Category: soul

The strength of my soul

Ruth Kirk

I am sick (Psalm 69:20; YLT). 

Father,
I’m sick, but you are my goal:
Lord,
Please increase
The strength of my soul.

Father,
I’m weak – just ashes and dust:
Lord,
Though I fail you,
Help me to trust.

Father,
Your grace is all that I need:
Lord,
May your Son
Work through me, I plead.

Father,
I’m glad that to you I belong:
Lord,
Though I’m weak,
With you I am strong. 

I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:10; NLT).

 References 

My goal is to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings (Philippians 3:10; CSB). 

On the day I called, you answered; you increased the strength of my soul (Psalm 138:3; Grail Psalms). 

I am weak (Psalm 6:2; NLT). 

I am nothing but dust and ashes (Genesis 18:27; NIV). 

Everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard (Romans 3:23; NLT). 

I trust in you, my God! (Psalm 25:2; NLT). 

He said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me (2 Corinthians 12:9; NLT).

I belong to you (Psalm 119:94; NET). 

Everything I am

Ruth Kirk

You and I both belong to God (Job 33:6; NLT).

Everything I am
Belongs to you:

Body, mind, heart, soul,
And breath, Lord, too.

You made them all
So I can be your shrine:

Lord God,
I’m wholly yours,
And you are mine.

I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine (Song of Songs 6:3; NIV).

References 

Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us! (1 Chronicles 29:14; NLT). 

You made me; you created me (Psalm 119:73:NLT). 

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13; NLT). 

The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life (Job 33:4; NLT). 

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

I am yours (Psalm 119:24; NLT). 

Prayers by rote

Ruth Kirk

People draw near with their words and honor Me with their lip service, but they remove their hearts far from Me, and their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote (Isaiah 29:13; NASB95).

Let’s not repeat our prayers by rote,
But speak as the heart desires.

May all our words be unadorned,
For this is what God requires.

Let’s talk with him spontaneously,
Just telling the truth, in love.

Then, may our souls be hushed and still:
One with the Father, above.

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

References

When you are praying, do not use thoughtless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him (Matthew 6:7-8; NASB).

Pray then like this: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name (Matthew 6:9; RSV).

Speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15; NLT). 

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

Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world (Psalm 46:10; NLT).

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

My body is yours

Ruth Kirk

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

My body is yours, Lord,
To use as you please.

My mind, your domain:
I embrace each disease.

My heart is your home, Lord,
From birth until death.

My spirit is yours,
For my soul is your breath.

My strength comes from you, Lord:
May your will be done,

For though life brings sorrow and pain,
We are one.

Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him (Philippians 3:8-9; NLT).

References

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). 

This is what the sovereign LORD says to these bones: Look, I am about to infuse breath into you and you will live (Ezekiel 37:5; NET). 

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).

The LORD is my strength (Exodus 15:2; NLT).

I want your will to be done, not mine (Luke 22:42; NLT). 

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

My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever (Psalm 73:26; NLT).

The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away. Blessed be the name of the LORD (Job 1:21; CSB).

Life

Ruth Kirk

Your hands have made me and fashioned me (Psalm 119:73; KJV).

You fashioned me, Lord,
From the dust of the ground,
Mixed with earth’s waters,
And warmed by the sun.

You quickened me, Lord, 
With your life-giving breath:
Your Spirit within is my soul –
We are one.

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

References

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; NKJV).

This is what the sovereign LORD says to these bones: Look, I am about to infuse breath into you and you will live (Ezekiel 37:5; NET). 

The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life (Job 33:4; NKJV).

God is Spirit (John 4:24; NKJV). 

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

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

Good news

Ruth Kirk

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns! (Isaiah 52:7; NLT). 

Lord,
May our footsteps bring good news;
Our lives, encourage all to choose
Your way, so they will be infused
With faith.

Lord,
May our lips be filled with praise;
Our passion for your kingdom blaze
With light, so we can guide your strays
To hope.

Lord,
May our minds be steeped in prayer;
Our hearts be always swift to share;
Our souls delight to offer care
And love.

