Category: Pray

Wake with Christ’s Spirit

Ruth Kirk

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

It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning (Psalm 92:2; NLT).

It is good to wake up
With Christ’s Spirit,

To thank him,
To listen, and pray;

Then rise with his Spirit,
Rejoicing,

And walk in his presence
Each day.

Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship, for they will walk in the light of your presence, LORD (Psalm 89:15; NLT).

I walk in the LORD’s presence as I live here on earth! (Psalm 116:9; NLT).

References

I am with you always (Matthew 28:20; NLT).

The Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me (Philippians 1:19; NLT).

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River (Luke 4:1; NLT).

The Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom (2 Corinthians 3:17; NLT).

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you on Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:16-19; NIV).

 

Seek Christ

Ruth Kirk

I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you (Luke 11:9; NLT).

Seek Christ; meet Christ;
Follow him.

Learn his teaching;
Do not sin.

Praise and thank him
Every day.

Love him; serve him;
Always pray.

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

References

Then he 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).

Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires (Romans 6:12; NLT).

In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry (Ephesians 4:26; NIV).

Encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil. May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:14-23; NIV).

 

Every morning

Ruth Kirk

Today I am moving to a new home, in a new country!

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

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). 

Every morning, when I wake,
No matter what the day may bring,
I lift my voice to you, and sing,
My God, in celebration.

Every morning, when I wake,
However desolate my way,
I give my heart to you, and pray
With every tribe and nation.

Every morning, when I wake,
No matter if I’m well, or ill,
I join my life to yours, for still
I’m one with all creation.

Every morning, when I wake,
Whatever comes from you, on high,
I bind my soul to yours, and sigh
In silent adoration.

Let all the earth be silent in God’s presence (Habakkuk 2:20; TIB).

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O LORD, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things (1 Chronicles 29:11; NLT).

References

YHWH’S favor is not exhausted, nor has God’s compassion failed. They rise up anew each morning, so great is God’s faithfulness. “YHWH is all I have,” I cry. “so I will wait in patience” (Lamentations 3:22-4; TIB).

The gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult (Matthew 7:14; NLT).

I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The LORD gave me what I had, and the LORD has taken it away. Praise the name of the LORD! (Job 1:21; NLT).

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; they rod and thy staff they comfort me (Psalm 23:4; KJV).

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. And he who searches the hearts of men knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God (Romans 8:27-8; RSV).

 

When I wake

Ruth Kirk

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

Yahweh, when I wake, each day,
May I turn to you, and pray,
Resolved, no matter what you send,
To cling, like Jesus, to the end.

Then, before I sleep each night,
Knowing that you’ve shared my plight,
With thanks for all the day has brought,
I’ll cling to you, as Jesus taught.

You in me, and I in you,
Trusting all your words are true,
I’ll walk with you from birth to death,
And cling, like Christ, till my last breath.

Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last (Luke 23:46; NLT).

References

Cling tightly to the LORD your God (Joshua 23:8; NLT).

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

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Saviour, who daily bears our burdens (Psalm 68:19; NIV).

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).

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).

 

Love and worship

Ruth Kirk

I love you, YHWH, my strength (Psalm 18:1; TIB).

I worship YHWH, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land (Jonah 1:9; NLT).

I love you, and worship you,
Trust in, and cling to you,
Praise, and bow down to you:
Yahweh, my God.

I love you, and honour you,
Learn from, and follow you,
Bless, and rejoice in you:
Jesus, my God.

I love you, and cherish you,
Look to, and pray with you,
Thank, and rely on you:
Spirit, my God.

Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; NLT).

References

It is YHWH, the God Most High, whom you must serve with awe; whom you must cling to and by whom you must swear; who is your praise; who is your God; who has done great things which your eyes have seen with awe (Deuteronomy 10:20-21; TIB).

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).

They worshiped him (Luke 24:52; NLT).

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

The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words (Romans 8:26; NLT).

Healthy faith

Ruth Kirk

Be healthy in the faith (Titus 1:13; NLT).

