Category: repent

13.1.24: Call us

Ruth Kirk
Skitterphoto (modified by R.K.): Pixabay.

I am the LORD, the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name (Isaiah 45:3; NLT).

Lord,

Please call us all by name,
And teach us to make peace.

Help us to end our foolish wars;
Make greed and hatred cease.

May we repent; forgive our sins,
And fill us with your light –

For you create us all, and we
Are precious in your sight.

Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful servants (Psalm 116:15; NIV).

Reference 

I am tired of living among people who hate peace. I search for peace; but when I speak of peace, they want war! (Psalm 120:6; NLT).

Keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies! Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it (Psalm 34:13-14; NLT).

Let them make peace with me; yes, let them make peace with me (Isaiah 27:5; NLT).

If you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight were filling you with light (Luke 11:36; NLT).

God, the LORD, created the heavens and stretched them out. He created the earth and everything in it. He gives breath to everyone, life to everyone who walks the earth (Isaiah 42:5; NLT).

The eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is clear [spiritually perceptive, focused on God], your whole body also is full of light [benefiting from God’s precepts]. But when it is bad [spiritually blind], your body also is full of darkness [devoid of God’s word] (Luke 11:34; AMP). 

4.1.24: Start again

Ruth Kirk
AdinaVoicu: Pixabay.

I still dare to hope when I remember this: the faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning (Lamentations 3:21-3; NLT). 

Commit to God afresh
Each day:
Just start again
Each time you wake.

Confess, repent,
Return to him;
Ask his forgiveness –
Don’t be fake.

Try hard to give up
Selfishness;
Take up your cross
For Jesus’ sake.

Then follow him
Through good and ill,
Serving in all
You undertake.

Whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus (Colossians 3:17; NLT).

References 

Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near” (Matthew 4:17; 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).

Serve only the LORD your God and fear him alone. Obey his commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him (Deuteronomy 13:4; NLT). 

The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40; NIV). 

15.12.23: Turn to God

Ruth Kirk

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).

Turn to God, and follow Christ;
Repent, and be baptised:
Then you’ll receive His clemency,
And will not be chastised.

Don’t be selfish; bear your cross;
Receive His Spirit’s grace:
Then you will know, as you are known,
And see Him face to face.

Now we see in a mirror indirectly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known (1 Corinthians 13:12; NET).

References 

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).

6.12.23: In your hand

Ruth Kirk

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).

20.10.23: Please teach us

Ruth Kirk

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). 

4.10.23: Tricked

Ruth Kirk
geralt: Pixabay.

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).

30.9.23: Those who see

Ruth Kirk
nickelbabe: Pixabay.

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).

1.7.23: In your arms

Ruth Kirk
geralt: Pixabay.

This simple poem arrived during a time of quiet worship:

The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms (Deuteronomy 33:27; NKJV).

We wake, pray, and rejoice, Lord,
In your arms;
We give, share, and receive, Lord,
In your hands.

We toil, strive, and progress, Lord,
In your arms;
We fail, sin, and repent, Lord,
In your hands.

We suffer and submit, Lord,
In your arms;
We grieve, weep, and endure, Lord,
In your hands.

We rage, doubt, and despair, Lord,
In your arms;
We hope, trust, and believe, Lord,
In your hands.

We love, serve, and remain, Lord,
In your arms;
We live, die, and unite, Lord,
In your hands.

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

References 

Lead them like a shepherd, and carry them in your arms forever (Psalm 28:9; NLT).

Our lives are in his hands (Psalm 66:9; NLT).

In him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28; NIV).

There is…one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all (Ephesians 4:6-7; NLT). 

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

Remain in me, and I will remain in you (John 15:4; NLT).

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

You…are complete through your union with Christ (Colossians 2:10; NLT). 

1.6.23: Take me over

Ruth Kirk
NadineDoerle, Pixabay.

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).

28.5.23: Take a step

Ruth Kirk
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:

70690685157__3F624E7F-C0B5-49C2-A0FE-80B5D2ADA556

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).