Category: healing

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). 

Strengthen us

Ruth Kirk

God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation (James 1:2; NLT). 

Strengthen us, Lord,
To endure
What you send,

Whilst praying
For others
Until our life’s end;

Seeking forgiveness
And healing
For all,

And pleading:
May everyone, Lord,
Hear your call. 

The Holy Spirit says, “Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts” (Hebrews 3:7; NLT).

References 

Verse 1:
I create the light and make the darkness. I send good times and bad times. I, the LORD, am the one who does these things (Isaiah 45:7; NLT).
Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows (John 16:33; NLT).
The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away. Blessed be the name of the LORD (Job 1:21; CSB).

Verses 2-3:
Pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them (1 Timothy 2:1; NLT).

Verse 4:
God our Savior… wants everyone to be saved (1 Timothy 2:3-4; NLT).
Christ Jesus… gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone (1 Timothy 2:5-6; NLT).

A reading from Isaiah 53:10-12; JB. 

Yahweh has been pleased to crush him with suffering. If he offers his life in atonement, he shall see his heirs, he shall have a long life and through him what Yahweh wishes will be done.

His soul’s anguish over he shall see the light and be content. By his sufferings shall my servant justify many, taking their faults on himself. 

Hence I will grant whole hordes for his tribute, he shall divide the spoil with the mighty, for surrendering himself to death and letting himself be taken for a sinner, while he was bearing the faults of many and praying all the time for sinners.

Redemptive suffering: #2

Ruth Kirk

This is part two of a short series on redemptive suffering, which began yesterday. If you missed the first, introductory blog, and would like to read it, here is a link: https://wp.me/p45bCr-gsV.

Unusually, today’s prayer includes a space for the names of people you would like to pray for individually, whilst also interceding for all those suffering around the world.

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; NIV). 

Lord,

Thank you for this suffering.
I willingly accept it
From your hands.

I offer it as a sacrifice
For the forgiveness, healing
And redemption of [names],

And of all
Who need your help
Around the world.

I ask this
In your own dear name,
Amen.

Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you may follow in His footsteps (1 Peter 2:21; AMP).

References

Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God (Ephesians 5:2; NLT).

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).

Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits – who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion (Psalm 103:2-4; NLT).

How do you cope?

Ruth Kirk
Jacob’s dream, copied by Caracciolo: Wikimedia Commons.

He dreamed that there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven; and behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it (Genesis 28:11-13; RSV). 

How do you handle
The constant creation
Of spirits, descending
For birth?

How do you cope
With the endless procession
Of souls, Lord,
Ascending from earth?

How do you manage
The comfort and healing
Of all those
Arriving above?

How do you deal with
The shock and distress
Of so many?
Lord God, you are love.

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).

References 

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

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

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

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).

I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. 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 21:3-5; NLT).

To Jesus

Ruth Kirk


Christ…is the exact likeness of God (2 Corinthians 4:4; NLT). 

The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God (Hebrews 1:3; NLT).

You are God’s voice,
His healing touch;
The light and truth
We need so much.

You are God’s image,
Strength, and peace;
His raging fire
That will not cease.

You are God’s Word,
His sacrifice;
His much-loved Son and heir:
The Christ.

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said, “The Christ of God” (Luke 9:20; NKJV).

References 

Christ is the visible image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15; NLT). 

He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God (Revelation 19:13; NIV). 

God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin (Romans 3:25; NLT).

Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son. Listen to him” (Mark 9:7; NLT).

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe (Hebrews 1:1-2; NIV). 

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). 

10.12.23: God is…

Ruth Kirk

The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. He himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else (Acts 17:25-5; NIV). 

God is all-giving,
All-living, within.

God is all-braving,
All-saving from sin.

God is all-bearing,
All-caring, all worth.

God is all-being,
All-seeing on earth.

God is all-feeling,
All-healing: a dove.

God is all justice
And peace: God is love.

Anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 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 4:8,16; NLT).

 References 

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

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

Day after day he bears our burdens; God is our salvation (Psalm 68:19; CSB).

In all their suffering he also suffered and he personally rescued them (Isaiah 63:9; NLT). 

He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases (Psalm 103:3; NLT).

After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him (Matthew 3:16; NLT).

The LORD is a God of justice (Isaiah 30:18; NIV).

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

3.11.23: Beyond vision

Ruth Kirk

How great is our Lord! His power is absolute! His understanding is beyond comprehension! (Psalm 147:5; NLT). 

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine” (Isaiah 55:8; NLT). 

Great beyond vision,
Great beyond praise;
Great beyond anything
Earth can afford;

Great beyond healing,
Great beyond life;
Great beyond everything:
Jesus is Lord! 

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

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9; NLT).

References 

No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us (1 John 1:18; NLT). 

Jesus said, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen, and yet believe” (John 20:29; CSB). 

1.11.22: Returning

Ruth Kirk

Return to your rest, O my soul (Psalm 116:7; BSB).

Return to your rest, O my soul,
For Jesus is calling you home.

Soon, he’ll be making you whole,
And soon you’ll be shouting: Shalom!

Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and named it Yahweh-Shalom (which means “the LORD is peace”) (Judges 6:24; NLT).

References 

Lord, through all the generations you have been our home! (Psalm 90:1; NLT). 

You will not leave my soul among the dead (Psalm 16:10; NLT). 

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

They will sing your praises, shouting your name in glorious songs (Psalm 66:4; NLT). 

I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. And they were shouting with a great roar, “Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:9-19; NLT).

A reading: Luke 2:29-32; KJV.

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

22.7.23: Your Spirit

Ruth Kirk
strikers: Pixabay.

This prayer came to me very early in the morning a few days ago. It sounds very simple, but was particularly difficult to put into words.

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion (Ephesians 6:18; NLT).

Lord,

Please fill me with your Spirit
So that I can pray to You.

I don’t ask your healing for myself, Lord:
Please make others new.

May your Spirit sigh on my behalf
For all, Lord, one by one, 

Asking you to heal and bless them,
In the name of your dear Son. 

You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father (John 14:13; NLT).

The Rosary Hospital

I’ve had so many migraines recently that my production of rosaries has been almost non-existent. However, I still do my best, when I can: