Category: Spirit

4.6.23: God

Ruth Kirk
The Trinity in an Initial B, Master of the Codex Rossiano, Sienese, pobably 1387.

NB: Just after posting this prayer, I looked at my calendar and discovered that today is Trinity Sunday. This came as a complete surprise, and made me smile broadly, rejoicing in God’s astonishing goodness and power!

Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; NIV).

God is three
And God is one:
Father, Spirit,
Much-loved Son.

God is one,
And God is three:
Love, in perfect
Unity.

Love …is the bond of perfect unity (Colossians 3:14; BSB).

God is love (1 John 4:8; NLT). 

References

God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us” (Genesis 1:26; NLT).

The LORD our God, the LORD is one (Deuteronomy 6:4; NIV).

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 1:3; NLT).

God is Spirit (John 4:24; NLT).

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters (Genesis 1:1-2; NKJV).

In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone (John 1:1-4; NLT).

Look at my servant, whom I strengthen. He is my chosen one, who pleases me. I have put my Spirit upon him (Isaiah 42:1; NLT).

This is My beloved Son (Luke 9:35; NKJV).

The Father and I are one (John 10:30; NLT).

A short reading: Genesis 18:1-3,33; CSB.

The LORD appeared to Abraham at the oaks of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance of his tent during the heat of the day. He looked up, and he saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to meet them, bowed to the ground, and said, “My lord, if I have found favor with you, please do not go on past your servant… When the LORD had finished speaking with Abraham, he departed, and Abraham returned to his place.

16.5.23: More like you

Ruth Kirk
Image by Marcel Dominic from Pixabay.

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). 

Lord,
Please make me more like you.
Consume my sins, my heart, renew,
Then I’ll show love in all I do,
And light the way for others, too.

Lord,
Please make me more like you,
So all I say is kind and true.
My judgements, fears and greed, subdue,
Until I’m perfect, through and through.

You are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:48; NLT).

References

Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven (Luke 6:37; NIV).

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).

The Rosary Hospital

A batch of fiat rosaries, made with a combination of new and recycled parts.

12.5.23: No need to study

Ruth Kirk
Image by Ramalekshmi Rajamanickam from Pixabay.

Today’s prayer is the second of a linked pair which came to me last Wednesday morning. For those who are interested, the first part is called “My way”, and here is a link to it: https://wp.me/p45bCr-e39.

Much study wears you out (Ecclesiastes 12:12; NLT).

No need to study,
No need to wait,
No need to doubt, Lord:
You are my faith.

No need to waver,
No need to quote,
No need to fear, Lord:
You are my hope.

Father, around me,
Jesus, above,
Spirit, within me:
You are my love.

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

God is love (1 John 4:16; NLT).

References 

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

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God (Colossians 3:1; NIV). .

We believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory (Romans 8:23; NLT). 

I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine (Song of Songs 2:16; NIV).

I jumped up to open the door for my love (Song of Songs 5:5; NLT).

A reading from Psalm 139:5-10; NLT.

You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand! I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.

11.5.23: My way

Ruth Kirk
Image by StockSnap from Pixabay.

This prayer came to me yesterday morning, when I was saying grace before breakfast. It began with just the first two lines, which I noted down, expecting nothing further. However, over the following hour the rest slowly arrived, line by line, until it was complete. Then, to my surprise, tomorrow’s prayer came, too, forming a linked pair.

I have calmed and quieted myself, like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother’s milk. Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me (Psalm 131:2; NLT). 

Nothing to ask for,
Nothing to say,
Nothing I need, Lord:
You are my way. 

You are my water,
You are my food,
You are my Teacher:
You are my truth.

Father, in sickness, 
Jesus, in strife,
Spirit, in sorrow:
You are my life.

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6; NLT). 

3.5.23: Life

Ruth Kirk
Photo by courtesy of Mary Rodgers.

You have shown me the way of life (Acts 2:28; NLT). 

Life
Is a journey
With Jesus.

Faith
Is the way
Back to God.

Hope
Is a walk
With his Spirit.

Love
Is the path
That Christ trod.

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

10.4.23: May I follow your way

Ruth Kirk
Paryż magdalena mozaika, Église de la Madeleine, Albertus teolog.

Make your way plain for me to follow (Psalm 5:8; NLT).

