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My leading light

Ruth Kirk

I am the Alpha and the Omega,
the First and the Last,
the Beginning and the End
(Revelation 22:13; NIV).

1. Lord,
You are my leading light:
My origin
From ages past.

2. Lord,
You are my guiding star:
My dawn, my sun,
My First, my Last.

3. Lord,
You are my cornerstone:
My sanctuary, my home,
My Friend.

4. Lord,
You are my heart’s desire:
My way, my truth, my life,
My end.

References

1. You will be a light to guide the nations (Isaiah 42:6; NLT).

I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life (John 8:12; NLT).

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made (John 1:1-3; NIV).

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

You, O God, are my king from ages past (Psalm 74:12; NLT).

2. The star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem (Matthew 2:9; NLT).

Your salvation will come like the dawn (Isaiah 58:8; NLT).

No longer will you need the sun to shine by day, nor the moon to give its light by night, for the Lord your God will be your everlasting light (Isaiah 60:19; NLT).

I am the First and the Last; there is no other God (Isaiah 44:6; NLT).

3. The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone (Psalm 118:22; NLT).

He will conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary (Psalm 27:5; NLT).

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).

You are my friends (John 15:15; NLT).

So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God (Romans 5:11; NLT).

4. Our heart’s desire is to glorify your name (Isaiah 26:8; NLT).

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6; NLT).

The dust will returns to the earth, and the spirit will return to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7; NLT).

We are your body

Ruth Kirk
Image: Jesus.Christ.org, Yandex

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

1. We are your body;
We are your bones;
We are your flesh
And your blood.

2. We are your temple;
We are your home;
We are your priests
And your love.

3. You are our Shepherd;
You are our Guide;
You are our staff
And our rod.

4. You are our Saviour;
You are our Friend;
You are our Lord
And our God.

References

1. You are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it (1 Corinthians 12:27; NIV).

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

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).

You are the living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests (1 Peter 2:5; NLT).

Whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus (Colossians 3:17, NLT).

3. I am the good shepherd (John 10:14; NLT).

He will guide us until we die (Psalm 48:14; NLT).

Even when I walk through the dark valley of death, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me (Psalm 23:4; NLT, alternative translation).

4. He has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Saviour (2 Timothy 1:10; NLT).

You are my friends (John 15:15; NLT).

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

Search me, Lord

Ruth Kirk
Image: Susanne Jutzeler, Pixabay

Search me, O God, and know my heart (Psalm 139:23; NLT).

1. Search me, Lord,
Then live within,
And help me fight
Each urge to sin.

2. Search my mind,
I beg you; stay
To help me keep
Mean thoughts at bay.

3. Search my heart,
Remain; invest
In me, and help me
Face each test.

4. Search my soul,
Make it your home,
Then, Lord, I’ll be
Your flesh and bone.

References

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

Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak (Mark 14:38; NLT).

2. I, the Lord, search the heart and examine the mind (Jeremiah 17:10; NIV).

We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5; NIV).

3. The Lord tests the heart (Proverbs 17:3; NLT).

Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows (John 16:33; NLT).

4. The word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart (Hebrews 4:12; NIV).

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).

All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it (1 Corinthians 12:27; NLT).

The Spirit of God lives in you (1 Corinthians 3:16; NLT).

Every time I stray

Ruth Kirk
Image: Pexels, Pixabay

The gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult
(Matthew 7:14; NLT).

1. Father,
Every time I stray
Beyond your narrow, testing path,
Please guide me to your sacred way,
And save me from your righteous wrath.

2. Father,
Every time I roam
Away from your parched, desert trail,
Please seek me out, and bring me home,
Forgiving me each time I fail.

3. Father,
Every time I fall
From your steep, lonely, mountain track,
Please rescue me; Lord, hear my call,
And carry my weak spirit back.

4. Father,
Every time I drift
Far from my faith along the road,
Please stay with me, recall your gift
Of Christ, and help me bear my load.

5. Father,
Every time I lose
All sense of you within my soul,
Please whisper gently; don’t accuse:
Be patient, Lord, and make me whole.

References

1. Small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life (Matthew 7:13-14; NIV).

The Lord your God is testing you to see if you truly love him with all your heart and soul (Deuteronomy 13:3; NLT).

2. It was I who rescued you from Egypt and led you through the desert for forty years (Amos 2:10; NLT).

I will search for my lost ones who strayed away, and I will bring them safely home again (Ezekiel 34:16; NLT).

3. The paths they take will become slippery. They will be chased through the dark, and there they will fall (Jeremiah 23:12; NLT).

If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders (Luke 15:4-5; NLT).

4. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way (Isaiah 53:6; 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).

5. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? (Psalm 22:1; NLT).

He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:5; RSV).

Pierce my side

Ruth Kirk
Image: autumnson-nwo, Yandex

He was pierced for our transgressions (Isaiah 53:5; NIV).

The word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword,
it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow;
it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart (Hebrews 4:12; NIV).

1. Pierce my side, Lord,
Enter in,
And help me fight
Each urge to sin.

2. Pierce my mind
And come to stay;
Prompt me to keep
Mean thoughts at bay.

3. Pierce my heart, Lord,
Lodge there; rest;
And strengthen me
To face each test.

4. Pierce my soul;
Make it your home;
Then I will be
Your flesh and bone.

References

1. One of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water (John 19:34; NIV).

Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak (Mark 14:38; NLT).

2. We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5; NIV).

3. The pain will be so bad it will pierce your heart (Jeremiah 4:18; NET).

Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” (Acts 2:37; NLT).

The Lord tests the heart (Proverbs 17:3; NLT).

Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows (John 16:33; NLT).

4. A sword will pierce your very soul (Luke 2:35; NLT). 

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).

All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it (1 Corinthians 12:27; NLT).

Sharing

Ruth Kirk

God will generously provide all you need.
Then you will always have everything you need
And plenty left over to share with others
(2 Corinthians 9:8; NLT).

1. Lord,
You give us joy to share,
For you are with us
Everywhere.

2. Lord,
You give us love to pour
On others,
So their hearts may soar.

3. Lord,
You give us peace, to bless
All those in sickness
And distress.

4. Lord,
You give us life on loan,
Until you come
To take us home.

References

1. 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).

The Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me (Psalm 16:8; NLT).

2. Each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me (Psalm 42:8; NLT).

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them (Romans 12:9; NLT).

3. The Lord blesses them with peace (Psalm 29:11; NLT).

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

The life of every living thing is in his hand (Job 12:10; NLT).

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

Morning prayer

Ruth Kirk


1. Thank you, Father, for my night,
For all my dreams,
And this new day.

2. Help me to pick up my cross,
And follow Christ,
And always pray,

3. Rejoicing in your Spirit, Lord,
Who loves me,
Though I’m fully known,

4. While waiting patiently in exile,
Till you come
To take me home.

References

1. Thank him for all he has done (Philippians 4:6; NLT).

Give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18; NIV).

2. 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).

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

3. Rejoice always (1 Thessalonians 5:16; NIV).

The believers were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:52; NLT).

He loves us with unfailing love (Psalm 117:2; NLT).

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

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

4. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him (Psalm 37:7).

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

Exile

Ruth Kirk

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

1. Father, we are part of you,
Till, one by one, you give us birth,
Then we must leave your glory
To be exiled on this earth.

2. Here, you give us much to learn –
Faith, forgiveness, kindness, peace –
By following your only Son,
And praying without cease.

3. When it’s time, you bring us home,
There’s nothing left for us to do
Except to be re-born in love,
And reunite with you.

References

1. I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb (Jeremiah 1:5; NLT).
He chose to give birth to us (James 1:18; NLT).
I will be a sanctuary to you during your time in exile (Ezekiel 11:16; NLT).

2. Put on your new nature, created to be like God (Ephesians 4:24; NLT).
The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-3; NLT).
Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me” (Mark 1:17; NLT).
Pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17; NIV).

3. You do not know the day or hour of my return (Matthew 25:13; NLT).
The dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7; NIV).

We are your home

Ruth Kirk

1. We are your home,
Lord God, our Father.

2. We are your shelter,
God the Son.

3. We are your temple,
Holy Spirit.

4. We are your dwelling,
Three-in-One.

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. Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head (Luke 9:58; NKJV).

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

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