Faith (for J.G.)


A night prayer of longing to be finally and fully one with Christ.


Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see (Hebrews 11:1; NLT).

I kiss your feet,
Your hands, your face,

Then all I know
Is your embrace.

I hear you say:
Your work is done.

At last, forever,
We are one.

Well done, good and faithful servant! …Come and share your master’s happiness! (Matthew 25:21; NIV).


References

She knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet (Luke 7:38; NLT).

Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands” (John 20:27; NLT).

They will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads (Revelation 22:4; NLT).

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

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last. I am the living one. I died, but look – I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave (Revelation 1:17-18; NLT).

So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him (Luke 15:20; NLT).

And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over” (Mark 5:34; NLT).

Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance (1 Corinthians 13:7; NLT).

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


A reading: Philippians 3:8-11; NLT.

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. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!


In the heart of the gospel


A meditation on the lifelong journey of following, learning from, and loving, Jesus.


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).

The Lord ordained that those who proclaim the gospel should live by the gospel (1 Corinthians 9:14; HNV).

May I live in the heart
Of the gospel,
Walk in the footsteps
Of Christ,
And follow his way
And example,
So I’m his, every day
Of my life.

May I dwell in the heart
Of his teaching,
Cling to his hand
As I climb,
And grow more like him
Through each sorrow,
So I’m his, to the end
Of my time.

May I rest in the heart
Of his presence,
Sharing his love
With each breath,
United on earth,
And in heaven,
So I’m one with him
Far beyond death.

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 have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you (John 13:15; NLT).

Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world (John 16:33; NLT).

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


Shadow and light


The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land where death casts its shadow, a light will shine… For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:2,7; NLT).

The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God (Luke 1:35; NLT).

A bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him” (Matthew 17:5; NLT).

God is in shadow,
And also in light.

God is the source
Of salvation in Christ.

God is in heaven
And also on earth.

God is the heart
Of all meaning and worth.

God is in darkness,
And also in fire.

God is the pearl
Of our deepest desire.

The Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. When he found one priceless pearl, he went and sold everything he had and bought it (Matthew 13:45-6; CSB).

I desire you more than anything on earth (Psalm 73:25; NLT).


References

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

I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings (Psalm 63:7; NLT).

He has hidden me in the shadow of his hand (Isaiah 49:2; NLT).

God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16; AMP).

Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens, “It has come at last – salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ” (Revelation 12:10; NLT).

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3; NLT).

The LORD is God both in heaven and on earth, and there is no other (Deuteronomy 4:39; NLT).

Clouds and thick darkness surround him (Psalm 97:2; NIV).

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

The LORD your God is a devouring fire (Deuteronomy 2:24; NLT).


Your will


Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing (Psalm 143:10; NLT). 

Yahweh,
May I do your will,
Give all I am,
And love you still,
Accepting
Every bitter pill –
Like Jesus.

Yahweh,
May your will be done
Throughout my life.
Lord God, please come,
And make me
More like Christ, your Son –
My Saviour.

Yahweh,
May you live in me,
Forgive my sins,
And set me free
To serve you
For eternity –
In heaven.

A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else! I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked (Psalm 84:10; NLT).


 

God of All


Exciting news! In response to an insistent inner call,  yesterday I launched a second website. Let me explain…

Some of you may have noticed the changes I have been making here recently as I update Take heart. You may also have read my frank admission that I lack the energy to re-edit every daily blog going back to 2013, when this site started life – thousands of blogs.

As I cannot update the whole of Take heart, I have now set up a quiet, reflective, sister website. This will feature the best of my writing on a single theme: the heart of Christ’s gospel. It can be found at: theheartofthegospel.com.

Please be assured that Take heart will remain my main focus. I will continue to post my blogs here as usual, to appreciate your “likes”, to respond to your comments, and to pray for all readers throughout each day, just as before.

With many thanks for your continuing support, and with love to you all, from Ruth xxx

Now, here is today’s blog:

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O LORD, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things (1 Chronicles 29:11; NLT).

We adore you, God of Heaven;
We adore you, God of Earth;
We adore you, God of All:
The One who longs for our re-birth.

We adore you, God of Eden;
We adore you, God of Death;
We adore you, God of All:
The One who gives us life and breath.

We adore you, God of Gladness;
We adore you, God of Pain;
We adore you, God of All:
The One who makes us whole again.

We adore you, God of Wisdom;
We adore you, God of Grace;
We adore you, God of All:
The One who shows us Jesus’ face.

We adore you, God of Mercy;
We adore you, God of Love;
We adore you, God of All,
The One who waits in Heaven above.

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


References

We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth (Ezra 5:11; NLT).

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

I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God (John 3:3; NLT).

He himself gives life and breath to everything 9Acts 17:25; NLT).

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

In my heart, I am thirsty for you, the living God. When will I see your face? (Psalm 42:2; CEV).

They will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads (Revelation 22:4; NLT).

The God of love and peace will be with you (2 Corinthians 13:11; NLT).


Many thanks to my AI companion for their help in tracking down a Bible quotation I was unable to find on my own.


We adore you


Come, let us tell of the LORD’S greatness; let us exalt his name together (Psalm 34:3; NLT).

Today’s blog is unique. This is the only time I have simply posted a favourite quotation from the Bible. It needs no insight or comment, at all:

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O LORD, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things (1 Chronicles 29:11; NLT).

Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen (Matthew 6:13; NKJV).


References

The heavens proclaim the glory of God (Psalm 19:1; NLT).

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).


 

Shared love


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

I love you, LORD; you are my strength (Psalm 18:1; NLT).

Always be joyful (1 Thessalonians 5:16; NLT).

You love me, and I love you!
Every day our joy is new
When I wake in exile here,
One in spirit: you are near.

I love you, and you love me!
Oh, how happy we will be
When we meet in heaven above,
Face to face, Lord: one in love.

For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known (1 Corinthians 13:12; NIV).


Reading: Philippians 3:8-14; NLT.

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.

I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!

I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.

No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.


Oneness


As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him? Day and night I have only tears for food, while my enemies continually taunt me, saying, “Where is this God of yours?” (Psalm 42:1-3; NLT).

Oneness feels like longing
To share your joy and peace.

Oneness feels like searching
For bliss which will not cease.

Oneness feels like crying out
To you in heaven above.

Oneness feels like agony –
And oneness feels like love.

My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help? (Psalm 22:1; NLT).

God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them (1 John 4:16; NLT).

I will search for the one I love (Song of Songs 3:2; NLT).


Arrow prayers


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

God in my mind:
Please make me kind.

God in my heart:
Don’t let us part.

You are my soul:
Please make me whole.

You are my breath:
Help me in death.

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).


 

Unite with God


Whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit (1 Corinthians 6:17; NIV).

Unite with God;
Unite with Christ;
Unite with heaven above.

Unite in peace;
Unite in prayer;
And reunite in love.

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


References

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 (John 17:21; NLT).

They all met together and were constantly united in prayer (Acts 1:14; NLT).

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

He has made known to us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of his will, according to his purpose which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fulness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth (Ephesians 1:9-10; RSV).