Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows
(John 16:33; NLT).
1. What makes life on earth worth living?
Loving people, and forgiving;
Prayer, rejoicing, and thanksgiving –
Letting Jesus in.
2. What makes faith in Christ worth choosing?
Peace, despite the world’s abusing;
Gain, in spite of all we’re losing –
Following our King.
3. What makes trouble worth enduring?
Learning, growing, and maturing;
Meeting others, helping – turning
Minds and souls to Him.
4. What makes Jesus’ way worth taking?
Service, though our hearts are breaking –
So, choose Christ, all else forsaking,
And unite with Him.
For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him (Philippians 3:9; NLT).
References
1. My life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus – the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God (Acts 20:24; NLT).
Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; RSV).
The Lord must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion (Isaiah 30:18; NLT).
Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends (Revelation 3:20; NLT).
2. Choose today whom you will serve (Joshua 24:15; NLT).
I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid (John 14:27; NLT).
Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will leave this life. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord (Job 1:21; CSB).
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).
On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords (Revelation 19:16; NLT).
3. When troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow (James 1:2-3; NLT).
God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him (James 1:12; NLT).
Grow to maturity (2 Corinthians 13:11; NLT).
Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else (Mark 9:35; NLT).
Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone (Mark 16:15; NLT).
Each of you must repent and turn to God, and be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38; NLT).
4. 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).
Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing (Luke 23:34; NLT).
Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us (Colossians 3:11; NLT).
You also are complete through your union with Christ (Colossians 2:10; NLT).
God teaches people through suffering
and uses distress to open their eyes.
(Job 36:15; GNT).
1. You teach, and train, and test us all By sending good and ill –
2. We only hurt ourselves, Lord, When we fight against your will.
3. May we accept our suffering With joy, and thanks, and prayer,
4. Trusting you to help us grow in love, Through all we bear.
References
1. The Lord your God is testing you to see if you truly love him with all your heart and soul (Deuteronomy 13:3; NLT).
Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both good and ill go forth? (Lamentations 3:38; NASB95).
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).
2. It is useless for you to fight against my will (Acts 26:14; NLT).
You are hurting yourself by kicking against the goads (Acts 26:14; NET).
It’s foolish to fight against me! (Acts 26:14; CEV).
Submit to God and be at peace with him (Job 22:21; NIV).
3. This is my intense suffering, but I must bear it (Jeremiah 10:19; CSB).
Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; NLT).
4. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God (2 Corinthians 1:3-4; NIV).
If we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.
(Romans 8:17; NLT).
1. Take up your cross without complaint.
Shoulder it with perfect love.
Bear it well, and serve, like Christ –
Then you will share his sacrifice.
2. Take up your cross; submit to God.
Shoulder it with constant prayer. Bear it well, and do not sin –
Then you will share one mind with him.
3. Take up your cross, for God is near.
Shoulder it with thanks and joy.
Bear it well till life must cease –
Then you will share his perfect peace.
4. Take up your cross, as Jesus did.
Shoulder it with hope and praise. Bear it well: it sets you free –
Then you will share his victory.
Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne.
(Revelation 3:21; NLT).
References
1. If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me (Matthew 16:24; NLT).
The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45; NLT).
Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies (2 Corinthians 4:10; NLT).
Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me (Matthew 10:38; NIV).
2. Submit to God and be at peace with him (Job 22:21; NIV).
Pray constantly (1 Thessalonians 5:17; NIV).
We have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16; NLT).
3. He is not far from any one of us (Acts 17:27; NIV).
Always be joyful … Be thankful in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:16,18; NLT).
I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid (John 14:27; NLT).
4. As we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too (2 Corinthians 1:5; RSV).
Rejoice in so far as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed (1 Peter 4:13; RSV).
Overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us (Romans 8:37; NLT).
We come into this world with nothing, and we leave with nothing. Along the way, we experience many joys, trials and sorrows. God gives us everything we have, but he also takes things away from us. Thus, he tests us to see how we freely respond. This process reveals whether or not we love him with all our mind, heart, soul and strength.
