In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God(Romans 8:26-7; NIV).
My prayers are in your hand, Lord God;
My prayers are in your hand:
Your Spirit prays on my behalf,
For I’m at your command.
When you bring pleasure, I rejoice;
When insight, I receive;
When you bring others’ pain to mind,
You help me intercede.
When you bring silence, I am hushed;
When you reprove, repent;
When you bring stillness, I’m at rest;
When peace, Lord, I’m content.
My thoughts are in your hand, Lord God,
My words and actions, too;
My life is in your hands, and so
I give my self to you.
I give myself to you (Psalm 86:4; NLT).
References
Our lives are in his hands (Psalm 66:9; NLT).
The life of every living thing is in his hand, and the breath of every human being (Job 12:10; NLT).
I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine (Song of Songs 2:16; NIV).
You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am (John 13:13; NLT).
Please teach us
Full repentance, Lord,
For all we’ve done,
And failed to do.
Then we will live
In total freedom
Here, on earth,
Dear Lord, with you.
Please teach us
Full acceptance, Lord,
Of all you give,
And all you take.
Then we will live
Abundantly
In heaven on earth, Lord,
For your sake.
Please teach us Full assurance, Lord,
That we, like you,
Will rise again.
Then we will live
With thankful hearts,
And bow, rejoicing,
At your name.
God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:10-11; NLT).
Early yesterday morning, as I sleepily finished saying the Lord’s Prayer and began to pray for the people who scammed us last week, the first four lines and the shape of today’s poem struck me very forcefully.
From within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you (Mark 7:21-23; NLT).
It’s better to be tricked
Than to trick others.
It’s better to be hated
Than to hate.
It’s better, Lord, to suffer
Than to lie, and cheat, and steal,
But better still to feel ashamed –
Before it’s far too late.
It’s better to be kind
Than to be angry.
It’s better to be patient
Than to rage.
It’s better to be martyred
Than to harm, abuse, or kill,
But best of all is to repent –
For You, alone, can save.
Our God is a God who saves! The Sovereign LORD rescues us from death (Psalm 68:20; NLT).
References
Verse 1
If your hand – even your stronger hand – causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell (Matthew 5:30; N,T).
Abraham said to him, “Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish. And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there” (Luke 16:25-6; NLT).
Verse 2
Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law (Romans 13:10; 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).
From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near” (Matthew 4:17; NLT).
Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins (Acts 2:38; NLT).
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15; NLT).
There is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away! (Luke 15:7; NLT).
My husband and I are still exhausted because of all that has been happening over the last few days (see yesterday’s blog, https://wp.me/p45bCr-7h4 for details). So for today’s blog I’ve chosen some short verses which came to me last year. They express my daily prayer for everyone who visits this website.
Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near” (Matthew 4:17; NLT).
May those who see this prayer
Begin to read,
And those who stay to read
Begin to pray.
May those who pray, repent, Lord,
And believe,
Then turn to You,
And follow every day.
Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me” (Mark 8:34; NLT).
This prayer came to me silently and insistently yesterday morning:
It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me (Galatians 2:20; NLT).
Lord,
Please take me over fully:
Mind and body, heart and soul;
Then pray on my behalf: I beg
That all the world will be made whole.
Lord,
Please pray within me, always:
Mind and body, heart and soul.
May all repent and turn to you:
Forgive us, save us, and console.
Lord,
Please live in me forever:
Mind and body, heart and soul.
Let’s pray for peace throughout the world Together: that’s my foremost goal.
I will pray for peace (Psalm 122:8; CEV).
References
This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ (Ephesians 4:13; NLT).
We do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself asks on our behalf with ineffable sighing (Romans 8:26; CPDV).
From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near” (Matthew 4:17; NLT).
Help us, O God of our salvation! Help us for the glory of your name. Save us and forgive our sins for the honor of your name (Psalm 79:9; NLT).
As a mother consoles a child, so I will console you (Isaiah 66:13; NET).
I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you (John 14:20; NLT).
Pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17; NIV).
I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security (Jeremiah 33:6; NIV).
Christ Pantocrator, a photo of an icon on my bedroom wall, author unknown.
Just as I reached the end of my few spoken prayers yesterday morning, today’s verses began to flow into my mind. I had to postpone falling silent, so I could write them down.
Their rhythm might sound a bit odd if you read them as a poem, but they fit the tune of my favourite childhood Sunday School chorus, “Turn your eyes towards Jesus”. I tried to include a YouTube link to it, but failed.
