Category: silence

5.9.23: Silent worship

Ruth Kirk
Mikes-Photography: Pixabay.

After waking yesterday morning, I laid still for a long time in silent, wordless worship, which was bliss. Eventually, when today’s prayer began to flow, I stirred, and gladly wrote it down.

This is how I was shown a simple spiritual practice I had never grasped before: an effective way of consciously living in God’s presence all the time. Perhaps this is part of what Jesus was talking about when he said: “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light” (Matthew 11:28-30; NLT).

Jesus also said: “You are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed – or indeed only one” (Luke 10:41-2; NIV). Perhaps constant silent worship is all that is needed, with everything else springing from this daily practice.

Anyway, here are the verses which came to me. Combined with their references, I hope they will help to explain what I experienced and learned.

When I wake up, you are still with me! (Psalm 139:18; NLT).

Worship him continually (1 Chronicles 16:11; GNT).

Wake: adore in silent worship;
Sit and stand: do just the same;
Walk and talk in silent worship –
Inwardly, revere God’s name.

Work and play in silent worship;
Honour God, and never cease;
Rest and sleep in silent worship –
You will share His perfect peace.

Offer constant silent worship,
Giving all that love demands;
Live and pray in God’s dear Spirit –
Safe, forever, in His hands.

He will keep them safe forever (Psalm 37:28; NLT).

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

References 

Verse 1:
*Be silent before the LORD, all humanity (Zechariah 2:13; NLT).
*Always pray (Luke 18:1; NIV).
*Whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father (Colossians 3:17; NLT).
*Praise his glorious name forever (Psalm 72:19; NLT).
*Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name (Hebrews 13:15; NLT).

Verse 2:
*Pray unceasingly (1 Thessalonians 5:17; BLB).
*You must worship the LORD your God and serve only him (Matthew 4:10; 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 (John 14:28; NLT).
*You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you (Isaiah 26:3; NLT).
*The Lord is peace (Judges 6:24; NLT).

Verse 3:
*The LORD leads with unfailing love and faithfulness all who keep his covenant and obey his demands (Psalm 25:10; NLT).
*Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment (Matthew 22:37; ESV).
*Live forever with God in the Spirit (1 Peter 4:6; NLT).
*Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion (Ephesians 6:18; NLT).
*He loves his people; all his holy ones are in his hands. They follow in his steps and accept his teaching (Deuteronomy 33:3; NLT).

3.9.23: Hear my prayer

Ruth Kirk
Pezibear: Pixabay, with added words.

A few days ago I experienced a precious time of wordless prayer, with these verses only emerging right at the end, which was a huge relief. They were relatively easy to put into words. The final two lines came to me whilst I was showering, so I had to repeat them constantly until I got out and wrote them down.

Hear my prayer, Lord (Psalm 102:1; NIV). 

1. Yahweh, Jesus, Holy Spirit,
Hear my prayer, and come to me.
Help me, Lord, to worship you
In blesséd stillness, silently.

2. Yahweh, Jesus, Holy Spirit,
Pity my ineptitude.
Pray on my behalf, I beg you,
As I wait in solitude.

3. Yahweh, Jesus, Holy Spirit,
Here I am, Lord: hear my cry.
Help me to embrace my cross
And follow you, Adonai.

4. Yahweh, Jesus, Holy Spirit,
I am yours in servitude.
Set me free to walk with you
In love, and joy, and gratitude.

Walk in love, as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God (Ephesians 5:2; CSB).

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; NIV).

References

Verse 1:
*I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you (John 14:18; NIV).
*Be still, and know that I am God! (Psalm 46:10; NLT).
*Be silent before the LORD, all humanity (Zechariah 2:13; NLT).

Verse 2:
*The Spirit [comes to us and] helps us in our weakness. We do not know what prayer to offer or how to offer it as we should, but the Spirit Himself [knows our need and at the right time] intercedes on our behalf with sighs and groanings too deep for words (Romans 8:26; AMP).
*He is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf (Hebrews 7:25; NLT).
*For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my deliverance and my honor; my mighty rock, my refuge is God (Psalm 62:5-7; RSV).
*Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD (Psalm 27:14; NIV).
*Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed (Mark 1:35; NIV).

Verse 3:
*Here I am (1 Samuel 3:5; NIV).
*In your faithful love, O LORD, hear my cry (Psalm 119:149; 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).
*I want your will to be done, not mine (Luke 22:42; NLT).

Verse 4:
*I am yours (Psalm 119:94; NLT).
*O LORD God, I am your servant (2 Samuel 7:25; NLT).
*Although we are slaves, our God has not abandoned us in our servitude (Ezra 9:9; NET).
*Turn your ear to listen to me, and set me free (Psalm 71:2; NLT).

