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The Christian Prayer Thread Prays Again...

985 replies

Tuo · 31/01/2015 22:31

Welcome to our new prayer thread as winter turns (not quickly enough for some of us...) to spring 2015. This is a safe and supportive place of prayer, where regulars, occasional visitors and lurkers, committed Christians and those just dipping a toe into the water are all equally welcome. Come and leave a prayer, tell us what's going on in your life, bring your worries, hopes, fears and joys to God, and know that you will be prayed for.

We pray, in particular, for...

... ALittleFaith, especially for her dad, who has been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, praying that his medication continues to keep him as well as possible for as long as possible;

... amberlight, for her work raising awareness of the ways in which we can work to make life easier for our autistic friends, and for her to know love and acceptance wherever she goes;

... Anjelica27, as she tries to find ways to support her DS who has been self-harming;

... BlackEyedSusan, for all the many things which she has to juggle in her life as a single parent; in particular, for her DS to get adequate support so that he is less stressed at school; also for her DD and for her mum, and for Operation Flat Tidy;

... BlueTinkerbell, for a problem-free pregnancy with DC4 and a happy outcome;

... CaulkheadUpNorth, who is struggling with MH problems which are affecting her faith, and by extension her job in a church environment; prayer for her access the support she needs, inside and outside the workplace, and for her to find her way back to God, in her own time, if need be;

... ChocolateTeacake, for work and financial worries; and for her health;

... DontstepontheMomeRaths , for her busy life as a single mum, and for the wonderful work she does through her church supporting people going through separation and divorce;

... DutchOma, thanking God for the wonderful support that she provides for so many on here; praying for her relationship with her DD; and continuing to think of her in her life without her beloved Bob;

... FaithLoveandGrace, for her mental health as she undergoes painful, but hopefully helpful, counselling; for her relationship with her DSS; and for her work on her PhD;

... howtoapproachthis, for her health, following her diagnosis with CFS and for her to find support for herself and her DD;

... innerstrength100, for strength, hope and joy in her life as she rebuilds her life following the unexpected break-up of her relationship;

... Kaykat, continuing to pray for her as she goes through the stressful and painful process of divorce; praying, in particular, that she is able to find continue to support her DS through this process; and praying that her ex is able to see how damaging his current behaviour is for his DS so that, in this at least, he is able to change his ways;

... MadHairDay, for her ongoing health issues and for the strength to deal with them;

... MaryBS, in the discernment and selection process for ordination to the priesthood;

... ninetynineonehundred, for her relationship with her DH from whom she is separated but with whom she is still living , praying for healing, trust, love and forgivement for them both;

... Pipbin, following the loss of a desperately-wanted pregnancy, praying for strength, for hope, and for lots of support;

... PositiveAttitude, for her studies, her work situation, and her role within her church; for her and her DH as they consider where their engagement with their faith will take them next; for her mum, who has dementia and her dad who has finally accepted he needs help, but finds it hard to accept it; for her DD1, who has been depressed; and for the whole family;

... RoomForALittleOne, for her health in her new pregnancy;

... QuestionofFaith, thanking God that her DH has found a new job, and praying that this will be the turning-point that he needs to overcome his depression and for them to find ways to rebuild their lives;

... and me, Tuo, for my DD2 who has been self-harming, but seems much happier at the moment - please pray for that to continue.

We pray also for all regular and occasional visitors including: Badvoc, BlessedAssurance, CharlotteCollins, cloutiedumpling, DeladionInch, EilisCitron, Gingercurl, JugglingFromHereToThere, ktef, LollipopViolet, MrsPixieMoo, niminypiminy, PandaG, SEStheBrave, thegreenheartofmanyroundabouts, weegiemum, Zing and for anyone I've forgotten to name-check (don't take it personally, please!). We pray for our muslim sisters over in the tea-room, at a time when many feel afraid in a world which seems suspicious of their faith, praying for peace and understanding between all faiths. And we pray for those who read and pray but don't post, for those who need our prayers but are afraid or too uncertain to post them, and for all those known to us in our own lives who need God's love.

