War and peace

Ruth Kirk
Photo: Alexas_Fotos

I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war
(Psalm 120:7; NIV).

Lord,

1. Embed these words
In every soul:
I am for peace,
Though others are for war.

2. Lodge them in every heart
As our shared goal:
I am for peace,
Though others are for war.

3. Fix them in every mind
And every prayer:
I am for peace,
Though others are for war.

4. Put them in every mouth
Till all declare:
We are for peace!
Then strife will be no more.

Photo: Wikimedialimages

References

The Lord will mediate between nations and will settle international disputes. They will hammer their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer fight against nation, nor train for war anymore (Isaiah 2:4; NLT).

He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever (Revelation 21:4; NLT).

In those days no one will be hurt or destroyed on my holy mountain (Isaiah 65:25; NLT).

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

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

Photo: Ben_Kerckx

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).

The Lord within (#1 of 2 linked prayers)

Ruth Kirk
Photo: cmarinalbert

Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for.
Keep on seeking, and you will find.
Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you
(Matthew 7:7; NLT).

1. If we seek the Lord within,
He promises we’ll find.

2. If we knock upon his door
It opens: he is kind.

3. If we ask the Father’s help,
He hears us when we plead.

4. If we love the Lord our God
He gives us all we need.

References

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

Everyone who seeks, finds (Matthew 7:7; NLT).

2. To everyone who knocks, the door will be opened (Matthew 7:8; NLT).

How kind the Lord is! (Psalm 116:5; NLT).

3. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us (1 John 5:14; NIV).

4. 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).

Everyone who asks, receives (Matthew 7:8; NLT).

God will generously provide all you need (2 Corinthians 9:8; NLT).

Perfect love

Ruth Kirk
Photo: 4301771

1. Father,
Drive out all our fears,
Draw every heart to you,
And fill us with your perfect love
So we will be made new.

2. Father,
Heal our faithlessness,
Forgiving every sin,
And clothe us all in perfect love
For you, our heavenly King.

3. Father,
Bind our souls together
Till we live as one,
Then we will dwell in perfect love,
Becoming like your Son.

References

1. Perfect love drives out fear (1 John 4:18; NIV).

We know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love (Romans 5:5; NLT).

Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him (Colossians 3:10; NLT).

2. The Lord says, “Then I will heal you of your faithlessness; my love will know no bounds (Hosea 14:4; NLT).

He forgives all my sins (Psalm 103:3; NLT).

Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony (Colossians 3:14; NLT).

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength (Mark 12:29; NLT).

3. I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love (Colossians 2:2; NLT).

I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one (John 17:22; NLT).

Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them (1 John 4:16).

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).

The hopes of the helpless

Ruth Kirk
Photo: KELLEPICS

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

Lord,

1. You know the hopes
Of the helpless,

2. The dreams
Of the damaged,

3. The faith
Of the friendless,

4. And the prayers
Of the poor:

5. Hear our cries
And comfort us, we beg you;

6. Mend our bodies,
And our anxious minds;

7. Fill our hearts with care
For one another –

8. Then we will share your love,
Which heals and binds.

References

1-5. Lord, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them (Psalm 10:17; NLT).

6. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases (Psalm 103:3; NLT).

7. I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other (John 13:34; NLT).

If we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us (1 John 4:12; NIV).

8. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony (Colossians 3:14; NLT).

All one

Ruth Kirk
Photo: geralt

1. Lord,
You’re the Father of Jesus,
The Christ:
And also our Father within.

2. Mary,
Christ’s Mother, the Lady of Grace:
You’re our Mother;
Your children: our kin.

3. Immanuel,
Brother, born here on the earth:
You share in our frail flesh
And blood.

4. Comforter,
Spirit in all humankind:
You make us all one
In your love.

References

1. All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3; NLT).

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

2. God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings favoured woman!” […] You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High” (Luke 1:28,31-2; NLT).

When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home (John 19:26-7; NLT).

3. She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us’ (Matthew 1:23; NLT).

Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother (Mark 3:35; NIV).

It was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters (Hebrews 2:17; NLT).

4. The Comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and remind you of all things I said to you (John 14:26; YLT).

“In the last days,” God says, “I will pour out my Spirit upon all people” (Acts 2:17; NLT).

The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you (Romans 8:11; NLT).

I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one (John 17:22; NLT).

Holy Spirit

Ruth Kirk
Photo: JosepMonter

God is Spirit
(John 4:24; NLT).

Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit
(1 Corinthians 6:19; NLT).

1. Holy Spirit,
Light of God,
Guide us on your narrow way.

2. Holy Spirit,
Fire of God,
Shield us from your wrath today.

3. Holy Spirit,
Truth of God,
Teach us all to hear your voice.

4. Holy Spirit,
Peace of God,
Help us to accept your choice.

5. Holy Spirit,
Love of God,
Keep us always in your hand.

6. Holy Spirit,
Heart of God,
Bring us to your Promised Land.

References

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

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it” (Isaiah 30:21; NIV).

Do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live (Ephesians 4:30; NLT).

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

Oh that you would hide me in the grave, that you would conceal me until your wrath is past (Job 14:13; NKJV).

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

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

This is why the Holy Spirit says, “Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled (Hebrews 3:7-8; NLT).

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

The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord (Job 1:21; NIV).

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

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

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

In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind (Job 12:10; NIV).

6. The Sovereign Lord […] will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart (Isaiah 40:10-11; NLT).

He chose the Promised Land as our inheritance (Psalm 47:4; NLT).