Category: pray

No better gift

Ruth Kirk

Image: Engin Akyurt, Pixabay

🔴

1. There is no better gift, Lord,
Than the faith you give each day.

2. There is no sweeter pleasure
Than to trust you, praise, and pray.

3. There is no higher joy, Lord,
Than to serve as you ordain.

4. There is no greater honour
Than to share your grief and pain.

5. There is no higher path, Lord,
Than to live as one, with you.

6. There is no finer witness
Than to serve in all we do.

7. There is no dearer hope, Lord,
Than to long for your embrace.

8. There is no deeper rapture
Than to see you face to face.

🔴

References

1. By grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8; NIV).

2. He is my God, and I trust him (Psalm 91:2; NLY).

This is my God, and I will praise him (Exodus 15:2; NLT).

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

3. 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’. The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:37-40; NLT).

O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8;’ NLT).

4. If we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering (Romans 8:17; NLT).

5. God has united you with Christ Jesus (1 Corinthians 1:30; NLT).

6. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love (Galatians 5:6; NIV).

7. As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him? (Psalm 42:1-2; NLT).

I long, yes, I faint with longing to enter the courts of the Lord (Psalm 84:2; NLT).

So he returned to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him (Luke 15:20; NLT).

8. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known (1 Corinthians 13:12; NIV).

It really doesn’t matter

Ruth Kirk

Image: Sabine van Erp, Pixabay

✝️

Christ is all that matters (Colossians 3:11; NLT).

1. It really doesn’t matter, Lord,
What else I do today,
As long as I try hard
To follow you,
And to obey.

2. It really doesn’t matter, Lord,
What else I do today,
As long as I love you
In all I meet
Along the way.

3. It really doesn’t matter, Lord,
What else I do today,
As long as I serve you
In thought and deed,
And all I say.

4. It really doesn’t matter, Lord,
What else I do today,
As long as I remain in you,
Rejoice, give thanks,
And pray.

✝️

References

1. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said (Matthew 4:19; NIV).

Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life (John 3:36; NLT).

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

Everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too (1 John 5:1; NLT).

Love your neighbour as yourself (Luke 10:27; NLT).

Love the stranger (Deuteronomy 10:19; NKJV).

Show love to foreigners (Deuteronomy 10:19; NLT).

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

3. Serve only him (Luke 4:8; NLT).

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

Do everything with love (1 Corinthians 16:13-14; NLT).

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

4. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing (John 15:5; NLT).

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; NIV).

To pray

Ruth Kirk

Image: Barbara Jackson, Pixabay

💛

1. To pray
Is to live in the Lord,
Day and night.

2. To pray
Is to serve him
And scatter his light.

3. To pray
Is to love all,
Like Jesus, his Son.

4. To pray
Is to join with his Spirit,
As one.

💛

References

1. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them (1 John 4:16; NLT).

They will pray day and night, continually (Isaiah 62:6; NLT).

2. You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him (Luke 4:8; NLT).

Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all” (Mark 9:35; NIV).

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

You are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14; NLT).

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

Love your neighbour as yourself (Luke 10:27; NLT).

Love the stranger (Deuteronomy 10:19; NKJV).

Show love to foreigners (Deuteronomy 10:19; NLT).

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

All glory to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us (Revelation 1:5; NLT).

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

The person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him (1 Corinthians 6:17; NLT).

Dwell in God’s presence

Ruth Kirk

Image: marcelkessler, Pixabay

1. Dwell in God’s presence,
And walk in his light;
Follow his teaching,
And trust in his might.

2. Grow more like Jesus,
And rest in his peace;
Thank him for everything;
Praise without cease.

3. Pray in the Spirit;
Rejoice in God’s worth –
Then you will be living
In heaven on earth.

 

References

1. The upright shall dwell in your presence (Psalm 140:13; NKJV).

Let us walk in the light of the Lord (Isaiah 2:5; NLT).

Follow in his steps and accept his teaching (Deuteronomy 33:3; NLT).

Trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God (1 Corinthians 2:5; NLT).

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

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

I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart (John 14:27; NIV).

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:18; NIV).

I will praise the Lord at all times (Psalm 34:1; NLT).

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

Rejoice always (1 Thessalonians 5:16; NIV).

He alone is your God, the only one who is worthy of your praise (Deuteronomy 10:21; NLT).

Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven (Philippians 1:27; NLT).

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

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

I seek you

Ruth Kirk

Image: TeeFarm, Pixabay


Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed
(Luke 5:16; NIV).

1. I seek you, Lord, in darkness,
The birthplace of your light.
This is where I want to pray with you
Throughout each night.

2. I seek you in the mountains,
The bedrock of your faith.
This is where I want to pray with you
And grow in grace.

3. I seek you in the desert,
The wellspring of your peace.
This is where I want to pray with you
And never cease.

4. I seek you in my mind and heart,
My soul, my bones, my blood.
This is where I want to pray with you,
And learn to love.

 

References

1. He prayed to God all night (Luke 6:12; NLT).

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

2. Jesus went up on a mountain to pray (Luke 6:12; NLT).

Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18; NIV).

3. He departed thence in a boat, into a desert place (Matthew 13:14; WEB).

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

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

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

God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them (1 John 4:16; NLT).

Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong (Ephesians 3:17; NLT).

Dialogue

Ruth Kirk

Image: geralt, Pixabay


1. Pray all the time (1 Thessalonians 5:17; MSG).

Lord,
How can we learn to pray?

Just talk with Jesus
Every day.

2. Follow the way of love (1 Corinthians 14:1; NIV).

Lord,
How can we learn your way?

Just walk with Jesus —
Never stray.

3. Love your enemies (Luke 6:27; NLT)

Lord,
How can we learn to love?

