Category: Holy Spirit

18.11.23: Pray within me

Ruth Kirk

The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought…

Holy Spirit,
Pray within me:
Pray on my behalf
For all.

Holy Spirit,
Pray within me:
Intercede for those
Who call.

Holy Spirit,
Pray within me:
I’m so weak:
Lift up my cries.

Holy Spirit,
Pray within me:
God will hear
Your wordless sighs.

…but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God (Romans 8:26-7; NRSV).

15.11.23: Pray in me

Ruth Kirk

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

Holy Spirit,
Pray in me,
And help me, please,
To pray in You.

Pray on my behalf
For all,
And, even for myself,
Lord, too.

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

References 

Pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17; NIV).

In the same way 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. 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). 

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).

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done (Philippians 4:6; NLT). 

14.11.23: I want to pray

Ruth Kirk

Pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17; NIV).  

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

I want to pray,
But don’t know what to ask for –
Holy Spirit, help me
In my weakness.

I want to pray –
But how should my prayers be offered?
Plead on my behalf –
I have no skill.

I want to pray –
Please intercede for others,
With sighs and groans
Too deep for my poor words.

The Lord, who knows all hearts,
Will hear Your pleading –
Because You pray
According to His will.

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. 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). 

6.11.23: Oneness

Ruth Kirk

You are God, O Sovereign LORD (2 Samuel 7:28; NLT).

Thank you, Lord,
For being God:
Holy, holy, holy
Is your name.

Thank you, Lord,
For being Christ:
From age to age, forever,
Just the same.

Thank you, Lord,
For being Breath:
Giving life,
And loving even me.

Father, Son,
And Holy Ghost:
One Lord, one God –
I bow, and worship Thee.

Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the LORD our maker, for he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care (Psalm 95:7; NLT).

References

Verse 1:

Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from beginning to end, you are God (Psalm 90:2; NLT).

Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory! (Isaiah 6:3; NLT).

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty – the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come (Revelation 4:8; NLT).

Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness (Psalm 29:2; KJV).

Verse 2:

We look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed (Titus 2:13; NLT).

This faith was given to you because of the justice and fairness of Jesus Christ, our God and Savior (2 Peter 1:1; NLT).

You [the Son] are always the same; you will live forever (Hebrews 1:12; NLT).

Verse 3:

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 last Adam – that is, Christ – is a life-giving Spirit (1 Corinthians 15:45; NLT).

Then he [Jesus] breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22; NLT).

There is in humans a Spirit, the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding (Job 32:8; GWT).

Verse 4:

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost (Matthew 28:18; KJV).

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. 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 4:4-6; NLT).

There is only one God, the Father, who created everything, and we live for him. And there is only one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom God made everything and through whom we have been given life (1 Corinthians 8:6; NLT).

Come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker (Psalm 95:6; KJV).

31.10.23: Whatever you want (for L.S.)

Ruth Kirk

I want your will to be done, not mine (Luke 22:42; NLT).

Give me teaching so that I may do your pleasure; for you are my God: let your good Spirit be my guide into the land of righteousness (Psalm 143:10; BBE). 

Whatever you want me to do,

I will do;
And whatever you want me to say,
I will say.

Whenever you want me to write,
I will write;
And whenever you want me to pray,
I will pray.

Wherever you want me to be,
I will be;
And however you want me to serve,
I will try.

Lord,
While you want me to live,
I will live;
And the moment you take back my soul,
I will die.

This night your soul will be required of you (Luke 12:20; NKJV).

References

Let the Holy Spirit guide your lives (Galatians 5:16; NLT).

Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives (Galatians 5:25; NLT).

Everyone whose heart was moved, everyone who was guided by the impulse of his spirit, came with his offering for the Lord, for whatever was needed (Exodus 35:21; BBE).

See now that I am He; there is no God besides Me. I bring death and I give life (Deuteronomy 32:39; MSB).

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

When you take away their breath, they die and turn again to dust (Psalm 104:29; NLT).

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

17.10.23: Night and day

Ruth Kirk
efes: Pixabay.

I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor-Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever – the Spirit of Truth (John 14:16; AMP). 

Holy Spirit,
Help me pray
To God the Father,
Night and day,
In Jesus’ name, Lord,
Come what may,
Forever.

Counsellor,
I’ll slip away
With you, in silence,
Night and day,
To hear your voice, Lord,
And obey
Your bidding.

Advocate,
Help me to stay
Beside you, always,
Night and day,
Whilst loving all
Along God’s Way,
Like Jesus.

Comforter,
I’m only clay –
Please guide and guard me
Night and day,
Then I will neither faint,
Nor stray
From you, Lord.

Do not let me stray from your commands (Psalm 119:10; NIV). 

16.10.23: As God wants (for K.B.)

Ruth Kirk
Tanju_handa, Pixabay.

1. Holy Spirit,
Help us to pray
As God wants.

2. Help us to speak
The truth in love,
As God wants.

3. Help us to plead
For others, Lord,
As God wants;

4. And help us to bless
Our enemies –
As God wants.

References 

  1. 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. 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).

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

  3. 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).

  4. To you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you (Luke 6:27-8; NLT).

12.10.23: Consolation (for L.S.)

