Category: hope

In silence

Ruth Kirk
Image: mystraysoul, Pixabay

Keep on seeking, and you will find (Matthew 7:7; NLT).

1. In silence, Lord,
I start afresh,
Seeking you
With every breath.

2. In stillness, Lord,
I try again,
Whispering
Your holy name.

3. In solitude,
I aim, once more,
To find you, Lord,
And to adore.

4. In darkness, Lord,
I hope anew,
And, reaching out,
I wait for you.

References

1. Be silent before the Sovereign Lord (Zephaniah 1:7; NIV).

Search for the Lord (Psalm 105:4; NLT).

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

Yahweh is his name (Exodus 15:3; NLT).

3. When you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private (Matthew 6:6; NLT).

If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me (Jeremiah 29:13; NLT).

We adore you (1 Chronicles 29:11; NLT).

4. Sit now in darkness (Isaiah 47:5; NLT).

I will put my hope in God (Psalm 42:5; NLT).

Reach out for him (Acts 17:27; NIV).

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

Trek

Ruth Kirk
Image: fermiart, Pixabay

Three things will last forever – faith, hope, and love –
and the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:13; NLT).

1. Life is a trek
Back to heaven.

2. Faith is a journey
To God.

3. Hope is a walk
With his Spirit.

4. Love is the path
That Christ trod.

References

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

2. We walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7; NKJV).

The Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith (Romans 1:17; NLT).

3. You will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13; NLT).

4. Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children, and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God (Ephesians 5:2; NIV).

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

We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us (1 John 3:16; NLT).

Help us all (for M.R.)

Ruth Kirk
Image: Tereza Flachová, Pixabay

Lord,

1. Please help us all
Throughout today:
Those who are lonely,
Those who’ve lost their way;

2. Those who are hungry, homeless,
Those who’ve strayed;
Those who are grieving,
Comfortless, afraid;

3. Those who are sick, or dying,
Old, distressed;
Those who are longing
For your peace and rest;

4. Those who have ceased to hope,
And cannot pray:
Father, please help us all
Throughout today.

My way of life

Ruth Kirk


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).

1. May prayer, Lord, be my way of life,
And constant thanks my aim,

2. Rejoicing in your presence,
As I praise your holy name.

3. May faith, Lord, be my way of life,
And steadfast hope my goal,

4. Loving you with all my heart,
And strength, and mind, and soul.

References

1. Pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done (Philippians 4:6; NLT).

2. His name is the Lord – rejoice in his presence! (Psalm 68:4; NLT).

3. These three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:13; NIV).

4. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength (Mark 12:29; NLT).

Choice

Ruth Kirk

Choose today whom you will serve
(Joshua 24:15; NLT).

1. Live with God, our Lord, today,
And listen for his voice;
See his presence everywhere:
Make faith your conscious choice.

2. Live through God, our Lord, today,
And celebrate his reign;
See his hand in everything:
Make hope your constant aim.

3. Live in God, our Lord, today,
And serve with all your soul;
See his face in everyone:
Make love your ceaseless goal.

References

1. He will live with them and they will be his people. God himself will be with them (Revelation 21:3; NLT).

Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you (2 Corinthians 13:11; NLT).

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

2. God has sent his only begotten Son into the world, we might live through him (1 John 4:9; NKJV).

Celebrate his rule with trembling Psalm 2:11; NIV).

The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord (Job 1:21; NIV).

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

Serve him with all your heart and soul (Deuteronomy 10:12; NLT).

Seek his face always (1 Chronicles 16:11; NIV).

Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me (Matthew 25:40; NIV).

Three things will last forever – faith, hope, and love – and the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:13; NLT).

Thankfulness

Ruth Kirk

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

1. Thank you, Lord,
For everything you give me,
For everything I have
Comes straight from you:

2. My way, my truth, my life,
My goal, my purpose;
My faith, my hope, my love:
Yours, through and through;

3. My blessings, Lord:
Each gift that makes me joyful;
My sorrows:
Every cross that I must bear;

4. Help me to learn
From everything you send me,
Whilst thanking you
For all your tender care.

References

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

Everything comes from God (1 Corinthians 11:12; NIV).

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

Three things will last forever – faith, hope, and love – and the greatest of these is love
(1 Corinthians 13:13; NLT).

Everything belongs to you (1 Chronicles 29:16; CSB).

