Category: judgement

Rest

Ruth Kirk

I have suffered from Chronic Fatigue since 2005. This means that my energy is always very limited. Exhaustion often forces me to rest, regardless of what I want, or need, to do.

Until today, I have always understood ‘rest’ as time spent sitting down, or being in bed.

However, to my astonishment, God has now shown me that rest can also be a state of mind, and even a way of life.

With this approach, whether or not I am active, living restfully means noticing my sensations, thoughts, and emotions as they occur, acknowledging their reality without judgement, then sharing them simply and honestly with God.

Hopefully, this process will teach me how I need to change in order to live more restfully, so I can be at peace with myself, with God, with others, and the world. 

References

My soul finds rest in God (Palm 62:1; NIV). 

Transformation (with thanks to A.K.)

Ruth Kirk


“Only God can turn the dark night into glorious heavenly light”
(Alan Kearns).

Lord,

1. Turn our anguish
Into peace;
Our darkness
Into dazzling light.

2. Turn our sorrow
Into joy;
Our blindness
Into perfect sight.

3. Turn our judgements
Into love;
Our sickness
Into welcome rest,

4. And turn our dying
Into life eternal,
When we’ve faced
Each test.


References

1. Lord, see my anguish! My heart is broken and my soul despairs (Lamentations 1:20; NLT).

The Lord turns my darkness into light (2 Samuel 22:29; NIV).

2. Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me – now let me rejoice (Psalm 51:8; NLT).

The Lord gives sight to the blind (Psalm 146:8; NIV).

3. Do not judge others, and you will not be judged (Luke 6:37; NLT).

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

The Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has said: “You will be delivered by returning and resting; your strength will lie in quiet confidence” (Isaiah 30:15; CSB).

4. Our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies (1 Corinthians 15:53; NLT).

Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying” (John 11:25; NLT).

The Lord your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul (Deuteronomy 13:3; NIV).

Completion

Ruth Kirk

Image: Gamopy, Pixabay

🤎

No one knows when their hour will come
(Ecclesiastes 9:12; NIV).

1. Lord,
When we die,
You call us home,
Whether or not we think
Our work is done –

For, long, or short,
Our exile is complete,
The moment you decide
Our end has come.

2. Lord,
When we die,
You take us back,
Whether or not we think
The time is right –

For, good, or bad,
Our record is complete,
The moment we face judgement
In your sight.

3. Lord,
When we die,
You claim our souls,
Whether or not we’ve tried
To do our best –

For, rough or smooth,
Our journey is complete,
The moment you conclude
Our earthly test.

🤎

References

1. Soon I must go down that road from which I never will return (Job 16:22; NLT).

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

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

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

The Lord your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul (Deuteronomy 13:3; NIV).

Anger

Ruth Kirk


Image: annaost29, Pixabay

Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires
(James 1:20; NLT).

1. Anger is so dangerous:
It makes me think I should proceed
To voice my hasty judgements,
Though I crush the weakest reed.

2. Anger is so damaging:
It makes me feel I have a right
To vent my heedless blame,
Though I put out a dying light.

3. Help me, Lord, to curb my tongue,
My rash assumptions, too,
Then I’ll treat everyone with love,
And grow much more like you.

 

References

1. Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: you must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires (James 1:19-20; NLT).

Do not judge others, and you will not be judged (Luke 6:37; NLT).

He will not crush the weakest reed (Matthew 12:20; NLT).

2. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you (Luke 6:37; NLT).

He will not […] put out a flickering candle (Matthew 12:20, NLT).

3. If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless (James 1:26; NLT).

Fools base their thoughts on foolish assumptions (Ecclesiastes 10:13; NLT).

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

Love your neighbour as yourself (Matthew 22:39; NLT).

Do everything with love (1 Corinthians 16:14; NLT).

The Lord – who is the Spirit – makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image (2 Corinthians 3:18; NLT).

It’s always the Beginning

Ruth Kirk

Image: WikiImages, Pixabay

His mercies begin afresh each morning
(Lamentations 3:22; NLT).

1. It’s always the Beginning, Lord:
Each day you make me new.

2. It’s always Advent,
While you wait for me to turn to you.

3. It’s always Christmas, Lord:
You’re born again in my poor soul.

4. It’s always Holy Week,
When you face death to make me whole.

5. It’s always Easter, Lord:
You rise again to give me faith.

6. It’s always Pentecost,
When your great Spirit gives me grace.

7. It’s always Harvest, Lord:
Each night we probe the day that’s past –

8. So it’s always Judgement Day,
Lord, may I see your face, at last?

 

References

1. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1; NLT).

He who sat upon the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new” (Revelation 21:5; RSV).

2. The Lord must wait for you to come to him (Isaiah 30:18; NLT).

3. She gave birth to her first-born son (Luke 2:6; RSV).

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

4. He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole (Isaiah 53:5; RSV).

5. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! (Mark 16:6; NLT).

I pray [that] Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith (Ephesians 3:16-17; NET).

6. You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you (Acts 1:8; NLT).

God saved you by his grace when you believed (Ephesians 2:8; NLT).

7. You must celebrate the Festival of Harvest (Exodus 34:22; NLT).

The harvest is the end of the world (Matthew 13:39; NLT).

8. As we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgement (1 John 4:17; NLT).

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

Take away

Ruth Kirk

Image: birgl, Pixabay

Look, I am making everything new (Revelation 21:5; NLT).

