Category: spirit

You are the potter

Ruth Kirk

We are the clay, and you are the potter.
We all are formed by your hand
(Isaiah 64:8; NLT). 

You are the potter,
I, the clay.
You are my life, my truth,
My way;

My flesh, my mind,
My heart, my soul:
You are the One
Who makes me whole.

You are my breath,
My hope, my end:
My Shepherd King;
My steadfast Friend.

You are my crook,
My staff, my rod;
My light, my fire,
My peace: my God.

Yet we are one,
Our love, complete:
I lay my spirit
At your feet.

❤️

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

The air we breathe

Ruth Kirk

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

Lord,

You’re in the air
We breathe,
Our food and water,
All we see;

In our bodies,
Minds, hearts, spirits:
Waiting, Lord,
To set us free;

For you cherish
All your children,
Loving us
Unfailingly.

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

You will heal my sickness (#6 of 6 linked prayers)

Ruth Kirk

He will heal us
(Hosea 6:1; NLT).

You will heal my sickness,
My depression, fear, and pain;

You will cleanse my sins, Lord God, 
And give me strength again;

You will ransom me from death,
And give me life anew –

When you call my spirit home,
To reunite with you.

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

Made from dust

Ruth Kirk

The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person
(Genesis 2:7; NLT).

You made my body
Out of dust,
And formed me
In my mother’s womb;

My mind, Lord, 
From the good and bad
You send
To help me grow and bloom.

You made my heart
From your great love,
Poured out through Jesus
Here on earth;

My soul, Lord,
From the breath of life
With which you quickened me
At birth.

The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Mighty quickens me
(Job 33:4; LSV).

Failing

Ruth Kirk

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).

Lord,
My health is failing:
I’m weary, slow, and lame.

Please help me still to walk with you,
Rejoice,
And praise your name. 

My spirit, Lord, is failing:
Forgetful, sad,
And weak.

Please help me still to wait for you,
To listen, pray,
And seek.

Yet, still, my heart is strong, Lord:
Forever,
We are one.

Please help me to accept my lot
With thanks:
Your will be done. 

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).

Darkness is the same as light

Ruth Kirk

1. Darkness is the same
As light:
Both conceal God
From my sight.

2. Wrapped in shadow,
Dazzling bright,
He guides my spirit,
Day and night.

3. Light and dark
Are just the same:
Both declare
His sacred name,

4. Which cleanses me
Of sin and shame,
And sets my dying heart
Aflame.


References

1. Darkness and light are the same to you (Psalm 139:12; NLT).

He made darkness his covering (Psalm 18:11; NIV).

He lives in light so brilliant that no human can approach him. No human eye has ever seen him, nor ever will (1 Timothy 6:16; NLT).

2. He shrouded himself in darkness (2 Samuel 22:12; NLT).

The Lord wraps himself in light as with a garment (Psalm 104:2; NIV).

He is clothed in dazzling splendour (Job 37:22; NLT).

The Lord went ahead of them. He guided them during the day with a pillar of cloud, and he provided light at night with a pillar of fire. this allowed them to travel by day or by night (Exodus 13:21; NLT).

3. The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge (Psalm 19:1-2; NIV).

What a holy and awe-inspiring name he has! (Psalm 111:9; NLT).

4. You were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God (1 Corinthians 6:11; NLT).

My days vanish like smoke, my bones burn like glowing embers (Psalm 102:3; NIV).

Everyone will be salted with fire (Mark 9:49; NIV).

This cross

Ruth Kirk

Image: Ruth Kirk

🌺

1. This cross, Lord,
Is my closest friend.

2. I’ll bear it daily
Till life’s end,

3. When I must leave
All things behind –

4. Possessions, body,
Heart and mind –

5. Except my spirit,
Which will soar

6. To join with yours,
For evermore.

🌺

References

1. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple (Luke 14:27; RSV).

2. 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).

3. God said to him, “You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?” (Luke 12:20; NLT).

4. I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I depart (Job 1:21; NIV).

5. Those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles (Isaiah 40:31; NLT).

We […] will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17; NLT).

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

A vision in a dream 19.2.21.

Ruth Kirk

Image: Albrecht Fietz, Pixabay

***

1. Out in the estuary,
Dragged from the shore.

2. The current, relentless;
My strength is no more.

3. There’s no turning back now:
I’ve drifted too far –

4. Down to the river-mouth;
Over the bar.

5. The ocean, before me;
The future, unknown.

6. The start of my journey –
Afraid, and alone.

7. Drawn by the ebb-tide
I’m swept out to sea.

8. My days are completed:
My spirit flies free.

*****

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

The dawn of your love

Ruth Kirk

Image: Ulrike Leone, Pixabay

🌕

1. Each day, Lord,
I wake in the dawn of your love,
And pray
In your heavenly light.

2. Each morning,
I wash in the fall of your dew,
Then take up my cross
In your sight.

3. Each evening,
I rest in the shade of your wings,
Then sleep in your arms
All night through.

4. But one day you’ll call
My frail spirit back home —
Then I’ll reunite, Lord,
With you.

Image: MustangJoe, Pixabay

References

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

Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and he shall hear my voice (Psalm 55:17; NKJV).

I am the light of the world (John 8:12; NLT).

2. Your dew is like the dew of the morning (Isaiah 26:19; NIV).

Let my teaching fall on you like rain; let my speech settle like dew (Deuteronomy 33:13; NLT).

I will be to Israel like a refreshing dew from heaven (Hosea 14:5; NLT).

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).

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

All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings (Psalm 36:7; NLT).

The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms (Deuteronomy 33:27; NIV).

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

Then the dust will return to the earth, and the spirit will return to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7; NLT).

I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one (John 17:21; NLT).

Dying

Ruth Kirk

Image: Abdullah Ahmed, Pixabay

🖤

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).

Lord,

1. Hold me gently
In your arms,
For I am weak, and ill.

2. Join my drifting thoughts
With yours,
And let me hear you, still.

3. Keep my heart, Lord,
Safe in yours,
So love is all I know.

4. Then take my spirit
In your hands,
And let my body go.

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

References

1. I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls (Matthew 11:29; NLT).

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

He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart (Isaiah 40:11; NLT).

Have compassion on me, Lord, for I am weak (Psalm 6:2; NLT).

I am dying (Genesis 48:21; NKJV).

2. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5; NKJV).

We have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16; NLT).

After the fire [he heard] a still small voice (1 Kings 19:12; KJV).

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

4. Into your hands I commit my spirit (Psalm 31:5; NIV).

Yes, my soul, find rest in God (Psalm 62:5; NIV).