Please give us all
A healthy faith,
So we accept
Your will with grace.

And though, like Christ,
We grieve, and pray:
“Please take this bitter cup
Away”,

Yet, help us to endure
Our load –
The gifts you place
Along our road –

For you send bad
As well as good,
To help us grow
In trust, and love.

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).

References

I create the light and make the darkness. I send good times and bad times. I, the LORD, am the one who does these things (Isaiah 45:7; NLT).

Should we accept only good things from the hand of God, and never anything bad? (Job 2:10; NLT).

Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done” (Matthew 26:42; NLT).

When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other (Ecclesiastes 7:14; NIV).

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

Though the Lord gave you adversity for food and suffering for drink, he will still be with you to teach you (Isaiah 30:20; NLT).

I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness – secret riches. I will do this so you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name (Isaiah 45:3; NLT).

God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them (Romans 8:28; NLT).

I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death (Philippians 3:10; NLT).

 

We trust in you

Ruth Kirk

It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor-Counselor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him (the Holy Spirit) to you [to be in close fellowship with you] (John 16:7; AMP).

We trust in you, our Advocate:
Our truth, our God,
Our shining light.

We hope in you, our Counsellor:
Our help, our fire,
Our guide through life.

We dwell in you, our Comforter:
Our faith, our peace,
Our only good.

We pray in you, God’s Holy Ghost:
The Spirit of
Our Saviour’s love.

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

References

We know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love (Romans 5:5; NLT).

The Spirit, too, comes to help us in our weakness. For we don’t know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit expresses our plea with groanings too deep for words. And God, who knows everything in our hearts, knows perfectly well what the Spirit is saying, because her intercessions for God’s holy people are made according to the mind of God (Romans 8:26-7; TIB).

 

In joy and worship

Ruth Kirk

The LORD is good to those who depend on him (Lamentations 3:25; NLT).

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

In joy and worship,
Sin and failure –
Lift your hands,
And let the Spirit
Pray on your behalf. 

In thanks and rapture,
Pain and sickness –
Lift your mind,
And let the Spirit
Pray on your behalf. 

In love and homage,
Fear and anguish –
Lift your heart,
And let the Spirit
Pray on your behalf. 

In life and death,
Whatever happens –
Lift your soul,
And let the Spirit
Pray on your behalf. 

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 8:27-8; AMP).

References 

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:16-19; NIV).

Lift up holy hands in prayer, and praise the LORD (Psalm 134:2; NLT).

Listen to my prayer for mercy as I cry out to you for help, as I lift my hands toward your holy sanctuary (Psalm 28:2; NLT).

Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5; NLT).

 

Wordless sharing

Ruth Kirk

Be silent before the LORD, all humanity (Zechariah 2:13; NLT).

In silence,
Lift your hands to God,
And let the Spirit pray
On your behalf.

In stillness,
Lift your mind to God,
And let the Spirit pray
On your behalf.

In gladness,
Lift your heart to God,
And let the Spirit pray
On your behalf.

In darkness,
Lift your soul to God,
And let the Spirit pray
On your behalf.

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 8:27-8; AMP).

References

Lift up holy hands in prayer, and praise the LORD (Psalm 134:2; NLT).

Listen to my prayer for mercy as I cry out to you for help, as I lift my hands toward your holy sanctuary (Psalm 28:2; NLT).

 

Christ crucified

Ruth Kirk

Then the soldiers nailed him to the cross (Mark 15:24; NLT).

In agony
Of body,
And of mind,

Crucified,
In anguish
And despair,

Ours were the sins
You bore; for us
You prayed,

Though feeling abandoned –
God’s dear Son,
And Heir.

You exposed yourself to death itself, and allowed yourself to be counted among criminals, while you bore the guilt of many and interceded for sinners (Isaiah 53:12; TIB).

Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son. Listen to him” (Mark 9:7; NLT).

References:

He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins (Isaiah 53:5; NLT).

At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” (Matthew 27:46; NLT).

Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last (Luke 23:46; NIV).

Reading: Isaiah 53.