Category: prayer

Thank you

Ruth Kirk

Thank him for all he has done (Philippians 4:6; NLT).

1. Thank you, Lord,
For your example,
Patience, goodness,
Care.

2. Thank you, Lord,
For your forgiveness,
Kindness, healing,
Prayer.

3. Thank you, Lord,
For your atonement,
Courage, body,
Blood.

4. Thank you, Lord,
For your salvation,
Guidance, comfort,
Love.

References

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

2. Through this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins (Acts 13:38; NLT).

3. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood (Romans 3:25; NIV).

4. He [Jesus] became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him (Hebrews 5:9; NLT). 

Christian contemplation made simple

Ruth Kirk

Photo by Rawdon Hayne, with many thanks.

We all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image (2 Colossians 3:18; NIV).

Contemplation is the slow, patient repetition of these steps:

1. Make yourself comfortable, sitting or lying in a place where you will not be disturbed.

2. Ask God to bless your time of contemplation.

3. Rest in God’s presence within and around you.

4. Focus your mind, heart and soul on loving God, drinking him in with every in-breath.

5. Repeat, ‘Abba’, or ‘Father’, silently, on every out-breath.

6. When anything comes into your mind, pray about it briefly and simply. Just a sentence or two is all that’s needed.

7. Then leave the matter in God’s hands, letting it go completely. He knows all about it.

8. Return to resting quietly in him, as before.

9. When you are ready to stop, thank God for your period of contemplation, then continue with your day.

References

1. Sit alone in silence (Lamentations 3:28; NIV).

2. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord (Psalm 19:14; NLT).

3. You are the temple of the living God (Luke 17:21; NKJV).

Surely the Lord is in this place, and I wasn’t even aware of it (Genesis 28:16; NLT).

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

5. God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father” (Galatians 4:6; NLT).

6. Pray about everything (Philippians 4:6; NLT).

When you pray, don’t babble on (Matthew 6:7; NLT).

7. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord (Psalm 139:4; NLT).

8. Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength (Isaiah 30:15; NLT).

9. Thank him for all he has done (Philippians 4:6; NLT).

You poured your teaching out

Ruth Kirk

My life is poured out like water
(Psalm 22:14; NLT).

1. Lord,
You poured your teaching out:
Stories,
Guidance,
Prayer.

2. Lord,
You poured your blessings out:
Friendship,
Patience,
Care.

3. Lord,
You poured your mercy out:
Pardon,
Healing,
Love.

4. Lord,
You poured your Spirit out:
Anguish,
Pleading,
Blood.

References

1. He taught them by telling many stories in the form of parables (Mark 4:2; NLT).

2. Lord you poured out blessings on your land (Psalm 85:1; NLT).

3. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he richly poured out on us (Ephesians 1:7-8; CSB).

4. My spirit is poured out in agony (Lamentations 2:11; NLT).

He was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood (Luke 22:44; NLT).

While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death (Hebrews 5:7; NLT).

This is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice for many (Mark 14:24; NLT).

Little prayers

Ruth Kirk


This set of little prayers came to me whilst I was asleep. As I woke up, I could still hear the words being spoken aloud in my mind. Grabbing my ipad, I started writing them down immediately, as I knew from experience that they would disappear within seconds. Each prayer can be used at a specific moment, or said repeatedly in difficult situations.

