7.12.23: No need

Be still in the presence of the LORD (Psalm 37:7; NLT).

No need to move,
And no need to speak;
No need to think:
Lord, I love you.

Nothing to hear,
And nothing to see;
Nothing to search for:
I love you.

No need to pray,
And no need to bless;
No need to praise:
Lord, I love you.

Nothing to ask for,
And nothing to do;
Nothing to say, but:
“I love you.”

I love you, LORD (Psalm 18:1; NLT). 

28.11.23: For others


Pray for all people.
(1 Timothy 2:1; NLT).

For others, I pray:
Please heal them,
Lord God;

For my self, Lord:
May your will
Be done.

He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”
(Matthew 26:42; NIV), 


References

The prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well (James 5:15; NIV).

To keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh… Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 11:7-9; NLT).

19.11.22: Faith (for P.)

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

Father, you cherish me,
Jesus, you ransom me,
Spirit, you counsel me:
Teach me your way.

Father, I worship you,
Jesus, I follow you,
Spirit, I trust in you:
Help me to pray. 

Father, you nurture me,
Jesus, you shepherd me,
Spirit, you comfort me:
Show me your face.

Father, I live in you,
Jesus, I walk with you,
Spirit, I welcome you:
Strengthen my faith. 

✝️  “If you possibly can, have pity on us and help us.” “If I possibly can!'” replied Jesus; “why, everything is possible to him who believes.” Immediately the father cried out, “I do believe: strengthen my weak faith” (Mark 9:22-4; WNT). 

18.11.23: Pray within me

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).

16.11.23: I’ll try

The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away. Blessed be the name of the LORD (Job 1:21; CSB).

Whatever You take, I’ll offer thanks;
Whatever You send, accept.
Wherever I am, I’ll try to pray;
And when I hurt others, confess.

However I am, I’ll try to serve;
However I feel, rejoice.
Whoever I meet, I’ll try to see
Your presence in them, and to bless.

Whenever I fear, I’ll try to trust;
Whenever I fall, to cling.
Whatever dark path I face today,
I’ll shoulder my cross, and say, “Yes.”

And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word (Luke 1:38; KJV).

15.11.23: Pray in me

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

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). 

7.11.23: A love-letter

This prayer came to me in the middle of the night, when I looked out of my bedroom window. I couldn’t sleep, because the day before we had made an offer for a small, wheelchair-accessible bungalow in a nearby town.

Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will leave this life. The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away. Blessed be the name of the LORD (Job 1:21; CSB). 

My beloved Father,

As long as I have this beautiful view from my room, I feel I can cope with whatever life brings. Yet I will lose it soon, for we must move.

As long as I can write, and post prayers on my website, I feel my life has a purpose. But I already know that one day, at a time of your choosing, you will stop giving me any more prayers.

As long as I have my much-loved icons around me, I feel I can face whatever losses and suffering you send. However, even these icons will have to be left behind one day. Then, no matter what comes, I must go on without their help.

As long as I can pray, I feel that my life is worth living, because I can experience your presence, no matter what I have to endure. Nevertheless, I realise that I won’t necessarily always be able to pray.

Lord, as I grow older, more unwell, forgetful and disabled, my life is slowly reducing to the absolute essentials of faith, hope, and love. These I will consciously cling to for as long as I possibly can. Yet even when I can cling no longer, whatever happens, I know that nothing can ever separate me from your love, because:

From the beginning, long before my life began, for as long as it continues, and eternally, beyond my death, I am part of you, my God, and I am one with you.

Thank you, beloved Lord, that nothing can ever take this truth away.

For I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow – not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below – indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-9; NLT).


References…

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).

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

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

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

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

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


…and further references 

Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! (Habakkuk 3:17-18; NLT).

I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go (John 21:18; NLT).

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

I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely (Psalm 63:8; NLT).

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

Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him (Job 13:15; KJV).

4.11.23: I trust in you (for J.)

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

Father,
I trust in you.
Help me to worship you,
Love, and remain in you,
Day after day.

Jesus,
I trust in you.
Help me to follow you,
Serve, and remain in you,
Choosing your way.

Spirit,
I trust in you.
Help me to live in you,
Pray, and remain in you,
Come, Lord, what may.

Nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:39; NLT).


 References 

Verse 1:

Worship the LORD in all his holy splendor (1 Chronicles 16:29; NLT).

We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them (1 John 4:16; NLT).

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me (John 15:4; NLT).

Verse 2:

Anyone who wants to be my disciple must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me (John 12:26; NLT). 

You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it (Matthew 7:13-14; NLT).

Verse 3:

Let us therefore live in the Spirit, and surrender to the Spirit (Galatians 5:25; LB). 

Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests (Ephesians 6:18; NIV).

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

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).