Just live like Jesus,
Come what may.

4. Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die (2 Kings 20:1; NLT).

Lord,
How can we learn to die?

Just follow Jesus —
And obey.

 

References

1. Lord, teach us to pray (Luke 11:1; NLT).

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

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

Pour out your heart to him (Psalm 62:8; NLT).

Pray all the time (1 Thessalonians 5:17; MSG).

2. How can we know the way? (John 14:5; NLT).

Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths (Psalm 25:4; NIV).

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

Just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him (Colossians 2:6; NLT).

Travel steadily along his path (Psalm 37:34; NLT).

3. We live like Jesus here in this world (1 John 4:17; NLT).

Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all (Mark 9:35; NIV).

Even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others (Mark 10:45; NLT).

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

The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love (Galatians 5:6; NIV).

4. All of us must die eventually (2 Samuel 14:14; NLT).

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said (Matthew 4:19; NIV).

Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross (Philippians 2:6-8; NLT).

Let us also go, that we may die with him (John 11:16; NIV).

Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine (Luke 22:42; NLT).

Praise God

Ruth Kirk

Image: Albrecht Fietz, Pixabay

1. Praise God all day;
Worship at night;

2. Walk in his way;
Live in his light;

3. Thank him for everything;
Pray without cease;

4. Broadcast his love –
Then rest in his peace.

 

References

1. I will praise you all day long (Psalm 35:28; NLT).

She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshipping God with fasting and prayer (Luke 2:37; NLT).

On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night (Psalm 63:6; NIV).

2. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it (Jeremiah 6:16; NLT).

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

3. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:18; NLT).

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

4. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love (Galatians 5:6; NIV).

Those who follow godly paths will rest in peace when they die (Isaiah 57:2; NLT).

Together

Ruth Kirk

Image: Jesus365.church, Yandex

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul,
all your strength, and all your mind
(Luke 10:27; NLT).

1. I love you, Christ Jesus:
Let’s walk here together,
Linking our hands, Lord, as one.

2. I love you, Christ Jesus:
Let’s talk here together,
Yoking our minds, Lord, as one.

3. I love you, Christ Jesus:
Let’s pray here together,
Binding our hearts, Lord, as one.

4. I love you, Christ Jesus:
Let’s stay here together,
Bonding our souls, Lord, as one.

5. I love you, Christ Jesus:
Let’s cry here together,
Sharing our pain, Lord, as one.

6. I love you, Christ Jesus,
Let’s die here together,
Joining our Father, as one.

I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one – as you are in me, Father, and I am in you […] I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me (John 17:21-3; NLT).

References

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

The Lord holds them by the hand (Psalm 37:24; NLT).

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

3. I will give them one heart and one purpose: to worship me forever (Jeremiah 32:39; NLT).

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

5. If we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering (Romans 8:17; NLT).

6. Let’s go, too – and die with Jesus (John 11:16; NLT).

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

No perfect mother

Ruth Kirk

Image: AJ jaanko, Pixabay


Every perfect gift is from above (James 1:17; ESV).

1. There is no perfect mother
Except Mary –
She is the Queen of Grace,
Who loves us all.

2. There is no perfect father
Except Yahweh –
He is the God who hears us
When we call.

3. There is no perfect brother
Except Jesus –
He is the great High Priest,
Who leads the way.

4. There is no perfect friend
Except his Spirit –
He is the One who helps us
When we pray.

 

References

1.  The angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women (Luke 1:28; DRA).

Then I witnessed in heaven an event of great significance. I saw a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon beneath her feet, and a crown of twelve stars on her head (Revelation 12:1; NLT).

When Jesus saw his mother standing there [at the cross] beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home (John 19:26-7; NLT).

They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus (Acts 1:14; NLT).

2. You are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:48; NLT).

I am Yahweh – the Lord (Exodus 6:2; NLT).

The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help (Psalm 34:17; NLT).

3. Jesus asked, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers? Then he pointed to his disciples and said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers. Anyone who does the will of my Father is heaven is my brother and sister and mother (Matthew 12:48-50; NLT).

God appointed his Son with an oath, and his Son has been made the perfect High Priest forever (Hebrews 7:28; NLT).

It was only right that he [God] should make Jesus, through his suffering, a perfect leader, fit to bring them into their salvation (Hebrews 2:10; NLT).

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

4. You are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me (John 15:15; NLT).

Now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God (Romans 5:11; NLT).

I will send you the Advocate [or Comforter, or Encourager, or Counsellor] – the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me (John 15:26; NLT).

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

We love you

Ruth Kirk

Image: Roy Buri, Pixabay

1. Father, Creator,
We love you so deeply.
May all things remind us of you:
All we see, all we hear,
All we taste, smell, and touch;
All you make, Lord,
And all that you do.

2. Jesus, Redeemer,
We love you so deeply.
May we grow more like you each day:
In every emotion,
And in all our thinking;
In all that we do, Lord,
And say.

3. Spirit, Consoler,
We love you so deeply.
May we be your temple, your friend:
Praying together
With thanks and rejoicing,
Forever, Lord,
World without end.

 

References

1. Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy (Matthew 6:9; NLT).

The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth (Isaiah 40:28; NLT).

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

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

2. I am the Lord, your Redeemer (Isaiah 41:14; 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).

To acquire wisdom is to love oneself (Proverbs 19:8; NLT).

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

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

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

3. I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, [Comforter, Encourager, Counsellor] who will never leave you (John 14:16; NLT).

As a mother consoles a child, so I will console you (Isaiah 66:13; NET).

Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19; NLT).

Now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God (Romans 5:11; 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).

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).

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

Pray in the power of the Holy Spirit (Jude 1:20; NLT).

All glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen (Ephesians 3:20-21; NLT).