Category: joy

Joy (#2 of 2 linked prayers)

Ruth Kirk

Pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17; NIV).
Pray about everything (Philippians 4:6; NLT).
Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge (Psalm 62:8; NLT).
You desire honesty from the womb (Psalm 51:6; NLT).

1. I have nothing to offer
But joy, Lord.

2. Nothing to give
But my blood.

3. Nothing to say, Lord,
But: Thank you.

4. Nothing to share
But my love.

References

1. I will be glad and rejoice in your unfailing love (Psalm 31:7; NLT).

2. We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters (1 John 3:16; NLT).

3. We thank you, O God! We give thanks because you are near (Psalm 75:1; NLT).

4. I love you, Lord (Psalm 18:1; NLT).

Love and dust

Ruth Kirk

Lord,

1. You make us all from love
And dust.

2. Help us to follow Christ,
And learn to trust

3. That his forgiveness
Cleanses all our sins –

4. Then we will know the peace
Salvation brings.

Lord,

5. You make us all for love
And loss.

6. Help us to face our lives,
Take up our cross,

7. Serve you in all we meet,
And spread your grace –

8. Then we will share your joy,
And see your face.

References

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

The Lord God formed man of dust from the ground (Genesis 2:7; RSV).

2. Take up your cross daily, and follow me (Luke 9:23; NLT).

3. He forgives all my sins (Psalm 103:3; NLT).

4. He will be the source of peace (Micah 5:5; NLT).

5. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised (Job 1:21; NIV).

6. Take up your cross daily, and follow me (Luke 9:23; NLT).

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

8. Come and share your master’s happiness! (Matthew 25:23; NIV).

They will see his face (Revelation 22:4; NLT).

Live in Christ

Ruth Kirk


In him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28; NIV).

1. Live in Christ,
And in his peace,
Then you will share his joy.

2. Live in Christ,
And in his light,
Then you will share his path.

3. Live in Christ,
And in his truth,
Then you will share his faith.

4. Live in Christ,
And in his love,
Then you will share his grace.

References

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

Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone (Romans 12:18; NLT).

Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit (Luke 10:21; NLT).

2. I am the light of the world (John 8:12; NLT).

He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light (Colossians 1:12; NLT). 

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

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

Grace, mercy, and peace, which come from God the Father and from Jesus Christ – the Son of the Father – will continue to be with us who live in truth and love (2 John 1:3; NLT).

Jesus said to his disciples, “Have faith in God” (Mark 11:22; NLT).

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

All of you share in God’s grace (Philippians 1:7; NIV).

Joy

Ruth Kirk

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity,
faithfulness, gentleness and self-control
(Galatians 5:22-3; NRSV).

1. Lord,
May I do everything
With joy,
So others glimpse
Your earthly paradise.

2. Lord,
May I do everything
With faith,
So others comprehend
Your sacrifice.

3. Lord,
May I do everything
With love,
So others understand
That you are near.

4. Lord,
May I do everything
With prayer,
So others grasp
That you are always here.

References

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

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

2. Don’t be afraid. Just have faith (Mark 5:36; NLT).

By the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins (Hebrews 9:14; NLT).

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

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).

4. Never stop praying (1 Thessalonians 5:17; NLT).

Be sure of this: I am with you always (Matthew 28:20; NLT).

Follow Christ

Ruth Kirk

1. Lord,
Give us love for everyone,
And patience, each new day,
And faithfulness, so we may follow Christ,
Who is the Way.

2. Lord,
Give us joy, whatever comes,
And kindness, from our youth,
And gentleness, so we may follow Christ,
Who is the Truth.

3. Lord,
Give us peace within our hearts,
And goodness, free from strife,
And self-control, so we may follow Christ,
Who is the Life.

4. Lord,
Pour your Spirit on us all,
So we bear fruit, like Christ,
For then we will grow more like him,
The perfect sacrifice.

References

1. Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them (Romans 12.9; 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).

Follow me and be my disciple (Matthew 9:9; NLT).

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

4. I will pour out my Spirit upon all people (Joel 2:28; NLT).

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

By the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins (Hebrews 9:14; NLT).

Around me and within

Ruth Kirk

1. Lord,
You are around me
And within,
Releasing me from sorrow,
And from sin;

2. Healing me
In body, heart and mind,
And saving my poor soul,
For you are kind.

3. Lord,
You are within me
And around,
Suffusing me with joy
Through sight and sound;

4. So I worship you, Lord,
And extoll
Your love, in heaven on earth,
And in my soul.

References

1. You, Lord, are a shield around me (Psalm 3:3; NLT).

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

2. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies (Psalm 103:2-4; NLT).

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

3. I will bring them to my holy mountain of Jerusalem and will fill them with joy in my house of prayer (Isaiah 56:7; NLT).

4. I worship the Lord (Jonah 1:9; NLT).

The sacred arts

Ruth Kirk

Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples (Luke 11:1; NLT).

1. Teach us, Lord, to pray like you,
Who walked on Jordan’s banks,
So we can practice constantly
The sacred art of thanks.

2. Guide us all to pray like you,
Who saved all those who strayed,
So we can practice constantly
The sacred art of praise.

3. Show us how to pray like you,
Who raised the lifeless boy,
So we can practice constantly
The sacred art of joy.

4. Help us, Lord, to pray like you,
Who gave your flesh and blood,
So we can practice constantly
The sacred art of love.

References

1. Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people
(John 6:11; NLT).

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

2. Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth” (Matthew 11:25; NIV).

O God, we […] constantly praise your name (Psalm 44:8; NLT).

3. Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit (Luke 10:21; NLT).

Rejoice always (1 Thessalonians 5:17; NIV).

4. Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’” (Matthew 22:37-39; NLT).

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