Category: stillness

Night prayer

Ruth Kirk

Image: Patricia Alexandre, Pixabay

I lie awake thinking of you,
meditating on you through the night
(Psalm 63:6; NLT).

1. In silent contemplation
I adore you,
Opening my heart and soul
Before you;

2. Sharing all my joy, and fear
And sorrow;
Ready, Lord, to start again,
Tomorrow.

3. In silent contemplation
I adore you,
Resting here, alone, and still,
Before you;

4. Sharing in your joy, and fear
And sorrow;
Ready, Lord, to start again,
Tomorrow.

References

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

We adore you as the one who is over all things (1 Chronicles 29:11; NLT).

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

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

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

When I awake, I am still with you (Psalm 139:18; NIV).

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

When you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private (Matthew 6:6; NLT).

Be still in the presence of the Lord (Psalm 37:7; NLT).

4. If we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering (Romans 8:17; NLT).

His mercies begin afresh each morning (Lamentations 3:22; NLT).

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past (Isaiah 43:18; NIV).

Presence

Ruth Kirk

Image: Free-Photos, Pixabay

1. Darkness is as beautiful as light,
For you are present;

2. Solitude, as welcome as a friend,
For you are near.

3. Silence is as intimate as speech,
For you are with us;

4. Stillness, as dynamic, Lord, as dance,
For you are here.

References

1. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you (Psalm 139:12; NLT).

Surely the Lord is in this place, and I wasn’t even aware of it! (Genesis 28:16; NLT).

2. We can rejoice in our wonderful relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God (Romans 5:11; NLT).

We give thanks because you are near (Psalm 75:1; NLT).

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

God is with us (2 Chronicles 13:12; NLT).

4. The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us (Psalm 46:11; NLT).

Start afresh

Ruth Kirk

Image: Pixabay

Lord,

1. May I start afresh today,
And leave my setbacks
Far behind.

2. May I try again, Lord,
To be patient, frank,
And kind.

3. May my heart and mind
Commune with yours, Lord:
Silent, still,

4. As I listen for your quiet voice,
So I may do
Your will.

References

1. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning (Lamentations 3:23; NLT).

Get rid of your sins, and leave all iniquity behind you (Job 11:4; NLT).

2. Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control than to conquer a city (Proverbs 16:32; NLT).

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

A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people (2 Timothy 2:24; NLT).

Love your enemies and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish (Luke 6:35; RSV).

3. Pray constantly (1 Thessalonians 5:17; NIV).

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

Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge (Psalm 62:8; NLT).

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

Be still in the presence of the Lord (Psalm 37:7; NLT).

4. After the fire came a gentle whisper (1 Kings 19:12; NIV).

Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go” (Isaiah 30:21; NLT).

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing (Psalm 143:10; NLT).

God is the fire

Ruth Kirk

Image: Francisco de Zurbarán, Yandex

1. God is the fire
That blazes in darkness.
God is the lamp
That lights up the way.

2. God is the voice
That whispers in silence.
God is the truth
That goes out each day.

3. God is the peace
That settles in stillness.
God is the friend
That shares every loss.

4. God is the hope
That lives on forever.
God is the love
That died on the cross.

References

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

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

2. After the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper (1 Kings 19:12; NLT).

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

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

You are my friends (John 15:15; NLT).

4. You are my hope, O Lord God (Psalm 71:5; NKJV).

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

Darkness

Ruth Kirk

Image: Matthias Heil, Unsplash

1. When all my peace and joy
Are stripped away,
You are in the darkness I must face.

2. When all my health and strength
Are stripped away,
You are in the stillness I embrace.

3. When all my hopes and dreams
Are stripped away,
You are in the sorrow that remains.

4. When all I thought I had
Is stripped away,
You are in the silence, Lord, that reigns.

References

1. You have covered us with darkness (Psalm 44:19; NLT).

O Lord, you have said that you would live in a thick cloud of darkness (1 Kings 8:12; NLT).

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

2. My health is broken (Psalm 38:7; NLT).

My strength is gone (Daniel 10:17; NLT).

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

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).

3. My hopes have disappeared. My heart’s desires are broken (Job 17:11; NLT).

He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows (Isaiah 53:4; NIV).

4. Even what they think they have will be taken from them (Luke 8:18; NIV).

After the fire [came] a sound of sheer silence (1 Kings 19:12; NRSV).

In silence

Ruth Kirk
Image: mystraysoul, Pixabay

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

1. In silence, Lord,
I start afresh,
By seeking you
With every breath.

2. In stillness, Lord,
I try again,
By whispering
Your holy name.

3. In solitude,
I aim, once more,
To find you, Lord,
And to adore.

4. In darkness, Lord,
I hope anew,
And, reaching out,
I wait for you.

References

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

Search for the Lord (Psalm 105:4; NLT).

