Now that I am old and grey,
do not abandon me, O God
(Psalm 71:18; NLT).
Father,
I am old and weary,
Sick and fragile,
Weak, in pain.
Give me, Lord,
The hope I long for;
Grant me, Lord,
Your strength again.
Father,
I am sad and lonely,
Selfish,
Sinful to the core.
Send me, Lord,
The faith I search for;
Show me, Lord,
Your love once more.
Show me your unfailing love
(Psalm 17:7; NLT).
There is but one God, the Father
(1 Corinthians 8:6; NIV).
There is one God,
Beyond all time and space,
Who, by his Word,
Created all there is:
Stars, sun, and earth,
Plants, creatures, humankind.
They change; they age;
He sweeps them all away.
There is one Lord,
His Scion, Jesus Christ,
Sent forth by God
To save us from our sins;
Who lived and died for all,
Then rose again,
To guide us in his footsteps
Every day.
There is one Spirit,
Flowing out from God,
Whose love rekindles minds and hearts
Grown cold;
Who gives us strength, new hope,
And helps us pray;
Then carries back to God
Each humble soul.
References
There is but one Lord, Jesus Christ
(1 Corinthians 8:6; NIV).
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).
The Lord is One
(Deuteronomy 6:4; BSB).
Christ is all that matters…
You are the centre of my world,
Son of the living God.
You are the centre of my day:
My love, my strength, my peace.
You are the centre of my faith:
My light, my truth, my call.
You are the centre of my life:
My heart, my soul, my all.
…and he lives in all of us
(Colossians 3:11; NLT).
Image: Vaishakh Pillai, Unsplash
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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).
1. Lord,
You know how worn I am:
Give me your mind,
So I can pray.
2. Lord,
You know how blind I am:
Give me your eyes,
To see the way.
3. Lord,
You know how weak I am:
Give me your strength,
So I may care.
4. Lord,
You know how cold I am:
Give me your heart,
To love, and share.
5. Lord,
You know how spent I am:
Give me your soul,
So I can feel.
6. Lord,
You know how sick I am:
Give me your hands,
So I may heal.
✙
References
1. 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).
2. When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven (John 17:1; RSV).
3. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless (Isaiah 40:29; NLT).
Those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles (Isaiah 40:31; NLT).
4. I will give you a new heart…
5. …and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26; NIV).
I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose. Yet I leave it all in the Lord’s hand (Isaiah 49:4; NLT).
6. Heal the sick, and tell them, “The Kingdom of God is near you now” (Luke 10:9; NLT).
Image: Ruth Kirk
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The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction.
But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God
(1 Corinthians 1:18; NLT).
1. Your cross
Is all that gives me patience:
It’s my peace, my truth,
My guide.
2. Your cross
Is all that gives me comfort,
Showing me
You’re at my side.
3. Your cross
Is all that gives me courage
In my fear, and grief,
And pain.
4. Your cross
Is all that gives me strength
To call upon
Your holy name.
He made you holy by means of Christ Jesus,
just as he did for people everywhere
who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
their Lord and ours
(1 Corinthians 1:2; NLT).
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Image: Ruth Kirk
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The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18; NLT).
1. Lord, this cross is made of fire –
It burns within my hands,
And gives me all the strength I need
To face life’s harsh demands.
2. This little cross is made of light –
It shines on my dark road,
And gives me all the strength I need
To bear my heavy load.
3. This simple cross is made of truth –
It teaches me your way,
And gives me all the strength I need
To follow you each day.
4. This humble cross is made of peace –
It tells me you are near,
And gives me all the strength I need
To face my pain and fear.
5. This precious cross is made of love –
It shows me how you save,
And gives me all the strength I need
To hold fast, and be brave.
I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength
(Philippians 4:13; NLT).
🧡
References
1. God is a raging fire (Deuteronomy 4:24; GW).
With your help I can advance against a troop, with my God I can scale a wall (2 Samuel 22:30; NIV).
2. God is light (1 John 1:5; NIV).
Then Jesus said, “Come to me all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light” (Matthew 11:28-30; NLT).
3. The Spirit is truth (1 John 5:6; NKJV).
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).
4. The Lord is peace (Judges 6:24; NLT).
If we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering (Romans 8:17; NLT).
5. God is love (1 John 4:16; NLT).
It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him (Deuteronomy 13:4; NIV).
Be brave and courageous (Psalm 27:14; NLT).