Keep Your people, Lord,
in the arms of Your embrace.
Shelter them under Your wings.
Be their light in darkness.
Be their hope in distress.
Be their calm in anxiety.
Be strength in their weakness.
Be their comfort in pain.
Be their song in the night. Amen

OP posts:
innerstrength100 · 26/04/2015 08:10

I've not been on here for a bit, but send a prayer for you all. Still in a muddle.

I did write back to my ex. It's all been very upsetting. I sent what I hoped was a relatively neutral yet kind and warm reply. I discussed it a lot with new boyfriend, and he knows the history.

Ex has now written again, asking to meet although says he knows he doesn't deserve it. This is a right mess. He clearly wants a reconciliation, says how much he misses me, how he had hit rock bottom, how he still has my dressing gown and he's not getting rid of it.....

There is so much history there, both good history, and bad. My new relationship is very much at fledgling stage.

Some friends want me to harden my heart and not reply, but they don't understand the full background of what happened and how rock bottom he was last year. Other friends who know more about what happened have advised that this needs to be talked out face to face.

I work in emotional health and I do know that stress, and mental health issues can make people's brains flip out, and cause behaviour that is out of character.

I don't know what to do.

BeeHoney · 26/04/2015 08:23

I would say that his emotional health is not your responsibility. If you need to talk to him for your own emotional health then I'd say do it but not for his benefit.
That sounds callous though :(

innerstrength100 · 26/04/2015 14:24

No not callous Bee, I do totally agree that I am not responsible for his emotional health. I am clear with that one. Thanks for reading.

ZipadiSoozi · 26/04/2015 15:39

BsshBosh your husband sounds amazing, indeed prayers he keeps strong. X

SESthebrave · 26/04/2015 22:27

Thank you all for your prayers for MIL. Surgery went well and she is in hospital recovering. At one point DH wanted to jump on a plane to be with her and his family (understandable!) but he is much calmer now and happy that all will be well.

innerstrength - this sounds a really difficult situation for you. I think my quesiton would be that if you were to meet with him, what wouild you hope to come of that? Praying for wisdom for you.

Bssh - praying for your DH with thanks for his ongoing love and support.

BlackeyedSusan · 27/04/2015 00:58

today was extremely emotional and I can't sleep. ex was a twat and I need to make decisiona on his behaviour.

innerstrength100 · 27/04/2015 07:58

What happened Bes? Do hope you got some rest eventually.

Dutchoma · 27/04/2015 09:14

Inner I have been thinking aboout your earlier posts and still feel the same. You said your ex still had your dressing gown, I think he also still has a part of your heart and feels entitled to hang on to both. If that is how you feel, because maybe he had mental health issues and 'just flipped', all good and well, let him keep your heart and your dressing gown, if not, I would ask for at least the dressing gown back as a symbol of his 'un-entitlement'.

BlackeyedSusan · 27/04/2015 10:31

ex was intimidating and blocked me in a room yesterday as he was pissed off that we were home late from church/shopping. I need prayer about where to go from here.

LostInChilli · 27/04/2015 18:26

That's not on BES. Praying for you as you make a decision about this.

LostInChilli · 27/04/2015 18:26

That's not on BES. Praying for you as you make a decision about this.

LostInChilli · 27/04/2015 18:26

That's not on BES. Praying for you as you make a decision about this.

DizzyDaffodil · 28/04/2015 07:38

Ta for the support, just sticking my head round the door after a few days of self-imposed Internet downtime. I'm still here, just about getting on with life.
It's life Jim but not as we know it springs to mind.

BlackeyedSusan · 28/04/2015 07:44

Amber, Mary, help..

Ds would like to know about being a grown up and autism. Can you help if Ds
can the Hospital to stop being autism.

