Category: spirit

31.10.23: Whatever you want (for L.S.)

Ruth Kirk

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

Give me teaching so that I may do your pleasure; for you are my God: let your good Spirit be my guide into the land of righteousness (Psalm 143:10; BBE). 

Whatever you want me to do,

I will do;
And whatever you want me to say,
I will say.

Whenever you want me to write,
I will write;
And whenever you want me to pray,
I will pray.

Wherever you want me to be,
I will be;
And however you want me to serve,
I will try.

Lord,
While you want me to live,
I will live;
And the moment you take back my soul,
I will die.

This night your soul will be required of you (Luke 12:20; NKJV).

References

Let the Holy Spirit guide your lives (Galatians 5:16; NLT).

Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives (Galatians 5:25; NLT).

Everyone whose heart was moved, everyone who was guided by the impulse of his spirit, came with his offering for the Lord, for whatever was needed (Exodus 35:21; BBE).

See now that I am He; there is no God besides Me. I bring death and I give life (Deuteronomy 32:39; MSB).

The LORD gives both death and life (1 Samuel 2:6; NLT). 

When you take away their breath, they die and turn again to dust (Psalm 104:29; NLT).

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

12.10.23: Consolation (for L.S.)

Ruth Kirk
myersalex216: Pixabay.

Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from beginning to end, you are God (Psalm 90:2; NLT).

Father,
My Creator, and my King:
You are God,
Who makes my spirit sing.

Jesus Christ,
My origin, and aim:
You are God,
Who shares my joy and pain.

Holy Ghost,
My Helper, deep within:
You are God,
Who rescues me from sin.

Lord,
My consolation, and my goal:
You are God,
Who longs to make me whole.

They will come weeping, but I will bring them back with consolation. I will lead them to wadis filled with water, by a smooth way where they will not stumble (Jeremiah 31:9; CSB). 

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

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

21.9.23: Into your hands

Ruth Kirk
penchr: Pixabay.

A few days ago, when I was praying without words, I “saw” these verses. It took only a few minutes to make some notes, but the rest of the day to put them into words.

The Father loves his Son and has put everything into his hands.
John 3:35; NLT.

Into your hands
I commend my pleasures,
Ending my time here on earth.

Into your hands
I consign my darkness,
Leaving the land of my birth.

Into your hands
I entrust my anguish,
Setting my life here aside.

Into your hands
I commit my spirit,
Jesus, my Saviour and Guide.

Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.
Luke 23:46; NIV.

The LORD will guide you always.
Isaiah 58:11; NIV.

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.

2.9.23: Back to you

Ruth Kirk
Annunciation by Maestro Daddesco: Creative Commons.

Yesterday I returned home late in the evening,  exhausted after a hospital trip to the United Kingdom, so for today I’ve picked this little prayer from my precious store of unused pieces.

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

Call my mind, Lord,
Back to you,
For it is yours alone.

Call my heart, Lord,
Back to you,
For it is all your own.

Call my soul, Lord,
Back to you,
When every day is done.

Call my spirit
Back to you, Lord,
When my race is run.

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

16.8.23: Beyond praise

Ruth Kirk
Blumary: Pixabay.

Yesterday I was praying without words in brilliant, white light when this hymn of praise began to arrive. Thinking about it afterwards, the light seemed to be both inside me and all around me. Everything was one, and I was one with everything. I couldn’t see anything but the brightness, which was very beautiful. These verses proved exceptionally difficult to express in words, and I don’t feel I did the whole experience justice at all.

Who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire (Malachi 3:2; NKJV).

1. You are my Maker,
Earth’s living Creator:
A shining, refining,
Unquenchable blaze.

2. You are my Teacher,
My Prophet and Preacher;
My yearning: returning, Lord,
All of my days.

3. You are my treasure,
My wealth beyond measure;
Compelling, indwelling:
My spirit obeys.

4. You are my story,
My future, my glory;
My crying, my dying, Lord:
Far beyond praise.

The Lord our God is great beyond all gods (2 Chronicles 2:5; BST).

References 

Verse 1
* He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire (Matthew 3:1; NIV).
* The LORD your God is a consuming fire (Deuteronomy 4:24; NIV).

Verse 2
* I long and yearn for the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh cry out for the living God (Psalm 84:2; CSB).
* Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him (Hebrews 9:28; NLT).

Verse 3
* The kingdom of heaven is like treasure, buried in a field, that a man found and reburied. Then in his joy he goes and sells everything he has and buys that field (Matthew 13:44; CSB).
* Look, I am coming soon! Blessed are those who obey the words of prophecy written in this book (Revelation 22:7; NLT).

Verse 4
* 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 (Romans 8:23; NLT).
* The LORD God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory (Psalm 84:11; NLT).

26.7.23: My Alpha, my Omega

Ruth Kirk
Didgeman: Pixabay.

This prayer quickly overtook me when I began to pray yesterday morning. I didn’t even realise what was happening: the first two lines arrived together, then the whole piece slowly took shape, little by little.

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 ground of my being
And source of my soul,
My Alpha, my Omega:
You are my goal.

The dawn of conception,
Of birth, and of breath,
My Alpha, my Omega:
You conquer death.

My reason for living,
My meaning, my cause,
My Alpha, my Omega:
Lord, I am yours.

The God of creation
Beyond space and time,
My Alpha, my Omega:
Lord, you are mine.