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).
Image: mystraysoul, Pixabay
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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).
1. I have no words
To praise you, Lord,
To thank you,
Or accept your will.
2. I have no strength
To cry aloud;
Instead, I wait,
Alone, and still.
3. I have no voice
To beg for help,
Rejoice in you,
Or mourn my loss.
4. I have no breath
To worship you –
All I can do
Is share your cross.
💙
References
1. Praise him forever (Psalm 111:10; NLT).
If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine (Matthew 26:39; NLT).
2. My strength has dried up like sunbaked clay. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You have lain me in the dust and left me for dead (Psalm 22:15; NLT).
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him (Psalm 37:7; NIV).
Turn to me and have mercy, for I am alone and in deep distress (Psalm 25:16; NLT).
3. I am so troubled that I cannot speak (Psalm 77:4; ESV).
From the depths of despair, O Lord, I call for your help (Psalm 130:1; NLT).
Pour out your heart to him (Psalm 62:8; NLT).
I grieve over my loss (Lamentations 3:20; NLT).
4. My strength is gone, and I can hardly breathe (Daniel 10:17; NLT).
Worship the Lord in all his holy splendour (1 Chronicles 16:29; NLT).
If we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering (Romans 8:17; NLT).
Let’s go, too – and die with Jesus (John 11:16; NLT).
If we die with him, we will also live with him. If we endure hardship, we will reign with him (2 Timothy 2:11-12; NLT).
Image: Pezibear, Pixabay
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You have allowed me to suffer much hardship,
but you will restore me to life again
(Psalm 71:20; NLT).
1. Lord,
Refill me with your light,
For mine is burning low.
Rekindle me with your bright fire,
For mine has ceased to glow.
2. Lord,
Renew me with your truth,
Which I no longer see.
Refresh me with your perfect peace –
Make haste to comfort me.
3. Lord,
Rebuild me with your hope,
For mine has long run out.
Replenish me with faith and trust,
So I don’t yield to doubt.
4. Lord,
Reform me with your grace,
Or I will cease to live.
Restore me with your constant love –
I’ve nothing left to give.
5. Lord,
Repair me with your strength,
Or I will not survive.
Please give me back your boundless joy,
For then I will revive.
🧡
References
1. God is light (1 John 1:5; NIV).
The Lord will be your permanent source of light (Isaiah 60:19; NET).
God is a raging fire (Deuteronomy 4:24; GW).
2. The Spirit is truth (1 John 5:6; NKJV).
The Lord is peace (Judges 6:24; NLT).
God [is] the source of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3; NLT).
3. God [is] the source of hope (Romans 15:13; NLT).
Help us, O Lord our God, for we trust in you alone (2 Chronicles 14:11; NLT).
Jesus [is]the source and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2; CSB).
4. He gives us grace (Psalm 84:11; NLT).
God is love (1 John 4:16; NLT).
5. The sovereign Lord is my source of strength (Habakkuk 3:19; NET).
God [is] the source of all my joy (Psalm 43:4; NLT).
Image: LoggaWiggler, Pixabay
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God is love,
and all who live in love live in God,
and God lives in them
(1 John 4:16; NLT).
1. Your breath
In my body,
2. Your life
In my blood;
3. Your strength
In my weakness,
4. Your fire
In my love;
5. Your light
In my blindness,
6. Your truth
In my soul;
7. Your Word
In my heart, Lord —
8. At last,
I am whole.
🧡
References
1. The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life (Job 33:4; NLT).
2. The Word gave life to everything that was created (John 1:4; NLT).
Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you (John 6:53; NIV).
The life of the body is in its blood (Leviticus 17:11; NLT).
Christ lives within you (Romans 8:10; NLT).
3. My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9; NLT).
4. Love flashes like fire, the brightest kind of flame (Song of Songs 8:6; NLT).
5. I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth (Isaiah 42:16; NIV).
6. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth (John 16:13; NLT).
You have received the Holy Spirit and he lives within you (1 John 2:27; NLT).
I am the way the truth and the life (John 14:6; NIV).
7. I have hidden your word in my heart (Psalm 119:11; NLT).
He is the Word of life (1 John 1:1; NLT).
Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us (Colossians 3:11; NLT).
8. Then at last everyone will say, “There truly is a reward for those who live for God” (Psalm 58:11; NLT).
Upon him was the chastisement that made us whole (Isaiah 53:5; RSV).