No one is exempt from being tested by suffering, including Christ. This is why he is able to suffer with us, whilst helping us to find and follow his way of love through every experience. Jesus’ life and death clearly demonstrate that God brings good out of even the most terrible suffering, and the same can also be true for us.
2. Suffering
When others suffer, we pray that they will be strengthened, helped, and healed. Additionally, we can ask God to bring good from what they are undergoing, both for the sufferer, and for others.
However, when we ourselves must suffer, Jesus invites us to shoulder our cross and follow him. This means we have a choice about how to respond to our situation.
3. Responses to suffering
A. We may respond to suffering with resentment, anger, bitterness or despair, blaming God for the troubles he has sent us. If suffering makes it impossible for us to maintain our previous understanding of God, we are likely to become disillusioned, rejecting him, and perhaps even losing our faith altogether. Yet such inner struggles can be healed, because God endlessly waits for us to turn to him, longing to help us reach a deeper understanding of him, and of our suffering.
B. Alternatively, we can respond to suffering by learning to face, accept and even welcome it, seeing it as a way of sharing in the redemptive suffering of Christ. By adopting this approach, we can focus on asking God to help us embrace what we must undergo, for it is useless to fight against his will. As above, we can also pray that God will bring good from our suffering, especially for others. Such an attitude might take many years to develop, but we have our whole lifetime to work on it, until our last breath.
4. Entrusted with suffering
Suffering is not imposed on us without purpose. Rather we are entrusted with a level of suffering that is commensurate to the strength of our faith. Like Jesus, our task is to face it in such as way as to be an example, an encouragement and an inspiration to others. This is how God brings good from it, often in very unexpected ways.
5. Suffering as an opportunity
Suffering can therefore be understood as an opportunity for personal and spiritual growth, a form of service, a privilege, a blessing, an honour and a glory. Such an approach gives rise to a much more positive attitude than seeing it as a random or unfair event, a judgement, or a punishment. We can thank God for it, doing our very best to endure and manage our suffering with patience and love. This approach brings peace of mind, for we can be confident that our approach to suffering will help others, and even ourselves. In this way, suffering is transformed and made meaningful, becoming easier live with, and to bear.
6. Conclusion
Whatever trials and sorrows we face, we can turn to God and ask for his help. Summoning all our courage, we can choose to trust in him, whilst being as joyful, prayerful, thankful and loving as possible. When we have faith that God will support and teach us through all we experience, we can be assured that our suffering will, in time, bear fruit.
God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering (Genesis 41:52; NIV).
References
1. Introduction
Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will leave this life. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord (Job 1:21; CSB).
The dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7; NIV).
Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows (John 16:33; NLT).
The Lord your God is testing you to see if you truly love him with all your heart and soul (Deuteronomy 13:3; NLT).
Whatever you say or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law that sets you free (James 2:12; NLT).
He did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all (Romans 8:32; NLT).
Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested (Hebrews 2:18; NLT).
I am the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6; NLT).
In all their suffering he also suffered (Isaiah 63:9; NLT).
Jesus suffered and died outside the city gates to make his people holy by means of his own blood (Hebrews 13:12; NLT).
In all things God works for the good of those who love him (Romans 8:28; NIV).
2. Suffering
I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them (1 Timothy 2:1; NLT).
If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me (Matthew 16:24; NLT).
3. Responses to suffering
A. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help? (Psalm 22:1; NLT).
The Lord longs to be gracious to you (Isaiah 30:18; NIV).
The Lord must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion (Isaiah 30:18; NLT).
B. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble? (Job 2:10; NIV).
If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine (Matthew 26:39; NLT).
It is useless for you to fight against my will (Acts 26:14; NLT).
You are hurting yourself by kicking against the goads (Acts 26:14; NET).
It’s foolish to fight against me! (Acts 26:14; CEV).
If we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering (Romans 8:17; NLT).
Submit to God and be at peace with him (Job 22:21; NIV).
God teaches people through suffering and uses distress to open their eyes (Job 36:15; GNT).
Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last (Luke 23:46; NLT).
4. Entrusted with suffering
From the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked (Luke 12:48; NIV).
Every test that you have experienced is the kind that normally comes to people. But God keeps his promise, and he will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm; at the time you are put to the test, he will give you the strength to endure it (1 Corinthians 10:13; GNT).
