Category: strength

Speak to me

Ruth Kirk
Image: Elias Sch, Pixabay

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

Lord,

1. Speak to me with words of peace:
Abate the tempest
in my mind.

2. Speak to me with words of truth:
Reveal your presence
In my heart.

3. Speak to me with words of hope:
Dispel the shadows
in my soul.

4. Speak to me with words of love:
Restore my strength,
And make me whole.

References

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

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

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

You are the temple of the living God (2 Corinthians 6:16; NLT).

3. God [is] the source of hope (Romans 15:13; NLT).

My God turns my darkness into light (Psalm 18:28; NIV).

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

He restores my strength (Psalm 23:3; NET).

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

Dead leaves

Ruth Kirk
Image: Ruth Kirk

Lord,

1. Sheltered by last year’s dead leaves,
Can I spring up anew?

2. Shielded by last year’s sparse crop,
Can I bear fruit, like you?

3. Nourished by last year’s parched growth,
Can I accept your will?

4. Strengthened by last year’s dry stems,
Can I, Lord, serve you, still?

References

1. Some [seed] fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root (Matthew 13:5-6; NIV).

2. It has been planted, but will it thrive? Will it not wither completely when the east wind strikes it? (Ezekiel 17:10; NIV).

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-3; NRSV).

3. He nourished them with honey from the rock and olive oil from the stony ground (Deuteronomy 32:13; NLT).

May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10; NLT).

4. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised (Job 1:21; NIV).

Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only (Luke 4:8; NIV).

Wake from the nightmare

Ruth Kirk
Image: Johannesburg Plenio, Pixabay

Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows
(John 16:33; NLT).

1. Let’s wake from the the nightmare
Of childhood,
And think of the mountains
We’ve crossed.

2. Let’s cast off the hell
Of our parents,
And rise above all
We have lost.

3. Let’s wake in the light
Of God’s kingdom
To think of his Son,
And forgive.

4. Let’s cast off depression
And darkness,
And rise in his strength –
Then we’ll live!

Image: nonmisvegliate, Pixabay

References

1. Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you (Ephesians 5:14; NIV).

The gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult (Matthew 7:14; NLT).

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me (Psalm 23:4; NLT).

2. Banish anxiety from you heart and and cast off the troubles of your body (Ecclesiastes 11:10; NIV).

The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised (Job 1:21; NIV).

3. [Give] joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light (Colossians 1:12; NIV).

If you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you (Matthew 6:14; NIV).

4. Those who wait for the Lord’s help find renewed strength; they rise up as if they had eagles’ wings, they run without growing weary, they walk without getting tired (Isaiah 40:31; NET).

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10; NLT).

If we seek the Lord (#2 of 2 linked prayers)

Ruth Kirk
Photo: geralt

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).

1. If we seek the Lord
With all our strength
Then we will find.

2. If we knock
Upon his door, it opens –
In our mind.

3. If we ask him,
He will heal our hearts
And make us whole.

4. Then we’ll love the Lord
In all we meet,
And in our soul.

References

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

2. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you (Matthew 7:7; NLT). 

3. Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for (Matthew 7:7; NLT). 

4. Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me (Matthew 25:40; NIV).

The kingdom of God is within you (Luke 17:21; KJV).

Listening

Ruth Kirk
Photo: falco

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

Lord,

1. I’m neither strong,
Nor energetic.

2. There’s very little
I can do for others.

3. But I can listen patiently,
Offering love and comfort,

4. Sharing the load
Of those I meet

5. Who struggle with life’s
Burdens, trials, and sorrows.

References

1,2. He knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust (Psalm 103:14; NLT).

3. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-3; NRSV).

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them (Romans 12:9; NLT).

[God] comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble (2 Corinthians 1:4; NIV).

4. If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles (Matthew 5:4; NLT).

As they led Jesus away, a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, happened to be coming in from the countryside. The soldiers seized him and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus (Luke 23:26; NLT).

Mourn with those who mourn (Romans 12:15; NRSV).

5. Come to me all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30; NLT).

Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows (John 16:33; NLT).

Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me (Matthew 25:40; NIV).

You pour out light

Ruth Kirk

Each day the Lord pours out his unfailing love upon me
(Psalm 42:8; NLT).

1. Lord,
You pour out light each day,
Yet you still have more to send.

2. Lord,
You pour out fire each day,
Yet your strength will never end.

3. Lord,
You pour out truth each day,
Yet your words are never stale.

4. Lord,
You pour out peace each day,
Yet its source will never fail.

5. Lord,
You pour out life each day,
Yet your well is never dry.

6. Lord,
You pour out love each day,
Yet your heart will never die.

References

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

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

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

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

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

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

Love never ends (1 Corinthians 13:8; CSB).

You are the stars

Ruth Kirk

1. You are the stars in the sky, Lord;
You are the heavens and earth;

2. You are the lands, seas, and creatures;
You are our advent and birth.

3. You are the strength in our bodies;
You are our blood and our breath;

4. You are the love in our hearts, Lord,
You are our life and our death.

5. You are the One who forgives, Lord;
You are the One who makes whole;

6. You are the One who has mercy;
You are our God, and our soul.

References

1. There is […] one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all
(Ephesians 4:5-6; NLT).

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

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; WEB).

3. The Lord God is my strength (Isaiah 12:2; NLT).

There is a spirit within people, the breath of the Almighty within them (Job 32:8; NLT).

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

In him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28, NIV).

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

5. He forgives all my sins (Psalm 103:2; NLT).

I am the Lord, who heals you (Exodus 15:27; NIV).

6. The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! (Exodus 34:6; NLT).

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

You are the temple of the living God (2 Corinthians 6:16; NLT).

We all share the same Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13; NLT).