stillness – Seeking God's face together

God of silence

December 21, 2021Ruth Kirk

O God, do not be silent!
(Psalm 83:1; NLT).

God of silence, speak to me:
Tell me where I’m going wrong.

God of stillness, shake me up:
Show me how I need to change.

God of exile, pain, and fear:
Draw my heart to you, in need.

God of darkness, light my way:
I will follow where you lead.

✝️

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

I wait for you

December 14, 2021December 14, 2021Ruth Kirk

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.
(Psalm 37:7; NIV).

I wait for you in stillness, Lord,
Craving your living bread,

And look for you in silence,
Seeking your fountainhead.

I search for you in solitude,
Longing for your embrace,

But find you in my darkness,
For this is your dwelling-place.

🖤

The Lord has set the sun in the heavens,
but has said that he would dwell in thick darkness.
(1 Kings 8:12; RSV).

You are the temple of the living God.
(Luke 17:21; NKJV).

Storm

December 8, 2021Ruth Kirk

A fierce storm came up (Mark 4:37; NLT).

Rain beats on my window, Lord.
The ocean rages day and night.

I close my eyes, and see a cross
Surrounded by your gentle light.

I look afresh, but waves still break
Upon the shore: they’re rising fast.

I close my eyes again, to seek your peace:
The storm is stilled, at last.

🖤

Rain beats on my window, Lord.
My mind has tossed and turned all night.

I close my eyes, and see a cross
Surrounded by your steadfast light.

I look afresh, but fear still rises
In my heart, which pulses fast.

I close my eyes again to find your peace:
My soul is stilled, at last.

🖤

He calmed the storm to a whisper and stilled the waves.
(Psalm 107:29; NLT).

The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
(Matthew 7:25; NIV).

In darkness

July 18, 2021Ruth Kirk

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

I grope towards you, Lord,
In darkness,

Blunder,
On your narrow way;

Burdened
By my trials and sorrows,

Trusting you, Lord,
Every day.

I grope towards you, Lord,
In silence;

Lost in stillness;
All alone;

Yearning, Lord,
To see your face,

When you draw near
To take me home.

They shall see his face
(Revelation 22:4; KJV).

Lost in stillness (#2 of 2 linked poems)

May 24, 2021May 24, 2021Ruth Kirk

Be still and know that I am God.
(Psalm 46:10; NIV)

  Lost in stillness;
Lost in prayer.
Lost in silence,
Joy, and light.

Lost in beauty;
Lost in love.
Lost in darkness:
Lost in God.

One in stillness;
One in prayer.
One in silence,
Joy, and light.

One in beauty;
One in love.
One in darkness:
One in God.

He has made known to us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of his will, according to his purpose which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
(Ephesians 1:9-10; RSV)

☦️

Start in silence

February 3, 2021Ruth Kirk

Image: Niek Verlaan, Pixabay

🧡

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

1. Start in silence.
Wait alone.
Make the Lord
Your hiding-place.

Share each grief and fear
With him,
Then God will heal you,
Deep within.

2. Live in stillness.
Go apart.
Make the Lord
Your dwelling-place.

Love and serve
With all your soul,
Then God will come
To make you whole.

3. End in darkness.
Slip away.
Make the Lord
Your resting-place.

He will share
Your final breath,
Then take you home, at last,
In death.

🧡

References

1. You are my hiding place (Psalm 32:7; NLT).

Pour out your hearts to him (Psalm 62:8; NIV).

He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases (Psalm 103:3; NLT).

2. The eternal God is your dwelling place (Deuteronomy 33:27; ESV).

Jesus left the crowds to pray alone (Luke 9:18; NLT).

You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind (Luke 10:27; NLT).

Serve only the Lord your God (Deuteronomy 13:4; NLT).

Upon him was the chastisement that made us whole (Isaiah 53:5; RSV).

3. His resting place will be glorious (Isaiah 11:10; NASB).

In all their suffering he also suffered (Isaiah 63:9; NLT).

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

I wait

February 2, 2021Ruth Kirk

Image: James Chan, Pixabay

🖤

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

1. I wait, still and silent.
I worship you, Lord.
I listen; I learn;
And I share.

2. I am your body,
Your breath, bone, and blood;
And we live as one, Lord,
Through prayer.

3. You know all my feelings;
My thoughts, words, and deeds.
You are my light, truth,
And way.

4. You are my faith, and my hope,
And my love —
So, let’s start afresh, Lord,
Today.

🧡

References

1. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him (Psalm 37:7; NIV).

Be silent before the Sovereign Lord (Zephaniah 1:7; NIV).

Worship the Lord in all his holy splendour (Psalm 96:9; NLT).

I listen carefully to what God the Lord is saying (Psalm 85:8; NLT).

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart (Matthew 11:29; NKJV).

Pray about everything (Philippians 4:6; NLT).

Pour out your hearts to him (Psalm 62:8; NIV).

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

2. You are Christ’s body (1 Corinthians 12:27; NASB).

You 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).

You have received the Holy Spirit and he lives within you (1 John 2:27; NLT).

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

3. O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me (Psalm 139:1; NLT).

You know my thoughts even when I’m far away (Psalm 139:2; NLT).

You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord (Psalm 139:4; NLT).

You know everything I do (Psalm 139:3; NLT).

The Lord is my light (Psalm 27:1; NLT).

I am the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6; NLT).

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

Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord (Lamentations 3:40; KJV).

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-3; ESV).

Be still

January 13, 2021Ruth Kirk

Image: Karl Egger, Pixabay

💙

1. Be still,
And know that I am God,
Who made both heaven and earth.

2. Be still,
And know that I, alone,
Cause genesis, and birth.

3. Be still,
And know that I am God,
Who gives all creatures breath.

4. Be still,
And know that I am He
Who sends both life and death.

💙

References

1. Be still and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10; NIV).

He made heaven and earth (Psalm 146:6; NLT).

2. Stand still and watch the Lord’s victory (2 Chronicles 20:17; NLT).

He alone is God (1 Timothy 1:17; NLT).

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

3. Make yourselves low — sit still (Jeremiah 13:18, YLT).

You are the God who gives breath to all creatures (Numbers 27:16; NLT).

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