Lord,
May our days be filled with grace
So we behold your shining face
In everyone, then we’ll make haste
To serve.

Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me (Matthew 25:40; NIV).

References

1. Three things will last forever – faith, hope, and love – and the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:13; NLT). 

This is what the sovereign LORD says to these bones: Look, I am about to infuse breath into you and you will live (Ezekiel 37:5; NET). 

2. Let praise flow from my lips (Psalm 119:17; NLT). 

You are the light of the world – like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden (Matthew 5:14; NLT). 

3. Pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:16; NIV). 

How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings (Psalm 36:7; NLT).

May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else (1 Thessalonians 3:12; NIV). 

4. The LORD God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory (Psalm 84:11; NLT). 

His face shone like the sun (Matthew 17:2; NIV). 

Love the LORD your God, walk in all his ways, obey his commands, hold firmly to him, and serve him with all your heart and all your soul (Joshua 22:5; NLT). 

My body

Ruth Kirk
My sacrifice: RK.

I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship (Romans 12:1; NIV). 

My body is my sacrifice,
My willing spirit, too;
My mind and heart; my humble soul:
I lift them up to you.

I offer only pain, fatigue,
Depression, dread, despair;
Yet, when I plead for others, Lord,
You always hear my prayer.

Although I’m your unworthy slave,
With nothing else to give,
I know that you will ransom me
One day: then I will live!

I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death (Hosea 13:14; KJV).

References 

Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak (Mark 14:38; NLT). 

I lift up my hands and heart toward Your innermost sanctuary (Psalm 28:2; AMP).

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them (1 Timothy 2:1; NLT).

I love the LORD because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy (Psalm 116:1; NLT).

We are unworthy slaves (Luke 17:10; NASB1995).

Those who wait for the LORD [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] will gain new strength and renew their power; they will lift up their wings [and rise up close to God] like eagles [rising toward the sun]; they will run and not become weary, they will walk and not grow tired (Isaiah 40:31; AMP). 

We lift our hands

Ruth Kirk

Pour out your hearts like water to the Lord. Lift up your hands to him in prayer (Lamentations 2:19; NLT).

We lift our hands to you
And pray for peace,
Begging that all our senseless wars
Will cease. 

We lift our minds to you
And pray for light,
Till everyone is precious
In our sight.

We lift our hearts to you,
And pray for love,
So all our foolish hate
Will end for good.

We lift our souls to you,
And pray for grace –
May everyone on earth, Lord,
See your face. 

Turn us again to yourself, O God. Make your face shine down upon us. Only then will we be saved (Psalm 80:3; NLT).

References 

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

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

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God (John 1:9-12; NIV).

Anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love (1 John 4:8; NLT).

The grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people (Titus 2:11; NLT).

Let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most (Hebrews 4:16; NLT). 

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all (2 Corinthians 13:14; NLT).

Let your face smile on us, LORD (Psalm 4:6; NLT). 

Your flesh and blood

Ruth Kirk

Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you” (John 6:53; ESV).

Your flesh and blood
Are where our life begins.

Along the way,
We grasp your sacrifice.

Lord Jesus,
Help us overcome our sins,

Until your soul
Becomes our paradise.

Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise” Luke 23:43; NLT).

References 

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” (John 14:6; NLT). 

Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit (1 Peter 3:18; NLT).

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15; NIV).  

Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires (Romans 6:12; NLT).

Part of God

Ruth Kirk

Everything comes from him; everything happens through him; everything ends up in him (Romans 11:36; TM). 

We’re part of you
Before our birth.

We’re yours in exile
Here, on earth.

You live in us:
Our souls, your breath,

Then, one with you, Lord,
After death.

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

God never meant us to experience the Retribution, but to win salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that, alive or dead, we should still live united to him (1 Thessalonians 5:9-10; JB).

References 

I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb (Jeremiah 1:5; NLT).

Although I have scattered you in the countries of the world, I will be a sanctuary to you during your time in exile (Ezekiel 11:16; NLT).

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

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

The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life (Job 33:4; KJV). 

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