Category: soul

3.6.23: Pray

Ruth Kirk
Image by Mollyroselee from Pixabay.

My husband has been in hospital for the last few days, after suddenly becoming ill last Wednesday evening. He is safely home now, but we are both exhausted, so for today I’ve chosen a prayer I wrote some time ago. Meanwhile, we are taking life as easily as possible until we both start to feel rather more like our usual selves.

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

I pray for those who live with sickness:
Father, help us all;
And for those who dwell in sorrow:
Abba, hear our call.

I pray for those who fret and panic:
Father, ease our fears;
And for those who are mistreated:
Abba, share our tears.

I pray for those who suffer hardship:
Father, mark our sighs;
And for those who are in danger:
Abba, heed our cries.

I pray for those who walk in darkness:
Father, guide us through;
And for those who cannot find you:
Abba, lead us, too.

I pray for those who bow in anguish:
Father, save each soul;
And for those who die in torment:
Abba, make us whole.

His hands make whole (Job 5:18; NKJV).

References

If you are walking in darkness, without a ray of light, trust in the LORD and rely on your God (Isaiah 50:10; NLT).

My loins are filled with anguish; pangs have seized me, like the pangs of a woman in travail; I am bowed down so that I cannot hear, I am dismayed so that I cannot see (Isaiah 21:3; RSV).

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain (Revelation 21:4; 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).

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:

14.5.23: I pray for love

Ruth Kirk
Image by Brigitte Werner from Pixabay.

This prayer arrived spontaneously yesterday, whilst I was praying for the world:

This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you (John 15:12; NLT).

Love does no harm to a neighbour. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law (Romans 13:10; NIV). 

Lord,

I pray for love
Throughout the world:
In every country, home,
Mind, soul, and heart.

But if we cannot love,
I pray for peace,
So everyone can live,
And play their part.

And if we can’t make peace,
I pray for truth,
Then all our hurtful lies
Will end, at last.

And if we can’t have truth,
I pray for hope,
Until our earthly suffering
Has passed.

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

References 

This letter is from Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, appointed by the command of God our Savior and Christ Jesus, who gives us hope (1 Timothy 1:1; NLT). 

We are saved by hope (Romans 8:24; WEB). 

The eyes of all look to you in hope (Psalm 145:15; NLT).

A reading: Romans 8:23-5; NLT.

We believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently).

13.5.23: Come, Lord, search me

Ruth Kirk
The Temptations of Christ in the Desert, unknown sculptor of Milanese area, ca 1580.

Yesterday, whilst I was praying without words, this prayer came to me most insistently. I wanted so much to go on being silent, but in the end was compelled to write it down.

NB: In the afternoon we managed a rare outing, so I made it into a slideshow called “Silverburn walk”. If you would like to see it, please click on this link: https://wp.me/P45bCr-e3T. Wonderful though it was at the time, it triggered a migraine, but that was inevitable.

Meanwhile, here is today’s prayer:

Come, Lord! (1 Corinthians 22:20; NLT).

Search me, O God (Psalm 139:23; NLT). 

Come, Lord, search me:
Search my mind –
Reveal my sins,
Then I’ll ask your forgiveness.

Come, Lord, search me:
Search my heart –
Lay bare my coldness,
Then I’ll seek your warmth.

Come, Lord, search me:
Search my soul –
Expose my wounds,
Then I’ll entreat your healing.

Come, Lord, search me:
Search my life –
And though I’m nothing,
Make me more like you.

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 

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).

Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him (Colossians 3:10; NLT). 

Put on your new nature, created to be like God – truly righteous and holy (Ephesians 4:24; NLT). 

God created human beings in his own image (Genesis 1:27; NLT). 

We will be like him (1 John 3:2; NLT). 

8.5.23: My hope, my way

Ruth Kirk
Stations of the Cross in Althofen; painted by Consuelo Mels-Colloredo, 1983. Neithan90, Wikimedia.

Yesterday I felt very tired, which had its up-side, as I was able to spend time putting the morning’s notes into words whilst resting. The lines in italics form a prayer within a prayer:

O Lord, you alone are my hope (Psalm 71:5; NLT). 

My hope, my way,
My light each day:
I want to do your bidding;
My peace, my Lamb,
My great “I AM”:
For you are God’s dear Son. 

My truth, my life,
My purchase-price:
You, Lord, are my salvation;
My strength, my blood,
My longed-for love:
May you and I be one.

My Lord, my God,
My staff, my rod:
My body is your temple;
My Guide, my Friend,
My start, my end:
My mind is yours, Lord, too.

My bread, my wine,
My living vine:
My heart is yours forever;
My Shepherd King,
My everything:
My soul belongs to you.

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).

Our bodies will return to the dust of the earth, and the breath of life will go back to God, who gave it to us (Ecclesiastes 12:7; GNT).

6.5.23: Pray for all people

Ruth Kirk
Image by Jacek from Pixabay.

This prayer came to me yesterday morning, and proved surprisingly difficult to put into words:

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).

Lord,
I pray for joy and peace
In every mind, and heart, and soul,
But if that’s far too much to ask,
Please help us all to grow in self-control.

Lord,
I pray for friendliness
In every soul, and mind, and heart,
But if that’s far too much to ask,
May tolerance become our place to start.

Lord,
I pray for love of all
In every heart, and soul, and mind,
But if that’s far too much to ask,
Please teach us to be humble, wise, and kind.

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).

References

Pray for peace (Psalm 122:6; NLT).

Make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone (2 Peter 1:5-7; NLT).

All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom (Psalm 111:10; NLT).

Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:1-3; NASB95).

17.4.23: A woman’s song

Ruth Kirk
Rublev’s famous icon showing the three Angels being hosted by Abraham at Mambré (Wikimedia).

Yesterday morning, while I was waiting and listening in silence, a realisation came to me so forcibly that I had to start noting it down immediately. Morning became afternoon, then evening, then night, as I worked to express what I had seen and understood. Today’s blog is the most difficult piece I’ve ever had to write.

Humankind was created as God’s reflection: in the divine image God created them; female and male, God made them (Genesis 1:27; TIB).

We can’t exclude the feminine
From God,
For if we could,
“Our” God would not be whole.

We’ve tried (how some have tried!)
To claim we can,
But if we could,
“Our” God would not be All.

We can’t deny the feminine
In men,
For when we try,
Our men are incomplete.

We can’t deny God lives
In womankind,
And when we try,
We wound each woman’s soul.

So, till we seek the feminine
In all,
Our faith falls short:
“Our” God is far too small.

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).

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

References 

The Almighty …blesses you with blessings of the skies above, blessings of the deep springs below, blessings of the breast and womb (Genesis 49:25; NIV).

Christ is all, and is in all (Colossians 3:11; NIV).

There is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28; RSV).

All of you are equal as brothers and sisters (Matthew 23:8; NLT).

Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them (1 John 4:16; NIV).

God is so great – higher than the heavens, higher than the farthest stars (Job 22:12; NLT). 

Keep on seeking, and you will find (Matthew 7:7; NLT).

There is one Savior, one faith, one baptism, one God and Creator of all, who is over all, who works through all and is within all (Ephesians 4:5-6; TIB).

The Rosary Hospital

Fiat rosary started on 16.4.23.

12.4.23: Your names

Ruth Kirk

 

This prayer arrived yesterday morning after a night disturbed by several bad dreams:

I will praise God’s name (Psalm 69:30; NLT). 

Yahweh, Jesus, Paraclete,
Your names, Lord, make my joy complete:
My God, my Shepherd King, my Friend,
My source, my purpose, and my end.

Yahweh, Jesus, Paraclete,
No other words, Lord, taste as sweet:
My flesh and blood, mind, heart and soul
Belong to you, my highest goal.

My goal is to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death, assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead (Philippians 3:10; CSB).

References 

Your joy will be complete (John 16:24; NIV). 

How sweet your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey (Psalm 119:103: NLT). 

We belong to God (1 John 4:6; NLT). 

You belong to Christ Jesus (1 Corinthians 1:4; NLT).

You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit (Romans 8:9; NET).

You belong to him in body and spirit (Malachi 2:15; NIV).

The Rosary Hospital 

This is the mini-rosary I made yesterday, now trimmed and finished. The £1.oo coin shows how small it is:

Mini recycled rosary

8.4.23: I can’t be whole (for J.)

Ruth Kirk
LongShadows. Self-portrait of photographer with friend. Lackland AFB, San Antonio, Texas (November 2006). Photo by Peter Rimar; Wikimedia.

Today’s verses came to me yesterday morning as I lay in silent prayer shortly after waking up. They arrived with an involuntary groan, and struck me to the heart.

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). 

I can’t be whole without my shadow, Lord,
Without the parts I bury and deny.
For you know all about me, good and bad:
The sins I haven’t faced, which underlie

The guilt and shame tormenting me within,
My sharp regrets, my cowardice and dread
Of being honest, Lord, with those I’ve hurt.
Please help me to confess at last, instead.

Accepting all the anger I deserve,
I’ll say I’m sorry, ceasing to defend
Myself against the truth of every wrong,
And then my shadow will become my friend.

With you, I’ll face the darkness in my soul;
My conscience will be healed, then I’ll be whole.

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

References 

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

I know every thought that comes into your minds (Ezekiel 11:5; NLT).

He knows the secrets of every heart (Psalm 44:21; NLT).

The LORD’s light penetrates the human spirit, exposing every hidden motive (Proverbs 20:27; NLT).

You desire honesty from the womb (Psalm 51:6; NLT).

Speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ (Ephesians 4:15; NLT).

Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked (1 Timothy 1:19; NLT). 

The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith (1 Timothy 1:5; NLT).

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me (Psalm 23:4; KJV).

Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear (1 Timothy 1:19; NLT).

The Rosary Hospital 

Yesterday evening I enjoyed making a long, chunky Fiat rosary, suitable for someone with sensory issues of sight or touch. Fiat rosaries don’t usually have a centrepiece, and in making this one, I discovered a way of managing without, which was new for me. I particularly like the heavy cross, which came as part of a donation of used and broken rosaries. My warm thanks to its generous donor.