Category: Weakness

Paradoxes

Ruth Kirk

Clouds and thick darkness surround him (Psalm 97:2; NIV).

He lives in light so brilliant that no human can approach him (1 Timothy 6:16; NLT). 

God is in darkness,
And also in light.
God is in weakness,
And also in might.

God is in sorrow,
And also in cheer.
God is in triumph,
And also in fear.

God is in silence,
And also in sound.
God is within us,
And also around.

God is in stillness,
And also in flow.
God is in neighbour,
And also in foe.

God is in giver,
And also in thief.
God is in gladness,
And also in grief.

God is in birth, and in life,
And in breath.
God is in terror, and anguish,
And death.

At the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Mark 15:34; NKJV).

When Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ ” Having said this, He breathed His last (Luke 23:46; NKJV).

Reference

There is…one God and Father of all, who is over everything, through everything, and in everything (Ephesians 4:5-6; GWT).

 

Pray within me

Ruth Kirk

The Spirit [comes to us and] helps us in our weakness. We do not know what prayer to offer or how to offer it as we should, but the Spirit Himself [knows our need and at the right time] intercedes on our behalf with sighs and groanings too deep for words. And He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because the Spirit intercedes [before God] on behalf of God’s people in accordance with God’s will  (Romans 8:26-7; AMP).

Pray within me, Holy Spirit:
Intercede on my behalf.
Pray for those who face life’s sorrows,
In accordance with God’s will.

Pray within me, Holy Spirit:
You alone know what to ask.
Pray for all who suffer fear and loss,
And everyone who’s ill.

Pray within me, Holy Spirit:
I am weak, but you are strong.
Pray for me, whatever comes,
And help me, please, to praise God still.

Hope in God! For I shall still praise him for the saving help of his presence (Psalm 42:5; HNV).

References

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

I will beg the Father, and he will give you another Comforter, that he may be with you for ever, the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see him nor know him; but ye know him, for he abides with you, and shall be in you (John 14:15-17; DBT).

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

 

Worry

Ruth Kirk

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you (1 Peter 5:7; NLT).

Whenever you worry,
Just worry with God;
Whenever you weep,
Weep with Him.

Whenever you panic,
Just panic with God;
Share all that you face,
Even sin.

Whenever you stumble,
You stumble with God,
So turn to Him quickly,
Reach out –

For the Father is waiting;
He suffers with you;
Trust His love; take his hand:
Never doubt.

Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:29-31; NIV).

 

Pray within me

Ruth Kirk

The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought…

Holy Spirit,
Pray within me:
Pray on my behalf
For all.

Holy Spirit,
Pray within me:
Intercede for those
Who call.

Holy Spirit,
Pray within me:
I’m so weak:
Lift up my cries.

Holy Spirit,
Pray within me:
God will hear
Your wordless sighs.

…but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God (Romans 8:26-7; NRSV).

 

I want to pray

Ruth Kirk

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

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion (Ephesians 6:18; NLT). 

I want to pray,
But don’t know what to ask for –
Holy Spirit, help me
In my weakness.

I want to pray –
But how should my prayers be offered?
Plead on my behalf –
I have no skill.

I want to pray –
Please intercede for others,
With sighs and groans
Too deep for my poor words.

The Lord, who knows all hearts,
Will hear Your pleading –
Because You pray
According to His will.

The Spirit [comes to us and] helps us in our weakness. We do not know what prayer to offer or how to offer it as we should, but the Spirit Himself [knows our need and at the right time] intercedes on our behalf with sighs and groanings too deep for words. And He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because the Spirit intercedes [before God] on behalf of God’s people in accordance with God’s will (Romans 8:26-7; AMP).

 

Your willing slave

Ruth Kirk

This prayer began to come to me while I was weeping just after Mass last Wednesday. I haven’t been able to go to church for a very long time, but I now have a powered wheelchair, so can start to go again, when I’m well enough. Being there was an overwhelming experience, hence my tears. Astonishingly, it took about 24 hours for this prayer to arrive fully.

I love you, LORD (Psalm 18:1; NLT). 

I love you more and more, my God, 
But serve you less and less,
And yet, I know you understand
My weakness and distress:

For I am still your willing slave,
Despite my sin and shame –
Lord, as you take my liberty,
I bless your Holy Name.

I serve you less and less, my God,
But love you more and more,
And, though you take my health away,
You make my spirit soar:

For I am still your willing slave,
Trying to do my best –
Lord, as you take my life away,
Help me to face each test.

The LORD is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving (Psalm 28:7; NLT).

Pray within me

Ruth Kirk

Yesterday I woke very early in the morning, and began to pray. Just at the point of letting go of all words, this prayer came to me. I had to draw back from the beckoning silence in order to note it down. Perhaps writing it was a way of continuing to pray.

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion (Ephesians 6:18; NLT). 

The Spirit [comes to us and] helps us in our weakness. We do not know what prayer to offer or how to offer it as we should, but the Spirit Himself [knows our need and at the right time] intercedes on our behalf with sighs and groanings too deep for words…

Holy Spirit,
Pray within me:
You know all
My human weakness.

Holy Spirit,
Pray within me:
Pray with sighs
Too deep for words.

Holy Spirit,
Pray within me:
Pray on my behalf
For others.

Holy Spirit,
Pray within me:
Lift my pleading
Heavenwards.

… and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because the Spirit intercedes [before God] on behalf of God’s people in accordance with God’s will (Romans 8:26-7; AMP).

Weak and sick (for B.)

Ruth Kirk

This prayer rose gently from a beautiful time of bright, wordless prayer. Writing it made me smile, because it arrived backwards, which rarely happens to me.

He knows how weak we are (Psalm 103:13; NLT). 

Lord,
You know
How weak and sick I am:
I cling to you so tight
That we are one.

Help me to serve you well
Each day;
Forgive my every failing, lapse,
And wrong.

Lord,
Though I’m nothing,
I rejoice,
Because to you, forever,
I belong.

You are my Maker
And my end:
So, though I’m weak and sick, Lord,
I am strong.

He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
(2 Corinthians 12:9-10; NKJV).

 

Forgiveness

Ruth Kirk

Just as I was about to go down for breakfast two days ago, the first lines of today’s prayer struck me. I wrote them down on my iPad, then set off again, only for the next few lines to arrive before I had reached my bedroom door. This happened several times, until the whole piece was roughed out. It was an awesome experience.

Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? (Matthew 9:5; NLT).

Forgiveness
Is the same as healing,

Mercy
Is the same as love,

And weakness
Is the same as strength,

When we have faith
In Christ above.

Cling to your faith in Christ (1 Timothy 1:19; NLT).

A person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ (Galatians 2:16; NLT).

References

Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love (Psalm 51:1; NLT).

When I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:10; NLT)).

God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead (Romans 4:24; NLT).

Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory (1 Peter 1:21; NLT).

God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:9-11; NLT).

 

Don’t leave me

Ruth Kirk

When Simon Peter realised what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me – I’m too much of a sinner to be around you” (Luke 5:8; NLT). 

Lord,
Don’t leave me,
Even though I’m sinful.

Never leave me, Lord,
For I am weak.

Lord,
Don’t leave me,
Even though I’m nothing.

Never leave me:
You are all I seek.

All night long I search for you; in the morning I earnestly seek for God (Isaiah 26:9; NLT).

References 

God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5; NIV).

Behold, I am with you every day, even unto the end of time (Matthew 28:20; ABPE).