pray – Seeking God's face together

When I wake

December 6, 2019Ruth Kirk

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

1. When I wake, Lord,
You are with me.
When I pray
We join as one.

2. When I walk
You go with me
In rain, or storm,
Or summer sun.

3. When I serve,
We work together.
When I’m sick,
You share my pain.

4. When I sleep,
You rest beside me
Till we rise
To start again.

5. Lord, in danger,
You are with me,
Guarding me
With staff and rod;

6. And, in death,
You’ll still be here,
To guide my spirit
Back to God.

References

1. When I wake up, you are still with me (Psalm 139:18; NLT).

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

2. I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20; NLT).

3. The Lord worked with them (Mark 16:20; NIV).

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

4. Then Jesus said, “Come to me all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28-30; NLT).

In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe (Psalm 4:8; NLT).

5. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you (Isaiah 43:2; NLT).

You are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me (Psalm 23:4; NLT).

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

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

Photo acknowledgement: Lucy Chian

Child of God

November 9, 2019November 9, 2019Ruth Kirk

1. May I be a child of God,
Whose Spirit helps me hear his call
To pray with him incessantly,
And ask him to forgive us all.

2. May I be a friend of Jesus,
Taking up my cross each day,
Serving him by loving all humanity
Along the way.

3. May I be a friend of God,
Our Father, who makes all things new,
Begging him to help us heal
This Eden, and its people, too.

References

1. Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God (1 John 5:1; NLT).

The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness (Romans 8:26; NLT).

O that today you would listen as he speaks! (Hebrews 4:7; NET).

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion (Ephesians 6:18; NLT).

2. [Jesus said] This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me (John 15:12-15; NLT).

Then [Jesus] said to the crowd, “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).

Supplement your faith with […] love for everyone (2 Peter 1:5-7; NLT).

3. Our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God (Romans 5:11; NLT).

The one sitting on the throne said, “Look! I am making everything new” (Revelation 21:5; NLT).

The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it (Genesis 2:15; NIV).

The Lord looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if anyone is truly wise, if anyone seeks God. But no, all have turned away; all have become corrupt. No one does good, not a single one. Will those who do evil never learn? They eat up my people like bread and wouldn’t think of praying to the Lord (Psalm 14:2-4; NLT).

Morning prayer

October 20, 2019Ruth 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).

God knows that we are mortal

October 14, 2019October 14, 2019Ruth Kirk

We now have this light shining in our hearts,
but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure.
This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves
(2 Corinthians 4:7; NLT).

1. God knows that we are mortal,
For he fashions us from clay.

2. He knows that we are fragile,
So his Spirit helps us pray.

3. He knows our lives are fleeting,
Then our flesh returns to dust.

4. He knows that we are fearful,
So his Son helps us to trust.

References

1. He remembered that they were merely mortal (Psalm 78:39; NLT).

We are the clay, and you are the potter. We are all formed by your hand (Isaiah 64:8; NLT).

2. He knows how weak we are (Psalm 103:14; NLT).

The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words (Romans 8:26; RSV).

3. Our days on earth are as fleeting as a shadow (Job 8:9; NLT).

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

4. When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you (Psalm 56:3; NLT).

Trust in God, and trust also in me [Jesus] (John 14:1-2; NLT).

I’m agoraphobic

September 30, 2019Ruth Kirk

Lord,

1. I’m agoraphobic –
It’s a thorn within my flesh,
For I must face the threat of dread
Each day.

2. When I’m away from safety,
And panic strikes afresh,
My desperation urges me
To pray.

3. So I rely on you, Lord,
My Comforter and Guide:
No matter where I am
You’re always near;

4. And you understand completely,
As you walk, Lord, at my side,
For in the grove
You shared this wretched fear.

References

1. To keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh. […] Three times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:7-9; NLT).

2. My heart pounds in my chest. The terror of death assaults me. Fear and trembling overwhelm me, and I can’t stop shaking (Psalm 55:4-5; NLT).

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you (Psalm 56:3; NIV).

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

4. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do (Hebrews 4:15; NLT).

They went to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and Jesus said, “Sit here while I go and pray.” He took Peter, James and John with him, and he became deeply troubled and distressed (Mark 14:32; NLT).

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

Help me to face this task (#1 of 2 linked prayers)

September 27, 2019September 28, 2019Ruth Kirk

Today’s prayer can be said repeatedly both before, and whilst, facing any task we find hard.

A child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders.
And he will be called: Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
(Isaiah 9:6; NLT).

1. Jesus,
Wondrous Counsellor,
You care for me each day.

2. Jesus,
Mighty God and King,
You hear me when I pray.

3. Jesus,
Everlasting Father,
Grant me what I ask:

4. Jesus,
Prince of Peace, my Lord,
Please help me face this task.

References

1. He cares for those who trust in him (Nahum 1:7; NIV).

2. 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).

3. Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for (Matthew 7:7; NLT).

Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours (Mark 11:24; NIV).

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

Come quickly to help me, O Lord, my saviour (Psalm 38:22; NLT).

He helps me (Psalm 28:7; NLT).