is all.
Ask the Holy Ghost to help you,
S/He will always hear your call.

Silent prayer: Christ will share
All your troubles, grief, and shame.
Like a child, with trust unfailing,
Praise and bless His holy name.

Honest prayer: God is there –
S/He is all you’ll ever need.
Let your words be short and simple,
God will always take the lead.

Wordless prayer: Threefold care –
Revel in the cleansing fire.
Spirit-led, just keep on seeking:
You’ll receive your heart’s desire.

Take delight in the Lord and he will give you your heart’s desires (Psalm 37:4; NLT).

References

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; CSB).

When you pray do not use vain repetitions (Matthew 6:7; NKJV).

Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it (Luke 18:17; CSB).

Keep on seeking and you will find (Matthew 7:7; NLT).

 

Continual spontaneous prayer

Ruth Kirk

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

Continual spontaneous prayer is a way of life. It means opening our whole selves to God at every moment, sharing every thought, sensation, emotion and experience with God as it happens.

In this approach to prayer, we hide nothing whatsoever from God. We may be tempted to push unwanted thoughts or impulses aside, but instead, we choose to acknowledge them openly and willingly. Then we deal with them straightforwardly, directly with God.

This way of praying is constant, dynamic, and totally honest. It has no beginning, middle, or end. Rather, it is a long-term, two-way conversation with God.

A life of continuous prayer means spontaneously expressing our love, worship, praise, thanks, intercessions, rejoicing, sorrows, fears, and cries for help. We share them with God as they arise within us.

It also includes unplanned periods when our prayer continues, but no words are needed. This wordless communion, when we simply rest in oneness with God, is one of the most intimate kinds of prayer we can experience here, on earth.

Above all, a life of continual, spontaneous prayer means being completely real with God, who is always completely real with us. This is the kind of relationship God longs to have with every one of us.

The Lord longs to be gracious to you (Isaiah 30:18; NIV). 

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

References

The LORD must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion (Isaiah 30:18; NLT).

By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him (Hebrews 10:20; NLT).

We are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people” (2 Corinthians 6:16; NIV).

Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence (Ephesians 3:12; NLT).

I am God, and not man; the Holy One within thee (Hosea 11:9; BST).

We are united with Christ (Ephesians 1:3; NLT).

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

 

Don’t make prayer a burden

Ruth Kirk

Unless you … become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 18:3; NLT).

Don’t make your prayers a burden:
Share every thought with God.
Be honest and spontaneous –
As candid as a child.

Don’t make your prayers a burden:
Share every joy with God.
Be free and uninhibited –
Exult and dance; go wild!

Don’t make your prayers a burden:
Share every pain with God.
Be raw, direct, and unconstrained –
Expressing how you feel.

Don’t make your prayers a burden:
Share every fear with God.
Be straight; cry out with no holds barred –
Above all, just be real.

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

References

If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed (John 8:36; NIV).

“Abba, Father,” he cried out, “everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine” (Mark 14:36; NLT).

My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? (Matthew 27:46; NLT).

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