Category: Weakness

Remember

Ruth Kirk

Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation (Luke 11:4; NLT).

Always ask for God’s forgiveness –
And
Remember to absolve
Yourself,
And all who hurt you.

Always ask for God’s assistance –
And
Remember to support
Yourself,
And all in need.

Always ask for God’s compassion –
And
Remember to console
Yourself,
And all who suffer.

Always ask for God’s protection –
And
Remember to defend
Yourself,
And all the weak.

Always ask for God’s redemption –
And
Remember to release
Yourself,
And all in chains.

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners (Isaiah 61:1; NIV).

Following Christ

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).

These words remind us that following Jesus calls for inner transformation, rather than external devotion. The heart of the gospel is radical, self-giving love, so following Christ means learning to live like him, by:

    • Accepting and bearing our cross as best we can.
    • Radiating light to those around us whenever possible.
    • Loving and helping everyone we encounter, within our limitations.
    • Forgiving those who hurt us, whilst remembering that this can take many years.
    • Speaking the truth in love, whilst taking care of our own boundaries.
    • Defending those who are weaker than ourselves.
    • Sharing, lending, and giving to those in need.

By doing these things as best we can within our current personal circumstances, we can become just a little more like Christ each day.

We will be like him (1 John 3:2; NLT).

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

References

      • Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us (Colossians 3:11; NLT).
      • Anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love (1 John 4:8; NLT).
      • Love your neighbour as yourself (Leviticus 19:18; NLT).
      • Love the stranger (Deuteronomy 10:19; NKJV).
      • Show love to foreigners (Deuteronomy 10:19; NLT).
      • Love your enemies (Matthew 5:44; NLT).
      • The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40; NIV).
      • Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him (Philippians 3:8-9; NLT).

Reading: 2 Corinthians 3:13-18; NLT.

Don’t try!

Ruth Kirk

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

Don’t try to make yourself pray:
Just offer your thinking
To Christ.

Don’t try to make yourself pray:
Just pour out your troubles
To him.

Don’t try to make yourself pray:
Just face all your anguish
With Christ.

Don’t try to make yourself pray:
Just share all your burdens
With him.

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).

Blessed be the LORD! Day after day he bears our burdens (Psalm 68:19; CSB).

References

I am the one who answers your prayers and cares for you (Hosea 14:8; NLT).

Surely he took up our pain, and bore our suffering (Isaiah 53:4; NIV).

In all their suffering he also suffered, and he personally rescued them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them. He lifted them up and carried them through all the years (Isaiah 63:9; NLT).

No light

Ruth Kirk

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

You are here,
Yet I am blind,
For there’s no light.

You are here,
Yet I am deaf,
For there’s no voice.

You are here,
Yet I am cold,
For there’s no fire.

You are here,
Yet I am sad,
For there’s no joy.

You are here,
Yet I am worn,
For there’s no rest.

You are here,
For I am weak –
And life’s a test.

The LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul. 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 13:3-4; NLT).

References

God is with us (Isaiah 7:14; NLT).

You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength (Mark 12:30; NLT).

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

The voice of love

Ruth Kirk

A prayer for the spiritual awakening of all minds, hearts and souls.

Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains, and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake, and after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice (1 Kings 19:11-12; NKJV).

Why is the voice of love
So still?

Why is the voice of peace
So small?

Why is the voice of truth
So weak?

Where is the light
Our souls should seek?

Where is the faith
Christ came to bring?

When will we turn to God,
And cling?

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

References

God is love (1 John 4:8; NLT).

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

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

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

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “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).

By grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8; NIV).

You must fear the LORD your God and worship him and cling to him (Deuteronomy 10:20; NLT).

Serve only the LORD your God and fear him alone. Obey his commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him (Deuteronomy 13:4; NLT).

The seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest (Luke 8:15; NLT).

Spirit

Ruth Kirk

The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness (Romans 8:26; NLT).

The Spirit teaches you everything you need to know (1 John 2:27; NLT).

Let the Holy Spirit guide your lives (Galatians 5:16; NLT).

Spirit,
Please help us;
Teach us,
And guide us.

Spirit,
Forgive us;
Comfort,
And heal us

Spirit,
Protect us;
Stay close,
And pray for us.

Spirit,
Restore us;
Release us,
And save us.

He restores my soul (Psalm 23:3; NKJV).

Because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death (Romans 8:2; NLT).

Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God (Romans 8:10; NLT).

The Spirit alone gives eternal life (John 6:63; NLT). 

References

The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life (Job 33:4; NLT).

The Spirit gives life (Titus 3:5; NLT).

May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing (Psalm 143:10; 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).

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. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will (Romans 8:26-7; NLT).

The Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor – Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you (John 14:26; AMP).

Jesus says…

Ruth Kirk

Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens …

Come to me, again, again,
Come in sickness, grief, and pain,
Simply breathe my holy name:
I love you.

Come to me throughout each day,
Turn to me, my child, and pray,
As you strive to choose my way:
I love you.

Come to me when life is bleak,
When your faith is faint and weak;
I will give the rest you seek:
I love you.

… 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).

He loves us with unfailing love; the LORD’S faithfulness endures forever. Praise the LORD! (Psalm 117:2; NLT).

References

The LORD longs to be gracious to you (Isaiah 30:18; NIV).

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

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

I know the LORD is always with me. I will not be shaken for he is right beside me (Psalm 16:8; NLT).

Blame

Ruth Kirk

They hated me without cause (John 15:25; NLT).

Just because a person blames me,
Doesn’t mean that I’ve done wrong.

Just because a person judges,
Doesn’t mean that I have failed.

Just because a person hates me,
Doesn’t mean that I’m no good.

Their opinions are their own, Lord,
So I pray for them with love.

I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! (Matthew 5:44; NLT).

I know the LORD is always with me. I will not be shaken for he is right beside me (Psalm 16:8; NLT).

 

I love you

Ruth Kirk

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

I love you, God,
Though I am tired and weak.

You love me, too,
Though I can hardly speak.

I love you, God,
And though I cannot pray,

You love me,
And know all I want to say.

The Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought (1 Chronicles 28:9; NIV).

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. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And 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 8:26; TIB).

God’s embrace

Ruth Kirk

His left arm is under my head and his right arm embraces me (Song of Songs 8:3; NIV).

Your warm embrace
Is wide enough for all.

Your arms are strong:
You catch us when we fall.

Your hold us in your hands
Each time we fail.

You carry us
When we are sick and frail.

You stay within us here,
From our first breath,

And bear us home to paradise,
In death.

Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43; NLT).

There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am (John 14:2-3; NLT).

References

Praise the Lord; praise God our savior! For each day he carries us in his arms (Psalm 68:19; NLT).

The eternal God is your refuge, and his everlasting arms are under you (Deuteronomy 33:27; NLT).

Our lives are in his hands, and he keeps our feet from stumbling (Psalm 66:9; NLT).

He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young (Isaiah 40:11; NLT).

He loves his people; all his holy ones are in his hands. They follow in his steps and accept his teaching (Deuteronomy 33:3; NLT).

If we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us (1 John 4:12; NLT).