14.8.23: Wordless prayer

Ruth Kirk
Simon: Pixabay.

These couplets came to me last Saturday, during wordless prayer. Part of me hoped they would fade away, so I wouldn’t have to write them down, but they were much stronger than me, so I quickly gave way.

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion (Ephesians 6:18; NLT).

God, who knows everything in our hearts, knows perfectly well what the Spirit is saying, because her intercessions for God’s holy people are made according to the mind of God (Romans 8:27; TIB).

Wordless prayer: my great adventure –
Going where the Spirit leads,

Seeing what she wants to show me,
Far beyond all human creeds.

So I listen in the darkness,
As she sighs and intercedes,

Speaks within me, though I’m silent,
Watching, as the Spirit pleads

For all: entreating, grieving, weeping,
Sweating, while creation bleeds.

He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood (Luke 22:44; NLT).

All creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time (Romans 8:22; NLT).

Further references 

The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words (Romans 8:26; RSV). 

Will I, who causes others to give birth, not also give birth myself, says the Lord? Will I, who bestows generation upon others, be barren myself, says the Lord your God? (Isaiah 66:9; CPDV).

For a long time I have kept silent, I have been quiet and held myself back. But now, like a woman in childbirth, I cry out, I gasp and pant (Isaiah 42:14; NIV).

2.8.23: I lift my mind

Ruth Kirk
The Supper at Emmaus, by Velázquez, 1622-23: metmuseum.org.

Today, I’ve dipped into my storehouse for this, one of my favourite poems:

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

When I lift my mind in stillness,
Lord, I feel your Spirit stir;

When I lift my heart in darkness,
Lord, I see your perfect light;

When I lift my soul in silence,
Lord, I hear your still, small voice –

And I recognise your presence:
Then, with thanks, Lord, I rejoice.

Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him.
(Luke 24:31; NIV).

Rosary Hospital news

My old five-decade rosary is in poor condition, so I finally managed to make myself a new one out of some of the bits and pieces left over in my bead-trays.

9.7.23: I worship you

Ruth Kirk
adonyig: Pixabay.

This prayer burst upon me last Wednesday morning. It was an absolute pleasure to write and reference it.

Worship the LORD in the splendour of his holiness
(1 Chronicles 16:29; CSB). 

1. I worship you in darkness,
And in light;
I bless you, Lord, in stillness,
And in dance.

2. I follow you in solitude,
And crowds;
I honour you in anguish,
And in peace.

3. I sing your praise in silence
And in sound;
I trust you, Lord, in sorrow,
And in joy.

4. I give you thanks
For everything you send:
Rejoicing that you love me
Without cease.

He loves us with unfailing love;
the LORD’s faithfulness endures forever.
Praise the LORD! (Psalm 117:2; NLT).

References 

Verse 1
– Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name (Psalm 103:1; KJV). 

Verse 2
– Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me” (Matthew 4:19; NLT).
– Honour the Lord for the glory of his name (Psalm 29:2; NLT).

Verse 3
– Sing the praises of the LORD, you his faithful people; praise his holy name (Psalm 30:4; NIV).
– Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me (John 14:1; NLT).

Verse 4
– Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:18; NIV).
– I send good times and bad times. I, the LORD, am the one who does these things (Isaiah 45:7; NLT).
– Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again – rejoice! (Philippians 4:4; NLT).

28.6.23: In darkness

Ruth Kirk
14398: Pixabay.

On Monday night I laid down to sleep, turned off my light, and said the *Nunc Dimittis, as usual (please look just below today’s references for this glorious canticle). Then I prayed quietly about the state of the world, feeling sad and rather tearful. Soon, the first verse of today’s prayer arrived, which rarely happens at night. Fortunately, it was quick and easy to write down on my iPad in the dark.

The next day, having completed the references, and just when I thought the whole blog was finished, a second verse arrived completely unexpectedly. Then I knew it was finished.

Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light
(Micah 7:8; NLT). 

1. In darkness, I pray, Lord,
In silence, I weep;
In stillness, I sigh, Lord,
And then try to sleep.

2. But when I can’t sleep, Lord,
And can’t even pray,
Please help me to cling to you, Lord,
Till next day.

I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.
(Psalm 63:8; NIV).

God has taken his place in her; she will not be moved:
he will come to her help at the dawn of morning.
(Psalm 46:5; BBE).

References 

Verse 1: Sit now in darkness and silence (Isaiah 47:5; NLT). 

I weep and my eyes overflow with tears (Lamentations 1:16; NIV). 