Ruth Kirk
myersalex216: Pixabay.

Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from beginning to end, you are God (Psalm 90:2; NLT).

Father,
My Creator, and my King:
You are God,
Who makes my spirit sing.

Jesus Christ,
My origin, and aim:
You are God,
Who shares my joy and pain.

Holy Ghost,
My Helper, deep within:
You are God,
Who rescues me from sin.

Lord,
My consolation, and my goal:
You are God,
Who longs to make me whole.

They will come weeping, but I will bring them back with consolation. I will lead them to wadis filled with water, by a smooth way where they will not stumble (Jeremiah 31:9; CSB). 

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

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

5.9.23: Silent worship

Ruth Kirk
Mikes-Photography: Pixabay.

After waking yesterday morning, I laid still for a long time in silent, wordless worship, which was bliss. Eventually, when today’s prayer began to flow, I stirred, and gladly wrote it down.

This is how I was shown a simple spiritual practice I had never grasped before: an effective way of consciously living in God’s presence all the time. Perhaps this is part of what Jesus was talking about when he said: “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light” (Matthew 11:28-30; NLT).

Jesus also said: “You are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed – or indeed only one” (Luke 10:41-2; NIV). Perhaps constant silent worship is all that is needed, with everything else springing from this daily practice.

Anyway, here are the verses which came to me. Combined with their references, I hope they will help to explain what I experienced and learned.

When I wake up, you are still with me! (Psalm 139:18; NLT).

Worship him continually (1 Chronicles 16:11; GNT).

Wake: adore in silent worship;
Sit and stand: do just the same;
Walk and talk in silent worship –
Inwardly, revere God’s name.

Work and play in silent worship;
Honour God, and never cease;
Rest and sleep in silent worship –
You will share His perfect peace.

Offer constant silent worship,
Giving all that love demands;
Live and pray in God’s dear Spirit –
Safe, forever, in His hands.

He will keep them safe forever (Psalm 37:28; NLT).

Our lives are in his hands (Psalm 66:9; NLT).

References 

Verse 1:
*Be silent before the LORD, all humanity (Zechariah 2:13; NLT).
*Always pray (Luke 18:1; NIV).
*Whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father (Colossians 3:17; NLT).
*Praise his glorious name forever (Psalm 72:19; NLT).
*Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name (Hebrews 13:15; NLT).

Verse 2:
*Pray unceasingly (1 Thessalonians 5:17; BLB).
*You must worship the LORD your God and serve only him (Matthew 4:10; NLT).
*I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give (John 14:28; NLT).
*You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you (Isaiah 26:3; NLT).
*The Lord is peace (Judges 6:24; NLT).

Verse 3:
*The LORD leads with unfailing love and faithfulness all who keep his covenant and obey his demands (Psalm 25:10; NLT).
*Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment (Matthew 22:37; ESV).
*Live forever with God in the Spirit (1 Peter 4:6; NLT).
*Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion (Ephesians 6:18; NLT).
*He loves his people; all his holy ones are in his hands. They follow in his steps and accept his teaching (Deuteronomy 33:3; NLT).

3.9.23: Hear my prayer

Ruth Kirk
Pezibear: Pixabay, with added words.

A few days ago I experienced a precious time of wordless prayer, with these verses only emerging right at the end, which was a huge relief. They were relatively easy to put into words. The final two lines came to me whilst I was showering, so I had to repeat them constantly until I got out and wrote them down.

Hear my prayer, Lord (Psalm 102:1; NIV). 

1. Yahweh, Jesus, Holy Spirit,
Hear my prayer, and come to me.
Help me, Lord, to worship you
In blesséd stillness, silently.

2. Yahweh, Jesus, Holy Spirit,
Pity my ineptitude.
Pray on my behalf, I beg you,
As I wait in solitude.

3. Yahweh, Jesus, Holy Spirit,
Here I am, Lord: hear my cry.
Help me to embrace my cross
And follow you, Adonai.

4. Yahweh, Jesus, Holy Spirit,
I am yours in servitude.
Set me free to walk with you
In love, and joy, and gratitude.

Walk in love, as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God (Ephesians 5:2; CSB).

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).

References

Verse 1:
*I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you (John 14:18; NIV).
*Be still, and know that I am God! (Psalm 46:10; NLT).
*Be silent before the LORD, all humanity (Zechariah 2:13; NLT).

Verse 2:
*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 (Romans 8:26; AMP).
*He is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf (Hebrews 7:25; NLT).
*For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my deliverance and my honor; my mighty rock, my refuge is God (Psalm 62:5-7; RSV).
*Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD (Psalm 27:14; NIV).
*Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed (Mark 1:35; NIV).

Verse 3:
*Here I am (1 Samuel 3:5; NIV).
*In your faithful love, O LORD, hear my cry (Psalm 119:149; NLT).
*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).
*I want your will to be done, not mine (Luke 22:42; NLT).

Verse 4:
*I am yours (Psalm 119:94; NLT).
*O LORD God, I am your servant (2 Samuel 7:25; NLT).
*Although we are slaves, our God has not abandoned us in our servitude (Ezra 9:9; NET).
*Turn your ear to listen to me, and set me free (Psalm 71:2; NLT).