Category: prayer

On the altar

Ruth Kirk

David built an altar there to the Lord (2 Samuel 24:25; NLT).

 1. Here, within this candle-flame,
Is God,
Who comes from heaven to reign.

2. Here, within this sacred bread,
His Son,
The first fruits of the dead.

3. Here, within this cup of wine,
His Spirit,
Who is truth divine.

4. Here, within this mystery,
Is God,
In perfect unity.

 

References

1. The Holy One will be a flame (Isaiah 10:17; NLT).
He will reign forever and ever (Revelation 11:15; NLT).

2. He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body” (Luke 22:19; NIV).
Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep (Corinthians 15:20; NIV).

3. He took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. And he said to them, “This is my blood” (Mark 14:23-4; NLT).
The Spirit is truth (1 John 5:6; NKJV).

4.The wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God (1 Corinthians 2:7; NLT).
The Lord our God is one (Mark 12:29; NIV).

One in Christ

Ruth Kirk

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

1. You love me, and I love you,
So, Lord, we are always one.
I love you, and you love me,
I, God’s child, and you, his Son.

2. You love me, and I love you,
Brother, sister – God’s great plan.
I love you, and you love me,
One in Him since time began.

3. You love me, and I love you,
One in life, and one in death.
I love you, and you love me,
One, Lord, in our final breath.

4. You love me, and I love you,
One, Lord, on that further shore.
I love you, and you love me,
One in God, for evermore.

References

1. To all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God (John 1:12; NLT).

2. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1; NIV).
I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb (Jeremiah 1:5; NLT).

3. In all their suffering he also suffered (Isaiah 63:9; NLT).
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me (Psalm 23:4; KJV).

4. I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one (John 17:22; NLT).

Faith

Ruth Kirk

1. Faith is more important, Lord,
Than clothes;
Than fashion, beauty, hairstyle,
Weight, or frame.

2. Hope is more important, Lord,
Than wealth;
Than status, popularity,
Or fame.

3. Love is more important, Lord,
Than food;
Than fancy diets,
Or the latest craze;

4. But You are most important, Lord,
Of all;
So I will seek your kingdom
All my days.

References

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

Do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat, nor about your body, what you shall put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing (Luke 12:22-3; RSV).

2. You cannot serve both God and money (Luke 16:13; NLT).

3. Love is the fulfilment of the law (Romans 13:10; NIV).

4. Your unfailing love is better than life itself (Psalm 63:3; NLT).

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need (Luke 12:31; NLT).

Teach me

Ruth Kirk

1. Teach me, Lord,
What you want me to learn,
And show me
All that you want me to see.

2. Tell me, Lord,
What you want me to give,
And help me
To have life abundantly.

3. Teach me, Lord,
What you want me to know,
And show me
All that you want me to do.

4. Tell me, Lord,
What you want me to say,
And help me
To grow more and more like you.

References

1. Teach me your ways, O Lord (Psalm 86:11; NLT).

2. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly (John 10:10; NRSV).

3. Show me the right path, O Lord (Psalm 25:4; NLT).

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

You never tire

Ruth Kirk

The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary (Isaiah 40:28; NIV).

1. You never tire of hearing: Lord, I love you!
You never tire of listening to my cares.
You never tire of stirring me to learn, Lord;
You never tire of answering my prayers.

2. You never tire of hearing: I rejoice, Lord!
You never tire of welcoming my praise.
You never tire of spurring me to grow, Lord;
You never tire of shepherding my ways.

3. You never tire of hearing: Father, help me!
You never tire of comforting my tears.
You never tire of sharing all my sorrows;
You never tire of lightening my fears.

4. You never tire of hearing: Lord, I’m sorry!
You never tire of helping me forgive.
You never tire of pardoning my sins, Lord;
You never tire of wanting me to live.

5. You never tire of hearing: Thank you, Father!
You never tire of giving me your Son.
You never tire of pouring out your Spirit;
You never tire of me – for we are one.

 

References

1. He hears us (1 John 5:15; NLT).
I love you, Lord; you are my strength (Psalm 18:1; NLT).

2. I rejoice in the Lord (Psalm 104:34; NLT).
The Lord is my shepherd […] He guides me along right paths (Psalm 23:1,3; NLT).

3. He helps me (Psalm 28:7; NLT).
In all their suffering he also suffered, and he personally rescued them (Isaiah 63:9; NLT).

4. I am deeply sorry for what I have done (Psalm 38:18; NLT).
My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life (John 10:10; NLT).

5. We thank you, O God (Psalm 75:1; NLT).
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 16:21; NLT).

Our wilderness

Ruth Kirk

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

Christ Jesus
Shares our wilderness,

Christ Jesus
Shares each fear.

Christ Jesus
Shares our suffering,

For he is
Always near.

Christ Jesus
Shares our pain and grief,

Christ Jesus
Shares each tear.

Christ Jesus
Shares our brokenness,

For he is
Always here.

References

Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer (Luke 5:16; NLT).

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

Shall I not drink from the cup of suffering the Father has given me? (John 18:11; NLT).

He is not far from any one of us (Acts 17:27; NLT).

Then Jesus wept (John 11:35; NLT).

You will cry out from anguish of heart and wail in brokenness of spirit (Isaiah 65:14; NIV).

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

Exile

Ruth Kirk

I sent them away to exile and brought them home again
(Ezekiel 39:28; NLT).

1. Father, we are part of you,
Till, one by one, you give us birth,
Then we must leave your glory
To be exiled on this earth.

2. Here, you give us much to learn –
Faith, forgiveness, kindness, peace –
By following your only Son,
And praying without cease.

3. When it’s time, you bring us home,
There’s nothing left for us to do
Except to be re-born in love,
And reunite with you.

References

1. I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb (Jeremiah 1:5; NLT).
He chose to give birth to us (James 1:18; NLT).
I will be a sanctuary to you during your time in exile (Ezekiel 11:16; NLT).

2. Put on your new nature, created to be like God (Ephesians 4:24; NLT).
The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-3; NLT).
Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me” (Mark 1:17; NLT).
Pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17; NIV).

3. You do not know the day or hour of my return (Matthew 25:13; NLT).
The dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7; NIV).