May I follow your way,
And offer your love,

Live in your presence,
And pray without cease;

Shine with your light,
And blaze with your fire,

Dwell in your Spirit,
And rest in your peace.

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

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

Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning (2 John 1:6; NLT).

In just a short time he will restore us, so that we may live in his presence (Hosea 6:2; NLT).

Pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17; NIV).

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

Let your light shine before others (Matthew 5:16; NIV).

God is a consuming fire (Deuteronomy 4:24; NIV).

God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us (1 John 4:13; NLT).

27.3.23: May I follow your way (with thanks to K.B.)

Ruth Kirk
Pastel representation of Turin shroud image of the face of Jesus. Reproduced with kind permission of the artist.

During a video call yesterday, a friend introduced me to some of the artwork in his study, including the beautiful picture above, which was made by someone he knows personally. I asked if I could use it, and he very kindly obtained permission from the artist for me to share it with you.

Make your way plain for me to follow (Psalm 5:8; NLT).

May I follow your way,
Offer your love,

Live in your presence,
And pray without cease;

Shine with your light,
Blaze with your fire,

Trust in your Spirit,
And rest in your peace.

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

References 

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

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

God is a consuming fire (Deuteronomy 4:24; NIV).

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

The Rosary Hospital 

I’m excited to be slowly making my first little box of rosaries for people who attend church missions. Here are two I’ve made in the the last few days. The one at the back is very chunky, intended for someone with sight difficulties, or loss of sensation in their hands or fingers. The centrepiece shows a picture of Sainte Thérèse, who is also known as the Little Flower:

26.3.23: My mind is still

Ruth Kirk
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?search=Heaven+&title=Special:MediaSearch&go=Go&type=image

These verses came to me earlier this week when I was praying without words. I wanted so much to ignore them and keep on drawing nearer to God, but they were so insistent that I had to open my eyes and write down what I was being given:

Today you will be with me in paradise (Luke 23:43; NLT). 

Father,
While my mind is still,
Please let me rise
To you, in heaven.

Jesus,
While my eyes are closed,
Please let me see
Your shining face.

Spirit,
While my heart is hushed,
Please let me hear
Your wordless sighing.

Threefold God,
Though I am dust,
Please let me share
Your peace and grace.

May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior give you grace and peace (Titus 1:4; NLT).

References 

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

The Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words (Romans 8:26; RSV). 

I have ventured to speak to the Lord, although I am only dust and ashes (Genesis 18:27; NASB20).

O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water (Psalm 63:1; NLT). 

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9; KJV).

The Rosary Hospital

Yesterday I enjoyed improving two of my own rosaries, which have been awaiting my attention for the last few weeks. I feel much happier about them now.

21.3.23: In silence

Ruth Kirk
Jozef Israëls – Mijmering (meditation) of ook Ophelia – DM-975-508 – Dordrechts Museum.jpg

Yesterday morning, as I began to pray without words after saying the Lord’s Prayer, today’s blog arrived. I didn’t try to resist, or make it wait, or push it away, though I wanted so much to continue listening, and go deeper:

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). 

In silence, Lord, I listen
To your Spirit’s prayers
Within me.

In stillness, Lord, I sense you
In my body, heart,
And mind.

Though I’m alone,
I share your sighs,
Your wordless intercessions.

In my darkness, Lord,
Please give me sight,
For I am blind.

In my darkness you are all –
I seek you, Lord,
And find.

Seek and you will find (Luke 11:9; NIV).

References 

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). 

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? (1 Corinthians 6:19; NLT). 

Pray in the Holy Spirit (Jude 1:20; RSV). 

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

Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy (Isaiah 35:5-6; NIV). 

17.3.23: Praise

Ruth Kirk


Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth” (Luke 10:21; NET). 

I praise you, Lord of heaven and earth,
For you renew my strength.

I praise you, Christ, the Counsellor,
For you have made me whole.

I praise you, Spirit, Mighty God,
For you restore my life.

I praise you, Threefold Prince of Peace,
For you redeem my soul.

I will praise the Lord at all times (Psalm 34:1; NLT). 

References

Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6; KJV).

He renews my strength (Psalm 23:3; NLT).

He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:5; RSV).

His good favour restores one’s life (Psalm 30:5; NET). 

The Lord redeems the soul of his servants (Psalm 34:22; NKJV).