Category: Prayer

Don’t pretend

Ruth Kirk

God knows all our thoughts, and the secrets of our hearts. High-flown prayers, self-justification, minimisation, pretence, concealment, hypocrisy, and outright untruths are all completely pointless with God. NB: They don’t make for good, honest relationships, or good mental health either!

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

When praying, don’t pretend
And don’t conceal.
Be genuine and real,
So Christ can heal.

When praying, don’t tell lies
Or hide your doubt.
Be congruent with Christ,
Inside and out!

When praying, be yourself,
For he is near.
Just speak the truth in love,
And he will hear.

When praying, be yourself,
Just as you are –
And make the Son of God
Your guiding star.

I am the bright morning star (Revelation 22:16; NLT).

I have given you an example to follow (John 13:15; NLT).

References

You know my thoughts (Psalm 139:2, NLT).

You know my heart (Jeremiah 12:3, NLT).

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

He hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him (1 John 5:14, NLT).

Speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15, NLT).

Freedom to Be

Ruth Kirk

If the Son sets you free, you are truly free (John 8:36; NLT).

It’s okay to be how we are,
And okay to feel as we feel.
It’s okay to think our own thoughts,
And okay to pray how we pray.

There’s no other way we should be,
And no other way we should feel.
There’s no other way we should think,
And no other prayer we should say.

So be how you are: it will change,
And feel how you feel: it will shift.
Notice your thoughtflow, and pray your own truth –
For freedom, through Christ, is God’s gift.

The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23; NLT).

My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life (John 10:10; NLT).

References

Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law (Galatians 5:1; NLT).

You have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love (Galatians 5:13; NLT).

God

Ruth Kirk

God sits above the circle of the earth (Isaiah 40:22; NLT).

God above us,
Brooding, wise:
You hear each cry of grief,
Each breath.

God beside us,
Here on earth:
You give all beings
Life and death.

God in every
Heart and soul:
You are our pearl,
Our King of kings.

God amongst us,
We are one:
Please shelter us
Beneath your wings.

Let me live forever in your sanctuary, safe beneath the shelter of your wings (Psalm 61:4; NLT).

Shared healing

Ruth Kirk

Today in prayer, I saw clearly that we need to work with Jesus in order to bring about the healing of our wounded inner child.

One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him. When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said to them, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children …

Son of Man,
We share one mind:
Let’s listen to my inner child
Together.

Lamb of God,
We share one heart:
Let’s lift and hold my inner child
Together.

Shepherd King,
We share one soul:
Let’s bless and heal my inner child
Together.

Lord, my God,
We share this life:
Let’s teach and love my inner child
Together.

… I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them (Mark 10:13-16; NLT).

References

I am the good shepherd (John 10:11; NLT).

He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young (Isaiah 40:11; NLT).

Reading: Psalm 23.

Together

Ruth Kirk

The LORD is in his holy temple. Let all the earth be silent before him (Habakkuk 2:20; NLT).

In silent praise and wordless prayer:
Christ is with us, very near.

In private grief and hidden loss:
He weeps beside us, always here.

In untold stress and unseen pain:
Jesus is our friend and kin.

In secret fear and deepest dread:
He shares it all – our God, within.

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

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

References

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

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

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

Reciprocity

Ruth Kirk

Everything comes from him; everything happens through him; everything ends up in him (Romans 11:36; TM).

Prayer is what we say to God –
And what God says to us.

Faith is what we seek from God –
And what God seeks from us.

Pain is what we share with God –
And what God shares with us.

Thirst is how we long for God –
And how God longs for us.

Love is how we live in God –
And how God lives in us.

Life is what God gives to us –
And what God takes from us.

The LORD gives both death and life (1 Samuel 2:8; NLT).

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

Easter Monday 2026

Ruth Kirk

In prayer on Easter Day, I suddenly saw that since Christ’s death on the cross he is resurrected in our bodies, minds, hearts and souls. All we need to do is to recognise  him.

Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him (Luke 24:31; NLT; my emphasis).

My goal is to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings (Philippians 3:10; CSB).

Your resurrection, Lord,
Is in each soul –
You are the God who died
To make us whole.

Living within our hearts and minds
You weep –
Sharing our sorrows
When the way is steep.

Here, in our flesh and blood
You make us One –
One with each other,
And with you, God’s Son.

You are the King of kings
Whose love is sweet –
You are the One
Who makes our lives complete.

May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God (Ephesians 3:19; NLT).

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

References

Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world (John 16:33; NLT).

Jesus told them, “You will indeed drink from my bitter cup and be baptized with my baptism of suffering” (Mark 10:39; NLT).

Rejoice that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed at the revelation of His glory (1Peter 4:13; CSB).

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, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead! (Philippians 3:8-11; NLT).

Don’t you know that your bodies are a part of Christ’s body? (1 Corinthians 6:15; CSB).

We have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16; NLT).

I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations (Ezekiel 36:26-7; NLT).

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

Healing

Ruth Kirk

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

In prayer,
We peel away our masks,
Revealing all the dread
We try to hide.

In prayer,
We loosen up our minds,
Disclosing all the thoughts
We keep inside.

In prayer,
We open up our hearts,
Releasing the emotions
We conceal.

In prayer,
We set our spirits free,
Exposing all our wounds
For you to heal.

He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds (Psalm 147:3; NLT).

Good Friday 2026

Ruth Kirk

If you are walking in darkness, without a ray of light, trust in the LORD and rely on your God (Isaiah 50:10; NLT).

When there’s no joy,
But only grief;
When there’s no peace,
But only pain;

When there’s no wine,
But only thirst;
When there’s no rest,
But only dread;

When there’s no light,
But only faith;
When there’s no help,
But only hope;

When there’s no choice,
But only death –
Just follow Christ,
And trust in God.

Follow me and be my disciple (Matthew 9:9; NLT).

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).

Trust in God (John 14:1; NLT).

References

Then at three o’clock Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” (Mark 15:34; NLT).

Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last (Luke 23:46; NLT).

My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever (Psalm 73:26; NLT).

Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe (John 20:29; CSB).

Reading: Habakkuk 3:17-19; NLT.

Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign LORD is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.

Let them criticise

Ruth Kirk

Some readers will be aware that last year I was subjected to vicious personal criticism from someone calling themselves a “theologian”. It is taking me a long time to heal from their lengthy and repeated attacks, which began without warning. Today’s blog shows where I am at the moment in terms of dealing with the damage they did to me. With love from Ruth xxx

They hated me without reason (John 15:25; NIV).

Let them criticise
And censure;
Take my life apart,
Condemn.

Scorn my faith,
Reject my writing;
Mock my prayers:
The gifts you send.

Trash my aims,
Destroy my peace,
And fill my heart
With endless dread:

Yet will I love them –
That’s my goal –
And beg you, Lord,
To make them whole.

Let love be your highest goal (1 Corinthians 14:1; NLT).

Reference

Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign LORD is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights (Habakkuk 3:17:19; NLT).