Category: prayer

War and peace

Ruth Kirk
Photo: Alexas_Fotos

I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war
(Psalm 120:7; NIV).

Lord,

1. Embed these words
In every soul:
I am for peace,
Though others are for war.

2. Lodge them in every heart
As our shared goal:
I am for peace,
Though others are for war.

3. Fix them in every mind
And every prayer:
I am for peace,
Though others are for war.

4. Put them in every mouth
Till all declare:
We are for peace!
Then strife will be no more.

Photo: Wikimedialimages

References

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 anymore (Isaiah 2:4; NLT).

He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever (Revelation 21:4; NLT).

In those days no one will be hurt or destroyed on my holy mountain (Isaiah 65:25; NLT).

God is love (1 John 4:16; NLT).

The Lord is peace (Judges 6:24; NLT).

Photo: Ben_Kerckx

The hopes of the helpless

Ruth Kirk
Photo: KELLEPICS

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

Lord,

1. You know the hopes
Of the helpless,

2. The dreams
Of the damaged,

3. The faith
Of the friendless,

4. And the prayers
Of the poor:

5. Hear our cries
And comfort us, we beg you;

6. Mend our bodies,
And our anxious minds;

7. Fill our hearts with care
For one another –

8. Then we will share your love,
Which heals and binds.

References

1-5. Lord, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them (Psalm 10:17; NLT).

6. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases (Psalm 103:3; NLT).

7. I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other (John 13:34; NLT).

If we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us (1 John 4:12; NIV).

8. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony (Colossians 3:14; NLT).

All one

Ruth Kirk
Photo: geralt

1. Lord,
You’re the Father of Jesus,
The Christ:
And also our Father within.

2. Mary,
Christ’s Mother, the Lady of Grace:
You’re our Mother;
Your children: our kin.

3. Immanuel,
Brother, born here on the earth:
You share in our frail flesh
And blood.

4. Comforter,
Spirit in all humankind:
You make us all one
In your love.

References

1. All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3; NLT).

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

2. God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings favoured woman!” […] You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High” (Luke 1:28,31-2; NLT).

When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home (John 19:26-7; NLT).

3. She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us’ (Matthew 1:23; NLT).

Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother (Mark 3:35; NIV).

It was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters (Hebrews 2:17; NLT).

4. The Comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and remind you of all things I said to you (John 14:26; YLT).

“In the last days,” God says, “I will pour out my Spirit upon all people” (Acts 2:17; NLT).

The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you (Romans 8:11; NLT).

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

Asking and listening

Ruth Kirk
Photo: Ruth Kirk

Lord,

1. May my prayers
Be less about asking,
And more about listening;

2. My worship
Less about speaking,
And more about waiting;

3. My witness
Less about talking,
And more about loving;

4. And my life
Less about wanting,
And more about giving.

References

1. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him (Matthew 6:8; NIV).

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

2. For God alone my soul waits in silence (Psalm 62:1; NIV).

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him (Psalm 37:7; NIV).

3. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples (John 13:35; NLT).

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them (Romans 12:9; NLT).

4. God loves a person who gives cheerfully (2 Corinthians 9:7; NLT).

Blessed are those who are generous (Proverbs 22:9; NLT).

Sorry

Ruth Kirk
Photo: kalhh

Hello, everyone, I’m so sorry to have accidentally published an unfinished prayer whilst working on it (it’s called “At the heart”). I’ve done my best to remove it, but email followers will still see it, unfortunately. I’ll try to do better as the year progresses! Hope you will all have an amazing spiritual journey in 2020, drawing closer to God each day.
With love from Ruth xxxxx

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).