1. When I wake to face each day:
Lord, I’m yours; you are my way.

2. When I hear your gentle voice:
Lord, I’m yours; you are my choice.

3. When I am about to eat:
Lord, I’m yours; this is a feast.

4. When I pray to you at night:
Lord, I’m yours; you are my light.

5. When I want to judge, and win:
Lord, I’m yours; forgive my sin.

6. When I suffer fear and pain:
Lord, I’m yours; I praise your name.

7. When I think I’m going to drown:
Lord, I’m yours; don’t let me down.

8. When I kneel before your cross:
Lord, I‘m yours, but I am dross.

9. When I see you, risen, scarred:
Lord, I’m yours, though life is hard.

10. When I share your bread and wine:
Lord, I’m yours, and you are mine.

References

1. I am the way (John 14:6; NLT).

2. I am yours (Psalm 119:94; NLT).

3. You prepare a feast for me (Psalm 23:5; NLT).

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

5. He forgives all my sins (Psalm 103:3; NLT).

6. The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord (Job 1:21; NIV).

7. Lord, save us! We’re going to drown (Matthew 8:25; NLT).

8. O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner (Luke 18:13; NLT).

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

10. My beloved is mine and I am his (Song of Songs 2:16; NIV).

Our way of life

Ruth Kirk


You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self […];
to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self,
created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
(Ephesians 4:22-4; NIV).

1. Father God,
May constant prayer
Become our way of life.

2. Father,
May the search for peace and truth
Be our delight.

3. Father,
May our simple acts of care
Set hearts aflame.

4. Father,
May we spread your love,
So others bless your name.

References

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

You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence (Psalm 16:11; NLT).

2. Search for peace, and work to maintain it (Psalm 34:14; NLT).

Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone (Romans 12:18; NLT).

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

The meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace (Psalm 37:11; NKJV).

3. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love (Hebrews 10:24; NLT).

4. Love your neighbour as yourself (Mark 12:31; NLT).

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

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

Love your enemies (Matthew 5:44; NIV).

May everyone on earth bless his holy name forever and ever (Psalm 145:21; NLT).

Prayer

Ruth Kirk

Prayer is much less about what we want to say to God,
And much more about what he wants to say to us.

This is because before a word is on our lips,
Or a thought comes into our minds,
Or a longing enters our hearts,

He already knows it
Completely!

References

Be still and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10; NIV).

Stand in silence in the presence of the Sovereign Lord (Zephaniah 1:7; NLT).

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

Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand! (Matthew 11:15; NLT).

Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely (Psalm 139:4; NIV).

I know everything that comes into your minds (Ezekiel 11:5; NLT).

He knows the secrets of every heart (Psalm 44:21; NLT).

Our soul

Ruth Kirk

We have all been baptised into one body by one Spirit,
and we all share the same Spirit.
(1 Corinthians 12:13; NLT).

Lord, our soul is you within us all (1).

You make us, breathe your soul into us, and give us life (2).

You dwell in us, and we in you, though we may never recognise your presence (3).

When we die, our soul returns to you, though in truth it has never been separated from you, for you are indivisible. The whole of you dwells in every one of us, and never leaves us (4).

No matter what we might prefer to think, we are always united with one another and with you, through Christ, your Son (5).

We do not each have a separate soul, unique to ourselves. There is only one soul, which is your Holy Spirit, shared forever by us all: those not yet born, those who are alive, and those who have died (6).

In the light of our neglected, yet primordial, oneness, and given the extremely serious state of international relations, climate change, and our widespread religious, political and personal inhumanity towards one another, here is today’s prayer:

Help us to grasp our oneness, Lord,
With you,

By loving you
In all creation:

Creatures,
People,

Earth, sky,
And ourselves.

We ask this through
Your dear Son’s name.

Amen (7).

References

1. You are the temple of the living God (2 Corinthians 6:16; NLT).

2. There is a spirit within people, the breath of the Almighty within them (Job 32:8; NLT).

3. There is […] one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all (Ephesians 4:5-6; NLT).

In him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28, NIV).

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God” (Psalm 14:1; NIV).

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

God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5; NIV).

The Lord is one (Mark 12:29; NIV).

5. 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 (John 17:21; NLT).

You are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28; NLT).

6. God is Spirit (John 4:24; NLT).

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

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

Those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed […] into immortal bodies (1 Corinthians 15:52-3; NLT).

7. You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength [and] Love your neighbour as yourself. No other commandment is greater than these (Mark 12:30-31; NLT).