Category: heart

Prayer

Ruth Kirk

Prayer is much less about what we want to say to God,
And much more about what he wants to say to us.

This is because before a word is on our lips,
Or a thought comes into our minds,
Or a longing enters our hearts,

He already knows it
Completely!

References

Be still and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10; NIV).

Stand in silence in the presence of the Sovereign Lord (Zephaniah 1:7; NLT).

O that today you would listen as he speaks! (Hebrews 4:7; NET).

Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand! (Matthew 11:15; NLT).

Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely (Psalm 139:4; NIV).

I know everything that comes into your minds (Ezekiel 11:5; NLT).

He knows the secrets of every heart (Psalm 44:21; NLT).

God lives in us (# 2 of 2 linked prayers)

Ruth Kirk

Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.
(1 John 4:16; NIV).

Lord,

1. You live
Within our bones.

2. In our minds
We hear your call,

3. For you, Lord, dwell
Within our hearts

4. And souls –
In, through, and over, all.

References

1. Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them” (John 14:23; NLT).

2. He calls people (Romans 9:12; NLT).

3. You are the temple of the living God (Luke 17:21; NKJV).

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

He lives within you (1 John 2:27; NLT).

The kingdom of God is within you (Luke 17:21; NKJV).

Christ lives within you (Romans 8:10; NLT).

You have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you (1 John 2:27; NLT).

We live in God (#1 of 2 linked prayers)

Ruth Kirk

Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.
(1 John 4:16; NIV).

Lord,

1. We live
Within your hand;

2. Nestled, always,
In your mind;

3. Safe, forever,
In your heart

4. And Spirit,
With all humankind.

References

1. In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind (Job 12:10; NIV).

2. Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow builds her nest and raises her young at a place near your altar, O Lord (Psalm 84:3; NLT).

3. Your life is safe in the care of the Lord (1 Samuel 25:29; NLT).

4. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit (Romans 7:6; NLT).

The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made (Psalm 145:9; NIV).

Your life now is hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3; NIV).

Stardust

Ruth Kirk

1. Lord, you make all things
From nothing,
Then you fashion us
From clay.

2. Lord, you give us
All the world,
And offer us
Your perfect way.

3. Lord, you grant
Your Holy Spirit,
Filling us with love,
And breath.

4. Lord, you send
Your only Son,
So we can share
His life and death.

5. Lord, you dwell
Within our hearts,
To help us learn
What’s really true:

6. Though our bones
Return to stardust,
Every soul
Is one with you.

References

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

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

2. God blessed [human beings] and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it” (Genesis 1:28; NLT).

God’s way is perfect (2 Samuel 22:31; NLT).

3. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person (Genesis 2:7; NLT).

He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love (Romans 5:5; NLT).

4. 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).

Then [Jesus] 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).

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

You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free (John 8:32; NLT).

6. You were made from dust, and to dust you will return (Genesis 3:19; NLT).

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

Nothing can ever separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:35-8; NLT).

In your strength

Ruth Kirk

All who live in love live in God (1 John 4:16; NLT).

1. May I live, Lord,
In your strength:
Each day,
And when my race is run.

2. May I shelter
In your mind:
On earth,
And when my life is done.

3. May I hide, Lord,
In your heart:
Today,
And far beyond this test.

4. May I flourish
In your soul:
For life,
And in eternal rest.

References

1. The Lord is my strength (Exodus 15:2; NLT).

Let us run with endurance the race God has set before us (Hebrews 12:1; NLT).

2. You hide them in the shelter of your presence (Psalm 31:20; NLT).

3. You examine us every morning and test us every moment (Job 7:18; NLT).

4. Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty (Psalm 91:1; NLT).

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

Saving souls

Ruth Kirk

1. Thank you, Father,
For your light:
The joys you share,
The grace you send.

2. Thank you, Father,
For your peace:
The ways you care,
The minds you mend.

3. Thank you, Father,
For your love:
The hearts you reach,
The Son you gave.

4. Thank you, Father,
For your truth:
The words you teach,
The souls you save.

References

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

I will go to the altar of God, to God, the source of all my joy (Psalm 43:4; NLT).

My grace is all you need (2 Corinthians 12:9; NLT).

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

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you (1 Peter 5:7; NLT).

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

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds (Psalm 147:3; NIV).

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).

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

You have the words that give eternal life (John 6:68; NLT).

Humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls (James 1:21; NLT).

Exile (#1 of 2 linked prayers)

Ruth Kirk

I sent them away to exile and brought them home again
(Ezekiel 39:28; NLT).

Lord,

1. May my strength
Be one with yours
Each day,
And when my breath has ceased.

2. May my mind
Be one with yours
In life,
And when I am released.

3. May my heart
Be one with yours
On earth,
And far beyond this test.

4. May my soul
Be one with yours
In exile,
And eternal rest.

References

1. The Lord is my strength (Exodus 15:2; NLT).

I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one – as you are in me, Father, and I am in you […] I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one (John 17:21-2; NLT).

2. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released (Luke 4:18; NLT).

3. You examine us every morning and test us every moment (Job 7:18; NLT).

4. Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty (Psalm 91:1; NLT).

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