God chose you to suffer as you follow in the footsteps of Christ, who set an example by suffering for you (1 Peter 2:21; CEV).
5. Suffering as an opportunity
God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation (James 1:12; NLT).
Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory (2 Timothy 2:10; NIV).
He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more (John 15:2; NLT).
We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope (Romans 5:3-4; NIV).
6. Conclusion
Trust in God (John 14;1; NLT).
Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; NLT).
Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ (Ephesians 5:2; NLT).
God raised Jesus Christ from the dead (1 Peter 1:3; NLT).
Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us (Colossians 3:11; NLT).
1. You’re born again, Lord, In my mind – We live as one,
Through constant prayer.
2. You’re born again, Lord,
In my heart –
We live as one,
Through spreading love.
3. You’re born again, Lord, In my soul –
We live as one
Through serving all.
4. You dwell in me,
And I in you – Together, Lord,
In all we do.
Together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory (Romans 8:17; NLT).
You also are complete through your union with Christ (Colossians 2:10; NLT).
References
1. We have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16; NLT).
Whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit (1 Corinthians 6:17; NIV).
Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us (Colossians 3:11; NLT).
Pray constantly (1 Thessalonians 5:17; NIV).
2. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith (Ephesians 3:16-17; NIV).
Supplement your faith …with love for everyone (2 Peter 1:5,7; NLT).
3. We have all been baptised into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13; NLT).
Even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others(Mark 10:45; NLT).
4. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them (1 John 4:16; NIV).
Don’t you know that your bodies are a part of Christ’s body? (1 Corinthians 6:15; CSB).
When God our Saviour revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Saviour (Titus 3:4-6; NLT).
Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends (Revelation 3:20; NLT).
The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favour with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High” (Luke 1:30-32; NIV).
1. Lord, may you be born again
Within my heart today,
Then I’ll always walk with you – My life, my truth, my way.
2. May you dwell there, full of grace, And teach me to do good,
Then I’ll grow much more like you – In faith, and hope, and love.
3. May I share your grief and pain
Within my heart each day,
Then I’ll suffer at your side – And watch, and wait, and pray.
4. Buried in my willing heart,
Then resurrected there, May we always live as one – In joy, and thanks, and prayer.
Not for deeds that we had done, but by his steadfast love alone, he saved us through a second birth, renewed us by the Spirit’s work, and poured him out upon us, too (Titus 3:5-6; ISV).
References
1. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn (Luke 2:4; KJV).
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6; NLT).
2. The child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him (Luke 2:40; NIV).
Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us (Colossians 3:11; NLT).
All of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And 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).
Three things will last forever – faith, hope, and love – and the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:13; NLT).
3. Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons,James and John, and he became anguished and distressed. He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me” (Matthew 26:36-8; NLT).
If we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering (Romans 8:17; NLT).
4. The place of crucifixion was near a garden, where there was a new tomb, never used before. And so, because it was the day of preparation for the Jewish Passover and since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there (John 19:41-2; NLT).
Then the disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in, and he saw and believed – for until then they still hadn’t understood the Scriptures that said Jesus must rise from the dead (John 20:8; NLT)
Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying” (John 11:25; NLT).
I am with you every day, even unto the end of time (Matthew 28:20; ABPE).
For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him (Philippians 3:8-9; NLT).
Whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit (1 Corinthians 6:17; NIV).
You are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28; NLT).
Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; NLT).
Many of us pray for peace, so I thought it might be helpful to group together my prayers on this subject. These posts are in date order, starting with the most recent.
Heal our hatred (10.5.22)
“O Lord,” I prayed, “have mercy on me. Heal me, for I have sinned against you” (Psalm 31:4; NLT).
1. Lord,
Heal our hatred
With your love,
Our lies and boasting
With your breath;
Our lust for power
With your tears,
Our cruelty
With your distress.
2. Lord,
Heal our malice
With your blood,
Our greed and envy
With your pain;
Our barbarism
With your death:
Then we will all
Be whole again.
He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole (Isaiah 53:5; NLT).
🖤
I pray for peace 2.5.22.
Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it (Psalm 34:14; NIV).
I pray for peace in every mind,
In every heart, Lord,
Every soul.
May every life be filled with peace –
Forgive us;
Make us whole.
I pray that peace will reign on earth.
Lord, hear me:
Bring an end to war!
May every nation live in peace –
Today,
And evermore.
He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war any more (Isaiah 2:4; NIV).
🖤
Sad and angry 23.4.22.
The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. Do all these evildoers know nothing? They devour my people as though eating bread; they never call on the Lord (Psalm 14:2-4; NIV).
How sad and angry
You must be
To witness
All our cruelty,
Our hate,
And inhumanity –
Our lack of love,
Lord God.
I beg you For a halt to strife,
Respect
For every human life,
Forgiveness,
And an end to war –
Then peace will reign
For evermore.
The Lord will mediate between nations and will settle international disputes. They will hammer their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer fight against nation, nor train for war any more (Isaiah 2:4; NLT).
His government and its peace will never end (Isaiah 9:7; NLT).
🖤
Easter Saturday 16.4.22
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).
Lord,
I pray for peace, not war,
For kindness, Father, evermore,
For self-control in every mind: Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done.
Lord,
I beg for joy, not war,
For patience, Father, evermore,
For gentleness in every heart: Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done.
Lord, I plead for love, not war,
For goodness, Father, evermore,
For faithfulness in every soul: Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done (Matthew 6:10; KJV).
🖤
Good Friday 15.4.22.
Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you (Luke 6:27-8; NIV).
Beyond all torment, come what may,
Is Christ,
Who shows us how to pray.
Beyond all darkness and distress
Is Christ,
Who teaches us to bless.
Beyond all anguish, hate, and blood
Is Christ,
Who teaches us to love.
Beyond all hunger, thirst, and pain
Is Christ,
Who died, and rose again.
Beyond all terror, grief, and war
Is Christ,
Who lives for evermore.
I died, and behold I am alive for evermore (Revelation 1:18; RSV).
🖤
Hearts of stone 6.4.22.
Surrender your pride and power. Change your hearts before the Lord, or my anger will burn like an unquenchable fire because of all your sins (Jeremiah 4:4; NLT).
Take away our hearts of stone, Our foolishness and pride:
Please give us tender hearts of flesh –
Your teaching, Lord, our guide.
Take away our hearts of flint, Our anger, hate and greed:
Then give us gentle, loving hearts –
Your pattern, Lord, our creed.
Take away our hearts of ice,
Our senseless use of force:
And give us warm, responsive hearts –
Your gospel, Lord, our source.
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 (Ezekiel 36:26; NLT).
🖤
Even when… 4.4.22.
Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you …
Even when we don’t trust others, Father, may we offer peace.
Even when they hate and curse us, May we serve them, doing good.
Even when we fear them deeply, May we help and bless them all,
And even when they treat us badly, May we pray for them, with love.
… pray for those who mistreat you (Luke 6:27-8; NIV).
🖤
World-wide justice 3.4.22.
Let true justice prevail (Deuteronomy 16:20; NLT).
We pray for world-wide justice, Lord:
For shame about the lies we’ve spun;
For confession, and contrition
As we weep for what we’ve done.
We pray for widespread mercy, Lord: For sorrow that we’ve used brute force;
For repentance, and forgiveness
As we face our deep remorse.
We pray for global fairness, Lord: For readiness to love our foe;
For penance, and for reparation
As we pay back all we owe.
We pray for perfect wisdom, Lord:
For faith and hope; an end to war;
For reconciliation, truth
And peace on earth, for evermore.
The Lord will mediate between nations and will settle international disputes. They will hammer their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer fight against nation, nor train for war any more (Isaiah 2:4; NLT).
🖤
Beyond all weariness 27.3.22.
All glory to him who alone is God, our Saviour through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! (Jude 1:25; NLT).
Beyond all weariness and pain
Is Christ, who died, and rose again.
Beyond all worry and dismay Is Christ, who teaches us to pray.
Beyond all anguish and despair
Is Christ, who shows us how to care.
Beyond all fear and loss of hope
Is Christ, who always helps us cope.