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes (Psalm 37:7; NIV).

You know what I long for, Lord; you hear my every sigh (Psalm 38:9; NLT).

Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted (Psalm 25:16; NIV).

Verse 2: You don’t let me sleep. I am too distressed even to pray! (Psalm 77:4; NLT).

Cling to him (Deuteronomy 10:20; NLT). 

My soul yearns for you in the night (Isaiah 26:9; NIV).

When I awake, I will see you face to face and be satisfied (Psalm 17:15; NLT). 

*The Nunc Dimittis: Luke 2:29-32; KJV.

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

24.6.23: Out of my stillness

Ruth Kirk
derwiki: Pixabay.

This prayer-poem arose during wordless prayer yesterday morning:

Be still in the presence of the LORD (Psalm 37:7; NLT). 

1. Out of my stillness,
Out of my silence,
Out of my darkness,
And out of my depth,

2. Lord, comes your Dayspring,
Lord, comes your Spirit,
Lord, comes your voice, and your Word,
And your breath.

3. One day, in stillness,
One day, in silence,
One day, in darkness,
You’ll take me, in death.

God will redeem me from the world of the dead;
he will surely take me to himself.
(Psalm 49:15; NIV).

References

Verse 1: Be silent before the Lord (Zechariah 2:13; NLT).

Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light (Micah 7:8; NLT).

Out of the depths I cry to you, LORD (Psalm 130:1; NIV). 

Verse 2: The Dayspring from on high has visited us; to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace (Luke 1:78-9; NKJV).

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

We have the Holy Spirit within us (Romans 8:23; NLT). 

After the fire came a still, small voice (1 Kings 19:12; BSB).

He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God (Revelation 19:13; NLT). 

The LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul (Genesis 2:7; KJV). 

Verse 3: I shall return to take you to myself, so that you may be with me where I am (John 14:3; NJB).

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

 

21.6.23: Inward eyes

Ruth Kirk
kirahoffman, Pixabay.

Today’s prayer came to me during silent contemplation. It arrived very simply and easily, to my great gratitude and delight. The contrast with writing yesterday’s blog couldn’t be greater. Here is a link, in case you would like to check it out: An invitation: https://wp.me/p45bCr-epN.

People will look to their Creator and turn their eyes to the Holy One of Israel.
(Isaiah 17:7; NLT). 

I turn my inward eyes to you,
Creator of the human race;
In stillness, and in silence, Lord,
I gaze upon your face.

I join my mind, and heart, and soul
With yours, as I absorb your grace;
With childlike faith, and hope, and love,
I rest in your embrace.

The eternal God is your refuge, and his everlasting arms are under you. (Deuteronomy 33:27; NLT). 

20.5.23: Resting in prayer

Ruth Kirk
Image by Michael Pointner from Pixabay.

This prayer arrived very early last Thursday. It was so difficult to express in words that I came close to giving up, only finishing it this morning:

Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28; NLT).

Resting in prayer:
Silent and dark.
Turning to God:
One mind, one heart.

Bowing in prayer:
Wordless and deep.
Trusting in God:
Shared love is sweet.

Yielding in prayer:
Body and soul.
Joining with God:
Our Maker and goal.

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14; NIV).

References

Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the LORD our maker (Psalm 95:6; NLT).

Yield your hearts to the LORD (Joshua 24:23; NIV).

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

The Rosary Hospital

I’m now well-launched on my second large batch of rosaries, which will all be Fiat rosaries this time. Here is a chunky, very tactile one with a recycled cross. I enjoyed making it yesterday:

17.5.23: Worship

Ruth Kirk
Image by Joe from Pixabay.

Today’s prayer arrived yesterday, shortly after I woke up:

Be silent before the LORD, all humanity (Zechariah 2:13; NLT). 

I worship you in silence, Lord,
In stillness, and in darkness,
All alone;

Astonished by your majesty,
Your changelessness, your power,
All unknown;

And yet you are so gentle, Lord,
Your love so warm and bright,
So pure and sweet,

And so I dare to worship you,
Repeat your name, rejoice,
And kiss your feet.

A woman in the town who was a sinner found out that Jesus was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house. She brought an alabaster jar of perfume and stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to wash his feet with her tears. She wiped his feet with her hair, kissing them and anointing them with the perfume (Luke 7:37-8; CSB).

References 

Who can know the LORD’s thoughts? (Romans 11:33; NLT).

We cannot imagine the power of the Almighty (Job 37:23; NLT).

He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle (Isaiah 42:3; NLT).

He loves us with unfailing love; the LORD’s faithfulness endures forever (Psalm 117:2; NLT).