My Maker, my essence,
My spirit, my song,
My Alpha, my Omega:
Lord, we are one.

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

21.7.23: Your willing slave

Ruth Kirk
RobertCheaib: Pixabay.

This prayer began to come to me while I was weeping just after Mass last Wednesday. I haven’t been able to go to church for a very long time, but I now have a powered wheelchair, so can start to go again, when I’m well enough. Being there was an overwhelming experience, hence my tears. Astonishingly, it took about 24 hours for this prayer to arrive fully.

I love you, LORD (Psalm 18:1; NLT). 

I love you more and more, my God, 
But serve you less and less,
And yet, I know you understand
My weakness and distress:

For I am still your willing slave,
Despite my sin and shame –
Lord, as you take my liberty,
I bless your Holy Name.

I serve you less and less, my God,
But love you more and more,
And, though you take my health away,
You make my spirit soar:

For I am still your willing slave,
Trying to do my best –
Lord, as you take my life away,
Help me to face each test.

The LORD is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving (Psalm 28:7; NLT). 

19.7.23. I love you

Ruth Kirk
A photo of my most precious icon.

Yesterday morning this prayer came to me whilst I was worshipping very sleepily. I didn’t want to break off, but I had to start writing it down in the end. It proved very difficult to express. I’m really sorry that my words are so inadequate and pedestrian, and wish I could do better.

I love you, Lord (Psalm 18:1; NLT). 

1. “I love you” –
This is my spirit’s song;
May I repeat it
All day long,
And serve you well,
And do no wrong:
My Teacher.

2. “I love you” –
Lord, though my heart may break,
I’ll say these words
When I awake,
And lift up others
For your sake:
My Saviour.

3. “I love you” –
This is my only prayer,
For you are with me
Everywhere;
One Lord, one God,
Without compare:
My Jesus.

“My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed.
(John 20:28; NLT). 

Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
(Philippians 2:9-11; NLT).

References 

Verse 1:
🔻 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am (John 13:13; NLT).
🔻 Pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:16; NIV).
🔻 Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me (Matthew 25:40; NIV).

Verse 2:
🔻 Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! (Habakkuk 3:17-18; NLT).
🔻 When I wake up, you are still with me (Psalm 139:18; NLT).
🔻 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).
🔻 May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior give you grace and peace (Titus 1:4; NLT).

Verse 3:
🔻 I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20; NLT).
🔻 Nothing can ever separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:38; NLT).
🔻 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. 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 4:4-6; NLT).
🔻 This faith was given to you because of the justice and fairness of Jesus Christ, our God and Savior (2 Peter 1:1; NLT).
🔻 The Father and I are one (John 10:30; NLT).
🔻 This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ (2 Thessalonians 1:12; NLT).
🔻 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being (Hebrews 1:3; NIV). 

15.7.23: Here

Ruth Kirk
41330: Pixabay.

Yesterday, when I woke and started to pray as usual, these two groups of linked couplets quickly came to me. They were quite hard to put into words, but slowly, line by line, the whole piece emerged from my inner darkness.

Be silent before the LORD, all humanity
for he is springing into action from his holy dwelling.
(Zechariah 2:13; NLT).

1. Here, in silent adoration,
Lord, I wake, and start to pray.

Here, in stillness: exultation –
Thus, Lord, I begin each day.

Here, I find you, always waiting:
Yahweh, you’re not far away.

❤️

2. Here, alone, in wordless worship,
Lord, you set my spirit free.

Here, in darkness: one with you –
There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.

Here, in timeless liberation:
This is heaven, Lord, for me.

Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said,
“Surely the LORD is in this place,
and I wasn’t even aware of it!”
(Genesis 28:16; NLT).

References 

First three couplets:
🔻 We adore you as the one who is over all things (1 Chronicles 29:11; NLT).
🔻 Be still, and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10; NLT).
🔻 Exult in his holy name (1 Chronicles 16:10; NLT).
🔻 The LORD must wait for you to come to him (Isaiah 30:18; NLT).
🔻 He is not far from any one of us (Acts 17:27; NLT).

Second three couplets:
🔻 When you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private (Matthew 6:6; NLT).
🔻 Worship the LORD in all his holy splendor (1 Chronicles 16:29; NLT).
🔻 Our soul has gone free like a bird out of the net of those who would take her (Psalm 124:7; BBE).
🔻 Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light (Micah 7:8; NLT).
🔻 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).
🔻 What an awesome place this is! It is none other than the house of God, the very gateway to heaven! (Genesis 28:17; NLT).
🔻The kingdom of God is within you (Luke 17:21; KJV).
🔻 We are the temple of the living God. As God said: “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people” (2 Corinthians 6:16; NLT).
🔻 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).

27.6.23: Praise

Ruth Kirk
FrankySyggy: Pixabay.

I feel so concerned about the dreadful news from all around the world that today I have taken refuge in a personal song of praise for God:

I will praise the LORD,
and may everyone on earth bless his holy name
forever and ever.
(Psalm 145:21; NLT). 

I praise and bless your holy name,
And follow you, my Lord, who came
To set my hard, cold heart aflame
Through love.

Although I’m weary, sick and lame,
Your kingdom is my only aim:
Lord, please replace my sin and shame
With love.

Support my wretched, failing frame,
And neither judge me, Lord, nor blame,
But help my spirit to proclaim
Your love.

It is good to proclaim your unfailing love.
(Psalm 92:2; NLT).