Beyond all ignorance and sin
Is Christ, the Lord, who dwells within.
Beyond all darkness, war, and strife
Is Christ, who gives eternal life.
He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good (Romans 2:7; NLT).
🖤
Pray for peace 19.3.22.
I will pray for peace (Psalm 122:8; CEV).
I pray for peace in every mind,
That pride and hate will always fail,
That all will turn to you at last, Lord God,
And faith prevail.
I pray for joy in every heart,
That rage and greed will always fail,
That you will reign in every life, Lord God,
And hope prevail.
I pray for truth in every soul,
That lies and force will always fail,
That all will grow in unity, Lord God, And love prevail.
Three things will last forever – faith, hope, and love – and the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:13; NLT).
🖤
A prayer for peace 18.3.22.
Let true justice prevail (Deuteronomy 16:20; NLT).
Father, May your justice reign,
Your wisdom bring
An end to pain;
Your truth be praised,
Your kingdom come,
Your peace prevail – Your will be done.
May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10; NET).
🖤
Save us! 17.3.22.
Lord, save us! (Matthew 8:25; NLT).
Jesus,
Save us from ourselves,
For we are ignorant and weak.
The last thing we remember, Lord, is: Blessed are the meek.
Jesus,
Save us from ourselves,
For we are always wanting more.
The last thing we consider, Lord, is: Blessed are the poor.
Jesus,
Save us from ourselves,
For we pursue what makes us glad.
The last thing we acknowledge, Lord, is: Blessed are the sad.
Jesus,
Save us from ourselves,
For we are blind, and immature.
The last thing we reflect on, Lord, is: Blessed are the pure.
I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 18:3; NLT).
🖤
Fire against fire 16.3.22.
Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom (Luke 21:10; NLT).
Fire against fire,
And hate against hate;
Fear against fear:
Lord, it’s too late!
Hope beyond hope,
And light beyond light;
Strength beyond strength:
Lord, you are life!
Peace upon peace,
And good upon good;
Truth upon truth:
Lord, you are love!
God is love (1 John 4:8; NLT).
🖤
A prayer for us all 12.3.22.
I will give you a new heart and I will put a new spirit in you. I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26; NIV).
Lord,
Remove our stony hearts –
Give us new hearts, of flesh.
Please take our greed and hate away –
Help us to start afresh.
Lord,
Remove our cold, hard minds –
Give us the mind of Christ.
Please take our selfishness away –
Show us your sacrifice.
Lord,
Remove our iron souls –
So we can share all pain.
Please take our love of power away –
May we be born again.
Unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God (John 3:3; NLT).
🖤
A prayer for President Putin 8.2.22.
You do not realise that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked (Revelation 3:17; NIV).
Lord,
Remove his stony heart
And give him a heart of flesh.
Take his hate and greed away –
Help him to start afresh.
Lord,
Remove his hard, cold mind
And give him the mind of Christ.
Take his lust for power away –
Show him your sacrifice.
Lord,
Remove his iron soul
So he can share our pain.
Take his ruthlessness away –
May he be born again.
Unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God (John 3:3; NLT).
🖤
Truth beyond falsehood 9.3.22.
Save me! Rescue me from the power of my enemies. Their mouths are full of lies; they swear to tell the truth, but they lie instead (Psalm 144:11; NLT).
Truth beyond falsehood,
Hope beyond fear,
Peace beyond battle – Lord, you are here.
Joy beyond terror, Wine beyond gall,
Life beyond bondage – Love, beyond all.
Three things will last forever – faith, hope, and love – and the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:13; NLT).
🖤
The song of the dead 8.3.22.
No longer will you need the sun to shine by day, nor the moon to give its light by night, for the Lord your God will be your everlasting light (Isaiah 60:19; NLT).
Father, brighter than the sun,
Jesus, every battle won,
Spirit, all your work is done: We love you.
Lord, we walked the path you trod,
You, our guide, with staff and rod,
Leading us straight back to God: We love you.
Every enemy outrun,
Here, no hatred, fear, or gun,
All will live in union: We love you.
Father, we have run our race,
Jesus, we can see your face,
Spirit, overwhelming grace: We love you.