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

Yahweh is his name (Exodus 15:3; NLT).

3. When you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private (Matthew 6:6; NLT).

If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me (Jeremiah 29:13; NLT).

We adore you (1 Chronicles 29:11; NLT).

4. Sit now in darkness (Isaiah 47:5; NLT).

I will put my hope in God (Psalm 42:5; NLT).

Reach out for him (Acts 17:27; NIV).

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

Seek him in darkness

Ruth Kirk
Image: Christopher Kuszajewski, Pixabay

1. Seek him in darkness,
And find him in stillness.
Listen in silence,
And pray, on your own.

2. See him in paradox,
Active, unchanging:
Christ is in paradise,
Waiting, alone.

3. Meet him in darkness,
And bow down in stillness.
Christ speaks in silence:
His words fall like dew.

4. See him in paradox,
Active, unchanging:
Christ is in paradise,
Waiting for you.

References

1. Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him (Psalm 105:4; NLT).

Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light (Micah 7:8; NLT).

If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me (Jeremiah 29:13; NLT).

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

This is my Son, my Chosen One. Listen to him (Luke 9:35; NLT).

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

When you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private (Matthew 6:6; NLT).

2. You cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things (Ecclesiastes 11:5 NLT).

I the Lord do not change (Malachi 3:6; NIV).

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

The Lord must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion (Isaiah 30:18; NLT).

3. Moses approached the total darkness where God was (Exodus 20:21; CSB).

Bow down to him (2 Kings 17:36; NLT).

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

God speaks again and again, though people do not recognise it (Job 33:14; NLT).

Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew (Deuteronomy 32:2; NIV)

4. The Lord must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion (Isaiah 30:18; NLT).

Waiting (#2 of 2 linked prayers) Blog

Ruth Kirk
Image: 272447, Pixabay

Wait for the Lord (Psalm 37:34; NIV).

1. I wait in silence,
Ready to share your joy.

2. I wait in stillness,
Ready to share your life.

3. I wait, alone, Lord,
Ready to share your dread.

4. I wait in darkness,
Ready to share your light.

References

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

Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit (Luke 10:21; NLT).

I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! (John 15:11; NLT).

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

When Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory (Colossians 3:4; NLT).

3. When you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private (Matthew 6:6; NLT).

Being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground (Luke 22:44; NIV).

If we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering (Romans 8:17; NLT).

4. You have taken away my companions and my loved ones. Darkness is my closest friend (Psalm 88:18; NLT).

I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life (John 8:12; NLT).

Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light (Micah 7:8; NLT).

Waiting (#1of 2 linked prayers)

Ruth Kirk
Image: Bianca Mentil, Pixabay

Wait for the Lord (Psalm 37:34; NIV).

I long for the Lord more than sentries long for the dawn
(Psalm 130:6; NLT).

1. I wait in silence,
Longing to hear your voice.

2. I wait in stillness,
Longing to share your life.

3. I wait, alone, Lord,
Longing to take your hand.

4. I wait in darkness,
Longing to see your light.

References

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

After the fire [came] a still small voice (1 Kings 19:12; NKJV).

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

Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies (2 Corinthians 4:10; NLT).

3. When you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private (Matthew 6:6; NLT).

I will take you by the hand (Isaiah 42:6; NLT).

4. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light (Micah 7:8; NLT).

I wish…

Ruth Kirk
Image: Florian Kurz, Pixabay

1. Jesus, I love you.
My dear One, I love you so much.

2. I wish I could shout, Lord,
And sing at the top of my voice.

3. I wish I could beat out wild music
On drums, till they burst.

4. I wish I could run, Lord, and dance,
And turn cartwheels of joy.

5. I wish I could see you, embrace you,
And kiss your poor feet.

6. I wish I could cling to your hands,
As we weep for the world.

7. But I can do nothing alone,
So I long for your grace,

8. As I stumble in darkness, and silence, Lord,
Seeking your face.

References

1. I love you, Lord (Psalm 18:1; NLT).

2. Sing to him a new song; play skilfully and shout for joy (Psalm 33:3; NIV).

3. Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a hand-drum in her hand, and all the women went out after her with hand-drums and with dances (Exodus 15:20; NET).

4. David was dancing before the Lord with all his might (2 Samuel 6:14; NIV).

5. She knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet (Luke 7:38; NLT).

6. I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely (Psalm 63:8; NLT).

7. Without me you can do nothing (John 15:5; NKJV).

As a deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God (Psalm 42:1; NET).

He […] gives grace to the humble (Proverbs 3:34; NKJV).

8. Even at brightest noontime, we stumble as though it were dark (Isaiah 59:10; NLT).

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

My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, Lord, I will seek (Psalm 27:8; NIV).

Now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face (1 Corinthians 13:12; KJV).