The original moving, meditative song was written by Helen Lemmel, in 1918. Her words are available on Google, but I don’t want to risk breaching copyright by quoting them here.
Instead, here is a recording of me singing today’s prayer to her tune. Please forgive my weak voice and shortness of breath:
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).
Take a step towards Jesus,
Turn to his Father, repent,
Then relinquish selfishness,
Take your cross,
And follow the Saviour
God sent.
Christ forgives every trespass,
Taking away all your sin,
Then He sets you free
For abundant life,
As you grow every day
More like Him.
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).
References
Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized 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).
God so loved the world, that he even gave his only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world should be saved by him (John 3:16-17; LB).
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10; NIV).
As we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world (1 John 4:17; NLT).
This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ (Ephesians 4:13; NLT).
We will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ (Ephesians 4:15; NLT).
Today’s prayer came to me last Friday morning, very soon after waking up. I welcomed it immediately, and went with its flow. It summarises everything I’ve been learning about God’s forgiveness over the last few weeks, and throughout my whole life.
As I mentioned yesterday (https://wp.me/p45bCr-dR3), being forgiven is a very difficult subject for me. I didn’t experience forgiveness as a child, and have never understood it, or been able to believe in it, or to feel it for myself, then move on. Fortunately, despite this, I can readily offer forgiveness to others.
How kind the LORD is! How good he is! So merciful, this God of ours! (Psalm 116:5; NLT).
Yahweh,
You are merciful,
And kind.
So when I face my sins, Lord,
And repent,
And when I’m honest with those I’ve hurt,
And tell them what I’ve done,
And when I say I’m sorry, Lord,
And try to put things right:
Then, you forgive me,
Wiping out my sin;
Then, you remember
Each new wrong no more,
Loving me still, Lord, Just as you did before.
He loves us with unfailing love; the LORD’s faithfulness endures forever (Psalm 117:2; NLT).
References
If you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God (Matthew 5:23-4; NLT).
Forget the events of the past, ignore the things of long ago. Look, I am doing something new! Now it springs forth – can’t you see it? I’m making a road in the desert and setting rivers to flow in the wasteland (Isaiah 43:18-19; TIB).
He forgives all my sins (Psalm 103; 3; NLT).
Who am I? I’m the one who wipes out your offenses! For my own sake, I do not remember your wrongs (Isaiah 43:25; TIB).
I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins (Isaiah 43:25; NKJV).
God’s hand was on the people of Israel (2 Chronicles 30:12; NLT).
Father,
Lay your loving hand
On every mind today.
Please call us to repent
And turn to you.
Jesus,
Lay your loving hand
On every heart today.
Please touch us, heal us all,
And make us new.
Spirit,
Lay your loving hand
On every soul today.
Please fill us with your breath,
And cleanse us, too.
Yahweh,
Lay your loving hand
On every life today,
Then we will serve with love,
In all we do.
Do everything with love (1 Corinthians 16:4; NLT).
The Rosary Hospital
Yesterday I made a first communion rosary, using the restored centrepiece I mentioned a day or two ago. It’s not quite finished, but here it is so far:
Yesterday I woke very early, which gave me lots of time to pray and write. This is what I was given:
Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us? (Luke 24:32; NLT).
May every human heart, Lord, burn,
And may we take your hand, and cling,
Accepting all that life will bring
Each day.
May every human heart repent,
And ask you to forgive our sin,
Embracing you, our closest kin,
Each day.
May every human heart rejoice,
And follow you, our Shepherd King,
The One from whom new life will spring
Each day.
Everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life (1 Corinthians 15:22; NLT).
References
The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away. May the name of the LORD be blessed! (Job 1:21; NET).
Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near (Matthew 4:17; NLT).
Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother (Matthew 12:50; NLT).
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).
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep (John 10:11; NLT).
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-3; ESV).
He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them (2 Corinthians 5:15; NLT).
We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life (Romans 6:4; NIV).
Fun with fermentation
Alongside writing and making rosaries, I love making fermented foods. Recently I began making fermented oats, which are delicious, and have lots of probiotic health benefits. Here is a photo of my second fermentation, which I started yesterday:
I’ve also just begun making my first ever leaven (yeast), by fermenting raisins. It’s so interesting to watch the process, and to see the changes every day with these living foods:
