Category: Trust

My life

Ruth Kirk

Then he said to the crowd, “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 love you, Lord,
Through thick and thin.
I want to serve,
And not to sin;

To turn away
From selfishness,
And comfort others
In distress;

To follow daily,
Bear my cross,
And trust in you
Through gain and loss:

For you’re my Lord,
My God, my Light;
My Bread, my Way,
My Truth, my Life.

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6; NLT).

References

Trust in God and trust also in me (John 14:1; NLT).

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

I am the light of the world (John 8:12; NLT).

Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35; NLT).

I am the living bread that came down from heaven (John 6:51; NLT).

 

Inner peace

Ruth Kirk

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world (John 16:33; NLT).

Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace] (James 1:3; AMP).

Introduction
Inner peace in the face of life’s many trials and sorrows is so precious, yet so difficult to reach and maintain. Fostering it requires deep devotion to God, to our spiritual development, and to loving others.

Inner peace
Inner peace does not rely on everything going well, or on reaching a point where our lives are calm and sorted. Rather, it means:

  • Having rock-solid faith in God, no matter what happens.
  • Constantly sharing everything with God in prayer, with total honesty.
  • Continuing to trust in God, even when we have lost all hope.
  • Clinging to God, even when we feel completely abandoned, as Jesus did on the cross.
  • Knowing that God will bring good out of all that happens to us, no matter how desperate our situation is.

Developing inner peace
Fortunately, inner peace does not rely solely on our own efforts. Rather, it is a gift from God:

  • I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid (John 14:27; NLT).

However, it does rely on us having a loving relationship, and a working partnership, with God.

Biblical guidance
Let’s see what guidance the Bible offers about how to develop inner peace through our relationship with God:

  • If you repent [and give up this mistaken attitude of despair and self-pity], then I will restore you [to a state of inner peace] so that you may stand before Me [as My obedient representative] (Jeremiah 15:19; AMP).
  • Blessed [comforted by inner peace and God’s love] are those who are persecuted for doing that which is morally right, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven [both now and forever] (Matthew 5:10; AMP).
  • Glory and honor and inner peace [will be given] to everyone who habitually does good (Romans 2:10; AMP).
  • The fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-23; AMP).
  • We who believe [that is, we who personally trust and confidently rely on God] enter that rest [so we have His inner peace now because we are confident in our salvation, and assured of His power (Hebrews 4:3; AMP).
  • Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace] (James 1:3; AMP).
  • We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them (Romans 8:28; NLT).

Conclusion
There can be no better conclusion to this short blog than the words of St. Paul:

  • I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfil His purpose – I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace] (Philippians 4:13; AMP).

References

I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built (Luke 6:47-8; NLT).

Then at three o’clock Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” (Mark 15:34; NLT).

Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last (Luke 23:46; NLT).

Let the peace of Christ [the inner calm of one who walks daily with Him] be the controlling factor in your hearts [deciding and settling questions that arise]. To this peace indeed you were called as members in one body [of believers]. And be thankful [to God always] (Colossians 3:15; AMP).

What is impossible for people is possible with God (Luke 18:27; NLT).

Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage (Psalm 84:5; NIV).

Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge] (John 14:27; AMP).

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).

 

When I wake

Ruth Kirk

When I wake up, you are still with me! (Psalm 139:18; NLT).

Yahweh, when I wake, each day,
May I turn to you, and pray,
Resolved, no matter what you send,
To cling, like Jesus, to the end.

Then, before I sleep each night,
Knowing that you’ve shared my plight,
With thanks for all the day has brought,
I’ll cling to you, as Jesus taught.

You in me, and I in you,
Trusting all your words are true,
I’ll walk with you from birth to death,
And cling, like Christ, till my last breath.

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; NLT).

References

Cling tightly to the LORD your God (Joshua 23:8; NLT).

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

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Saviour, who daily bears our burdens (Psalm 68:19; NIV).

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).

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).

 

Jesus’ faith

Ruth Kirk

I have written about Jesus’ faith before, but this week grasped its depth and significance even more clearly. Today I’ve tried to express this again, in the form of a prayer.

At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” (Matthew 27:46; NLT).

Lord Jesus,

Despite all the terrible pain and humiliation you suffered, you never lost your faith in God.

When you were dying on the cross, you felt abandoned by God, but even this didn’t make you reject God, or doubt Yahweh’s existence.

I know this because, with your final words, you still entrusted your soul into God’s hands.

There can be no deeper faith than yours.

Whatever happens to me, please help me to cling to my faith in God, just as you did, even if I, too, feel completely abandoned.

Please help me always to remember God’s great and faithful promise:

I will never fail you. I will never abandon you (Hebrews 13:5; NLT).

I ask this through your own dear name.

Amen.

References

Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last (Luke 23:46; NLT).

Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you (Deuteronomy 31:8; NLT).

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 staff they comfort me (Psalm 23:4; KJV).

Be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20; NLT).

Love and worship

Ruth Kirk

I love you, YHWH, my strength (Psalm 18:1; TIB).

I worship YHWH, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land (Jonah 1:9; NLT).

I love you, and worship you,
Trust in, and cling to you,
Praise, and bow down to you:
Yahweh, my God.

I love you, and honour you,
Learn from, and follow you,
Bless, and rejoice in you:
Jesus, my God.

