Category: Silence

Feeling hopeless?

Ruth Kirk

Search for Me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13; NKJV).

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).

My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help? (Psalm 22:1; NLT).

Feeling hopeless?
Go still deeper.
Search yet harder;
Climb still steeper.

Are you lonely:
Sleeping; waking?
Is Christ distant,
Though you’re aching?

Are you broken?
Tempest louder?
He is waiting:
Shout yet harder.

Christ seems absent?
Love burns steady.
Often silent;
Always ready.

Christ is here:
Our Friend and Saviour!
He who bears you
Will deliver.

I am with you always (Matthew 28:20; NLT).

Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up (Psalm 68:19; RSV). 

Call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you (Psalm 50:14-15; NIV). 

References

You have taken away my companions and loved ones. Darkness is my closest friend (Psalm 88:18; NLT).

The LORD must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion (Isaiah 30:18; NLT).

Why are you silent? (Habakkuk 1:13; CSB).

Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like a blazing fire, like a mighty flame (Song of Songs 8:6; NIV).

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

Reading #1: Matthew 8:23-7; NLT.
Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples. Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm. The disciples were amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked. “Even the winds and waves obey him!”

Reading #2: Matthew 14:29-33; NIV.
Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

You are here

Ruth Kirk

There is …one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all (Ephesians 4:5-6; NLT).

Without any doubt, the LORD is in this place, and I did not realize it! (Genesis 28:16; AMP).

You are in my silence,
And my speaking;
You are in my darkness,
And my light.

You are in my desert,
And my well-spring;
You are in my blindness,
And my sight.

You are in my grief,
And my rejoicing;
You are in my comfort,
And my pain.

You are in my sickness,
And my healing:
You are here –
And I am your domain.

Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them” (John 14:23; NLT).

References

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

God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple (1 Corinthians 3:17; NLT).

I am God and not man; the Holy One within thee (Hosea 11:9; BST).

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

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

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

Don’t you realise that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16; NLT).

Your immortal spirit is in every one of them (Wisdom of Solomon 12:1; GNTA).

One with God

Ruth Kirk

When you pray, go to your room, shut the door, and pray to God who is in that secret place (Matthew 6:6; TIB).

We’re one in silence,
One in stillness,
One in secret:
One with God.

We’re one in dryness,
One in trouble,
One in failure:
One with God.

We’re one in darkness,
One in sorrow,
One in anguish:
One with God.

We’re one in exile,
One in torment,
One in dying:
One with God.

Nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:39; NLT). 

My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help? (Psalm 22:1; NLT).

Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me LORD, my faithful God (Psalm 31:5; NIV).

References

Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world (John 16:33; NLT).

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Saviour, who daily bears our burdens (Psalm 68:19; NIV).

In all their suffering he also suffered, and he personally rescued them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them. He lifted them up and carried them through all the years (Isaiah 63:9; NLT).

God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them (1 John 4:16; NLT).

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

Enter your wilderness

Ruth Kirk

Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD (Psalm 27:14; NLT).

The LORD must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion (Isaiah 30:18; NLT).

Enter your wilderness; enter your darkness;
Enter your silence and stillness, alone.
Wait for me there – I am longing to teach you.
Come: seek me now, in your mind.

Enter your wretchedness; enter your failures;
Enter your silence and stillness, alone.
Sit with me there – I am yearning to teach you.
Come: find me now, in your heart.

Enter your loneliness; enter your sorrows;
Enter your silence and stillness, alone.
Rest with me there – I am aching to help you.
Come: meet me now, in your soul.

Enter your suffering; enter your anguish;
Enter your silence and stillness, alone.
Stay with me there – I am ready to heal you.
Come: let me now make you whole.

He bruises, but He binds up; He wounds, but His hands make whole (Job 5:18; NKJV).

References

When you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret (Matthew 6:6; CSB).

Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness (Matthew 4:1; NLT).

Moses went into the darkness where God was (Exodus 20:21; BES).

The LORD longs to be gracious to you (Isaiah 30:18; NIV).

Jesus 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” (Matthew 11:28-9; NLT).

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

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

Don’t you realise that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? (1 Corinthians 6:19; NLT).

Those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint (Isaiah 40:31; NKJV).

Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened (Luke 11:9-10; NLT).

 

Naked prayer

Ruth Kirk

Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised (Job 1:21; NIV).

Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely (Psalm 139:4; NIV).

Spend some time with God in silence,
Naked, as when you were born.
God will know if you are grieving,
Hurt, repentant, or forlorn.

Spend some time with God in stillness,
Naked, as you are each day.
God will know if you are struggling,
Or if you have lost your way.

Spend some time with God in private,
Naked, as you always are.
God will know if you are damaged,
Seeing every wound and scar.

Spend some time with God in darkness,
Naked, as the day you’ll die.
God will know your pain and anguish,
And will hear the Spirit’s sigh.

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. And he who searches the hearts of men knows what is in the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God (Romans 8:26-7; RSV).

References

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

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

When you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father (Matthew 6:6; CSB).

Moses went into the darkness where God was (Exodus 20:21; BES).

The LORD sees every heart and knows every plan and thought (1 Chronicles 28:9; NLT).

You are the temple of the living God (Luke 17:21; NKJV).

Christ lives within you (Romans 8:10; NLT).

Don’t you realise that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you? (1 Corinthians 3:18; NLT).

 

I love you

Ruth Kirk

You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength (Mark 12:30; NLT).

I love you in darkness,
In silence, as well.

I love you in stillness,
And solitude, too.

I love you in sickness,
And also in pain.

I love you in sorrow –
Please carry me through.

Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows (Isaiah 53:4; NKJV).

References

Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world (John 16:33; NLT).

I love you, LORD; you are my strength (Psalm 18:1; NLT).

Each day he carries us in his arms (Psalm 68:19; NLT).

 

Silence is not void

Ruth Kirk

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

My silence is not void –
It’s full of God,
And full of truth.

My stillness is not dull –
It’s full of God,
And full of love.

My desert is not dry –
It’s full of God,
And full of life.

My darkness is not bleak –
It’s full of God,
And full of light!

Moses went into the darkness where God was (Exodus 20:21; BST).

God is light (1 John 1:5; NLT).

References

There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all (Ephesians 4: 5-6; NLT).

God speaks again and again, though people do not recognize it (Job 33:14; NLT).

The Spirit is truth (1 John 5:6; NKJV).

Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act (Psalm 37:7; NLT).

God is love (1 John 4:8; NLT).

Dry bones, listen to the word of the LORD! (Ezekiel 37:4; NLT).

I will open up rivers for them on the high plateaus. I will give them fountains of water in the valleys. I will fill the desert with pools of water. Rivers fed by springs will flow across the parched ground (Isaiah 41:18; NLT).

Even the wilderness and desert will be glad in those days. The wasteland will rejoice and blossom with spring crocuses (Isaiah 35:1; NLT).

The LORD is your life (Deuteronomy 30:20; NIV).

 

Utter stillness

Ruth Kirk

Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice (1 Kings 19:11-12; KJV).

Utter stillness;
Utter calm:
You’re my God,
My spirit’s balm.

Total silence;
Total peace:
You’re my soul,
My Great High Priest.

Perfect mercy;
Perfect light:
You’re my way,
My truth, my life.

In my body;
In my blood:
You’re my faith,
My hope, my love.

We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them (1 John 4:16; NLT).

 

Day by day

Ruth Kirk

The Lord is my helper and my defender; my heart has hoped in him, and I am helped: my flesh has revived, and willingly will I give praise to him (Psalm 28:7; BES).

You defend me day by day –
May I revere and praise your name!

You instruct me week by week –
May I give thanks: you’ve come to reign!

You forgive me month by month –
May I rejoice without surcease!

You restore me year by year –
May we be one in wordless peace!

He restoreth my soul (Psalm 23:3; KJV).

God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them (1 John 4:16; NLT).

My beloved is mine and I am his (Song of Songs 2:16; NIV).