3. They will be radiant because of the Lord’s good gifts (Jeremiah 31:12; NLT).

Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad? (Job 2:10; NLT).

The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord! (Job 1:21; NLT).

4. Don’t reject the Lord’s discipline, and don’t be upset when he corrects you. For the Lord corrects those he loves (Proverbs 3:11-12; NLT).

We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him (Romans 8:28; NIV).

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

You’re one with us

Ruth Kirk


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

He is our God forever and ever,
and he will guide us until we die (Psalm 48:14; NLT).

1. You’re one with us in sorrow, Lord,
When you seem far away.

2. You’re one with us in heartbreak,
When we can no longer pray.

3. You’re one with us in loneliness,
For you are always near.

4. You’re one with us in suffering,
In anguish, pain, and fear.

5. You’re one with us when hope is gone,
And we can’t sense your grace.

6. You’re one with us in darkness,
When we cannot see your face.

7. You’re one with us in dying,
And you share our final breath.

8. You’re one with us for evermore,
In birth, in life, in death.

References

1. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows (Isaiah 53:4; NIV).

Why are you so far away when I groan for help? (Psalm 22:1; NLT).

2. You have taken away my companions and my loved ones (Psalm 88:18; NLT).

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

4. Being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground (Luke 22:44; NIV).

He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip, then turned him over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified (Mark 15:15; NLT).

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

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

Darkness is my closest friend (Psalm 88:18; NLT).

Now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face (1 Corinthians 13:12; NRSV).

7. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me (Psalm 23:4; KJV).

Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last (Luke 23:46; NLT).

8. 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).

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

I am with you always, even to the end of the world (Matthew 28:20; WEB).

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

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

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

These words

Ruth Kirk

These words you hear are not my own;
they belong to the Father who sent me
(John 14:24; NIV).

1. Your kingdom come:
These words give hope,
Reviving my weak faith.

2. Deliver us:
These words speak truth;
They show me you are great.

3. Forgive our sins:
These words grant peace;
Your pardon makes me whole.

4. As we forgive:
These words pledge rest
To my poor mind and soul.

5. Your will be done:
These words bring calm
To my last days on earth.

6. For evermore:
My spirit flies
To you, who gave me birth.

References

1. May your kingdom come soon (Luke 11:2; NLT).

2. Deliver us from evil (Matthew 6:13; KJV).

3. Forgive us our sins… (Matthew 6:12; NLT).

4. …as we have forgiven those who sin against us (Matthew 6:13; NLT).

5. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10; NLT).

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

Into your hands I commit my spirit (Psalm 31:5; NIV).

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

Many more

Ruth Kirk

Because of his words many more became believers
(John 4:41; NIV).

1. I pray that many more
Will come to seek you,
Son of Man,
And find great faith
By following your steps
The best they can.

2. I pray that many more
Will come to trust you,
Prince of Peace,
And find great joy
In thanking you,
And praising without cease.

3. I pray that many more
Will come to love you,
Chosen One,
And find great hope
Through helping others
Know you as God’s Son.

References

1. You will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all soul (Deuteronomy 4:29; NIV).

The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28; NLT).

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).

2. Trust in God and trust also in me (John 14:1; NLT).

He will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6; NIV).

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; NIV).

3. May God’s grace be eternally upon all who love our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 6:24; NLT).

Teach them to know the truth that shows them how to live godly lives (Titus 1:1; NLT).

Then a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, my Chosen One. Listen to him” (Luke 9:35; NLT).

Courage

Ruth Kirk


Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said.
“Take courage. I am here!” (Matthew 14:27; NLT).

1. Lord,
Please give us courage,
To face all life may bring:
Heartbreak, sickness, hunger,
For you are still our King.

2. Lord,
Please give us courage
To bear all that may come:
Loneliness and worry,
Until this plague is done.

3. Lord,
Please give us courage
To turn to you, and pray,
Trusting in your mercy,
And serving you each day.

4. Lord,
Please give us courage
And hope, for you are great;
Forgive us all our sins,
And help us hold fast to our faith.

References

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

2. This is my intense suffering, but I must bear it (Jeremiah 10:19; CSB).

3. I plead for the Lord’s mercy (Psalm 142:1; NLT).

4. Put your hope in God (Psalm 42:5; NIV).

Having hope will give you courage (Job 11:18; NLT)

I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts (Isaiah 57:15; NLT).

Hold fast and repent (Revelation 3:3; NKJV).