I love you, and cherish you,
Look to, and pray with you,
Thank, and rely on you:
Spirit, my God.

Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; NLT).

References

It is YHWH, the God Most High, whom you must serve with awe; whom you must cling to and by whom you must swear; who is your praise; who is your God; who has done great things which your eyes have seen with awe (Deuteronomy 10:20-21; TIB).

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).

They worshiped him (Luke 24:52; NLT).

Trust in God, and trust also in me (John 14:1; NLT).

The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words (Romans 8:26; NLT).

Worship

Ruth Kirk

In the beginning God (Elohim) created [by forming from nothing] the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1; AMP).

God is faithful (1 Corinthians 1:9; NIV).

You are faithful,
Wise, and strong:
Elohim –
We worship you.

You are gentle,
Kind, and calm:
Elohim –
We trust in you.

You are patient,
Just, and good:
Elohim –
We live in you.

You are loving,
Great, and true:
Elohim –
We rest in you.

Yes, my soul, find rest in God (Psalm 62:5; NIV).

References

You alone are the one we worship (Isaiah 26:13; NLT).

We trust in you alone (2 Chronicles 14:11; NLT).

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

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” (Matthew 11:28-9; NLT).

 

God

Ruth Kirk

You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation (Psalm 89:26; NLT).

God, my Father,
Mother, too;
God, my Shepherd:
Tender, true;

God, my Saviour,
Refuge, peace;
Sister, Brother,
Great High Priest;

God my Maker,
Helper, Friend;
Mover, Shaker
To the end –

Though I’m only
Made of dust,
You’re my God,
In whom I trust.

I trust in you, my God! (Psalm 25:2; NLT).

 

As for me…

Ruth Kirk

Fear the LORD and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD alone. But if you refuse to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD (Joshua 24:14-15 NLT).

As for me, I’ll call to you,
And I’ll declare your praise.

As for me, I’ll tell your deeds,
And try hard not to sin.

As for me, I’ll laud your strength,
And speak to you direct.

As for me, I’ll cling to hope,
And trust in you alone.

As for me, I’m in your hands,
And look to you for help.

As for me, I’ll reach your house,
Where I’ll behold your face.

As for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple (Psalm 5:7; KJV).

As for me, I will behold thy face (Psalm 17:15; KJV).

References

As for me, I call to God, and the LORD saves me (Psalm 55:16; NIV).

As for me, I will declare this forever; I will sing praise to the God of Jacob (Psalm 75:9; NIV).

As for me, I will always proclaim what God has done (Psalm 75:9; NLT).

As for me, I will certainly not sin against the LORD by ending my prayers for you (1 Samuel 12:23; NLT).

As for me, I will sing about your power (Psalm 59:16; NLT).

As for me, I would speak directly to the Almighty (Job 13:3; NLT).

As for me, I will always have hope (Psalm 71:14; NIV).

As for me, I trust in the LORD (Psalm 31:6; NIV).

As for me, I am in your hands – do with me as you think best (Jeremiah 26:14; NLT).

As for me, I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, O God. You are my help and my deliverer (Psalm 70:5; NIV).

 

Healthy faith

Ruth Kirk

Be healthy in the faith (Titus 1:13; NLT).

Please give us all
A healthy faith,
So we accept
Your will with grace.

And though, like Christ,
We grieve, and pray:
“Please take this bitter cup
Away”,

Yet, help us to endure
Our load –
The gifts you place
Along our road –

For you send bad
As well as good,
To help us grow
In trust, and love.

Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong (Ephesians 3:17; NLT).

References

I create the light and make the darkness. I send good times and bad times. I, the LORD, am the one who does these things (Isaiah 45:7; NLT).

Should we accept only good things from the hand of God, and never anything bad? (Job 2:10; NLT).

Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done” (Matthew 26:42; NLT).

When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other (Ecclesiastes 7:14; NIV).

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:18; NIV).

Though the Lord gave you adversity for food and suffering for drink, he will still be with you to teach you (Isaiah 30:20; NLT).

I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness – secret riches. I will do this so you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name (Isaiah 45:3; NLT).

God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them (Romans 8:28; NLT).

I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death (Philippians 3:10; NLT).

 

Punishments and rewards?

Ruth Kirk

I create the light and make the darkness. I send good times and bad times. I, the LORD, am the one who does these things (Isaiah 45:7; NLT).

Bad times aren’t a punishment,
And good times aren’t rewards –

All contribute to our growth,
And all are sent by God,

Who causes them to work together
For our highest gain –

So let’s face all our joys and sorrows,
Trusting in God’s holy name.

In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name (Psalm 33:21; NLT).

References

Should we accept only good things from the hand of God, and never anything bad? (Job 2:10; NLT).

When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other (Ecclesiastes 7:14; NIV).

Enjoy prosperity while you can, but when hard times strike, realise that both come from God. Remember that nothing is certain in this life (Ecclesiastes 7:14; NLT).

Though the Lord gave you adversity for food and suffering for drink, he will still be with you to teach you (Isaiah 30:20; NLT).

Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal (Job: 5:17; NIV).

Those who suffer he delivers in their suffering; he speaks to them in their affliction (Job 36:15; NIV).

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).

Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world (John 16:33; NLT).

God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them (Romans 8:28; NLT).