Lord, in paradise, at last,
Every pain and grief is past,
You have saved us, held us fast: We love you.
Now, our joy, Lord, has begun,
Now, we hear you say: Well done!
Now, we know you, Three-In-One, And love you.
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).
🖤
We are wretched 4.3.22.
All the days of the oppressed are wretched (Proverbs 15:15; NIV).
Father,
We are wretched,
Pitiful and weak,
For we have been invaded,
And the strong oppress the meek.
Father,
We are anxious, Hungry, thirsty, poor,
For we are now blockaded,
And the strong despise your law.
Father,
We are homeless,
Distressed in heart and mind,
Yet everyone is fragile,
And all lives are intertwined.
Father,
We are battered
By hardship, bomb and gun,
But weak and strong are suffering –
For all of us are one.
There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28; NLT).
🖤
A prayer for President Putin 2.3.22.
Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you (Luke 6:27-8; NIV).
Father,
I pray that President Putin will come to his senses, repent and turn to you, and that you will forgive his sins.
May he follow Christ, taking him as his way, truth and life, his Teacher, example and guide.
Please heal him in mind, heart and soul. May he be born again, and be filled with your Holy Spirit.
I pray that he will come to know, accept, and return, your perfect love.
May he recognise and love you in every human being, and in this astonishing world you have created – the only place in which we, your people, can live together.
Thank you for hearing my prayer, Lord.
I ask all this in your dear Son’s name. Amen.
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love (1 John 4:8; NIV).
🖤
Hear my heartfelt prayer 28.2.22.
Hear my prayer, O Lord, and let my cry come unto thee (Psalm 102:1; KJV).
Hear my heartfelt prayer, Lord God:
End our greed and hatred.
Take away our minds of stone,
And make our thinking like your own:
Loving; joyous; full of peace – Help us, I implore you.
Hear my earnest prayer, Lord God:
Turn us from all evil.
Take away our hearts of stone,
And make our passions like your own:
Patient; kindly; generous – Till everyone adores you.
Hear my urgent prayer, Lord God:
Forgive our sins; have mercy.
Take away our souls of stone,
And give us spirits like your own:
Faithful; gentle; self-controlled – Then all will bow before you.
Bow down and worship the Lord (Ezekiel 46:3; NLT).
🖤
Prayer for peace 24.2.22.
Friends, let us pray for peace in Ukraine, and for peace in President Putin’s heart:
I pray that President Putin will become a Christian through revelation, as Saint Paul did, that he will suddenly come to his senses, realise what he’s doing to his fellow human beings, repent, and experience a profound conversion of mind, heart and soul.
I ask all this in Jesus’ blessed name. Amen.
They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the Lord (Isaiah 65:25; KJV).
I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid (John 14:27; NLT).
1. This is your promised peace, Lord God;
This is the place to be.
I wouldn’t miss out for all the world: This is the place for me.
2. This is your shrine; your resting-place;
I am your devotee,
Sitting with others in silence, Lord,
Knowing you hear each plea.
3. We are your flesh; your beating heart;
You are the door; the key.
Gazing on you, Lord, we are one
With each other, with all, and with Thee.
🖤
For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him (Philippians 3:9; NLT).
References
1. Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. Her husband died when they had been married only seven years. Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshipping God with fasting and prayer (Luke 2:36-7; NLT)
“Son,” his mother said to him, “why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere.” “But why did you need to search?” he asked. “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:48-9; NLT).
Let me live forever in your sanctuary, safe beneath the shelter of your wings (Psalm 61:4; NLT).
2. The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him(Habakkuk 2:20; NRSV).
Be silent before the Sovereign Lord (Zephaniah 1:7; NIV).
I love the Lord, because he hears my voice and my pleas (Psalm 116:1; NASB20).
3. All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it (1 Corinthians 12:27; NLT).
I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture (John 10:9; KJV).
This is the message from the one who is holy and true, the one who has the key of David. What he opens, no one can close (Revelation 3:7; NLT).
You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life (Deuteronomy 30:20; NLT).
I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory (Psalm 63:2; NLT).
I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one (John 17:22; NLT).
Whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit (1 Corinthians 6:17; NIV).
You are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28; NLT).