Lord,

1. Take away my fault-finding,
And give me a new mind.

2. Take away my bitterness,
And give me a new heart.

3. Take away my wretchedness,
And give me a new soul.

4. Take away my sinfulness, Lord God,
And make me whole.

Be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him (Colossians 3:10; NLT).

References

1. Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you (Luke 6:37; NLT).

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5; NKJV).

2. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander (Ephesians 4:31; NLT).

Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you (Hebrews 12:15; NLT).

I will give you a new heart […]. I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26; NIV).

3. What a wretched man I am! (Romans 7:24; CSB).

I will […] put a new spirit in you (Ezekiel 36:26; NIV).

4. An evil man is trapped by sinfulness of lips (Proverbs 12:13; HNV).

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).

According to your will

Ruth Kirk

Image: Engin Akyurt, Pixabay

This is the confidence we have in approaching God:
that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us
(1 John 5:14; NIV).

Lord,

1. May I treat myself with love
According to your will,
Sharing all I feel with you
As I face each new test.

2. May I capture all my thoughts
According to your will,
Changing judgements into love –
Then I’ll have done my best.

3. May I speak the truth in love
According to your will,
Choosing all my words with care,
Though sometimes I’ll be blamed.

4. May I do all things with love
According to your will,
Serving you with all my heart –
Then I won’t be ashamed.

References

1. Love your neighbour as yourself (Leviticus 19:18; NLT).

You desire honesty from the womb (Psalm 51:6; NLT).

Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested (Hebrews 2:18; NLT).

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

Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For […] the standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged (Matthew 7:1-2; NLT).

We have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16; NLT).

I have always tried my best to let wisdom guide my thoughts (Ecclesiastes 7:23; NLT).

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

I have many aggressive enemies; they hate me without reason (Psalm 38:19; NLT).

4. Do everything with love (1 Corinthians 16:14; NLT).

Serve the Lord with all your heart (1 Samuel 12:20; NIV).

Let me not be ashamed; let not my enemies triumph over me (Psalm 25:2; NKJV).

Let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in you (Psalm 25:20; NKJV).

Help me, Lord

Ruth Kirk
Image: Thomas Ulrich, Pixabay

Help me, Lord (Psalm 109:26; NLT).

1. Help me, Lord,
To live with my poor body,
So I can bear the damage
Life has done.

2. Help me, Lord,
To catch my careless judgments,
So I can change them,
Growing like your Son.

3. Help me, Lord,
To face my darkest moments,
So I can share them with you
Day by day.

4. Help me, Lord,
To find you in my spirit,
So I may rest with you
Along the way.

References

1. Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested (Hebrews 2:18; NLT).

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

Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you (Luke 6:37; NLT).

Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him (Colossians 3:10; NLT).

3. Lord, see my anguish! My heart is broken and my soul despairs (Lamentations 1:20; NLT).

You have seen my troubles, and you care about the anguish of my soul (Psalm 31:7; NLT).

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me (Psalm 23:4; NLT).

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

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

Come to me all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28; NLT).

Like you

Ruth Kirk
Image: Tama66; Pixabay

Live a life filled with love,
following the example of Christ
(Ephesians 5:2; NLT).

1. Lord Jesus,
My example,
Help me to grow like you,
By treating all my feelings
With love, just as you do.

2. Lord Jesus,
My Rabboni,
Help me to grow like you,
By changing each judgemental thought
Into the love that’s due.

3. Lord Jesus,
My Messiah,
Help me to grow like you,
By saying everything with love,
And making sure it’s true.

4. Lord Jesus,
My Salvation,
Help me to grow like you,
By doing everything with love:
May your life be my cue.

References

1. God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:9; NLT).

Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ (Ephesians 5:2; NLT).

The Lord – who is the Spirit – makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image (2 Corinthians 3:18; NLT).

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

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

2. She turned to him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”) (John 20:16; NLT).

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5; NKJV).

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

Do not judge others, and you will not be judged (Luke 6:37; NLT).

Love your enemies! (Matthew 5:44; NLT).

3. You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:16; NLT).

You must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (Jude 1:25; NLT).

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

4. The Lord is my light and my salvation (Psalm 27:1; NLT).

The Lord – who is the Spirit – makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image (2 Corinthians 3:18; NLT).

Do everything with love (1 Corinthians 16:14; NLT).

Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps (1 Peter 2:21; RSV).

Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ (Ephesians 5:2; NLT).

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

With love

Ruth Kirk

Do everything with love
(1 Corinthians 16:14; NLT).

1. Face all you feel with love:
Grief, anger, shame, pain, fear.
Share everything with God,
For he is always near.

2. Observe your thoughts with love:
Hate, envy, judgement, pride.
Confess them all to God,
Who will not blame, or chide.

3. Speak every word with love:
Don’t mock, abuse, or lie.
Admit your sins to God,
Who hears our victims cry.

4. Do everything with love:
This principle is clear;
Just ask the Father’s help,
For he is always here.

References

1. You are near (Psalm 75:1; NLT).

2. I confess my sins (Psalm 38:18; NLT).

He will not always chide (Psalm 103:9; RSV).

3. Speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15; NLT).

The Lord hears the cries of the needy (Psalm 69:33; NLT).

4. Do everything with love (1 Corinthians 16:14; NLT).

Love your enemies! (Matthew 5:44; NLT).

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

Help me, Lord (Psalm 30:10; NLT).

I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, that he may be with you forever (John 14:16; NASB).