KayKat · 28/04/2015 07:46

That's awful BES it must have frightened your DC too. Sounds like you may need to distance yourself from him but I know you rely on him for help sometimes so that's very tough. Praying.

amberlight · 28/04/2015 08:01

BES, loads of info out there about being a grown up autistic person. Happy to help. Not sure what you mean by the second bit though - can you explain more? PM me maybe?
Prayers for all

Tuo · 28/04/2015 09:29

Hello all. Sorry for long silence: playing catch-up (not very successfully; or, rather, more slowly than I'd like).

Prayers for all, but especially for...

BES - for wise decisions about dealing with ex. His behaviour (especially given past history) was totally unacceptable. Have you told anyone (apart from us) about it? I would take any kind of intimidating behaviour as a massive red flag. Also for your DS.

innerstrength - I think the question 'What would you want from a meeting with your ex?^ is absolutely the key one. I know that probably you wish that none of this had ever happened; but it has happened and you can't un-happen it. Given that, what is the best possible outcome for you? I tend to agree with Oma that the dressing-gown stuff is emotionally manipulative, but, once again, it's easy to say that sort of thing from outside of the situation. Praying for wisdom and strength for you in this situation.

Dizzy - praying for you, that God will be with you at this tough time.

SES - praying for the ongoing employment situation (which does sound more and more like bullying to me) and also for your MIL.

Kay - praying for your DS and for wisdom for you in dealing with him at this difficult time.

Bssh - praying for you and for your DH.

And praying for amber and Oma as they prepare for their retreat.

Prayers also for all affected by the earthquake in Nepal and by the terrible deaths in the Mediterranean last week.

And of course for anyone I've forgotten.

A prayer of John Calvin:

Lord, save us from being self-centred in our prayers and teach us to remember to pray for others. May we be so bound up in love with those for whom we pray, that we may feel their needs as acutely as our own, and intercede for them with sensitivity, with understanding and with imagination.

OP posts:
BlackeyedSusan · 28/04/2015 11:23

ds wrote that second bit... and then we had to rush off to school.

He is asking whether autism can be cured in hospital. I have already explained this to him, i think he needs to hear from older people with autism, and grown ups. so yes please, info about being a grown up with autism and some of the great things as I am pretty sure one of you posted that ages ago..

I was not awake enough to do a fantastic job of it this morning.

SESthebrave · 28/04/2015 13:31

Please pray - DH's mum been told today she has an aggressive tumour in her leg.
This is after the emergency surgery at the weekend following a ruptured stomach ulcer as a result of painkillers they were giving her for her painful leg.
Feeling helpless...

BlackeyedSusan · 28/04/2015 14:45

oh Sad

Dutchoma · 28/04/2015 15:00

Praying SES. It's extra sad because you were so pleased the operation had gone well on Sunday and now this.

Bluetinkerbell · 28/04/2015 15:22

I swear I typed a post here the other day but I must not have come through...
DD4 arrived safe and well on her due date last Saturday. Born at home, whilst her big sisters were tucked up in bed.
We're all doing really well and both her big sisters are besotted with her.

BlackeyedSusan · 28/04/2015 18:49

congratulations blue. Flowers

amberlight · 28/04/2015 20:33

BES, I'll put it here for him. It's not a prayer, but as my autism work is often for churches, I hope it's OK. If not, people can always ignore it and read the next things.
Autism isn't an illness, so there is no cure. Our brains have different software and wiring. Different is OK, but it can be hard work sometimes.
Being autistic and adult is like being autistic and young - but older.
Autistic people are often fab at things. Not everyone will be fab at lots of things. Most are really good at something,though. For example...ten times better at concentrating on getting things right. Seeing more details than others. Hearing more detail than others. Smelling something weird before anyone else can (handy for getting people out of dangerous fumes etc). Some are brilliant artists. Or musicians. Or brilliant with maths. Or lots and lots of other things. Some are excellent at listening, or praying, or helping.
We're rubbish at working out what people mean by looking at their bodies and faces. We need people to use clear words. We like routines and rules. We panic if the rules get broken. We find it so hard to hear in busy, noisy places. And some lights are so so bright and flickery.
If we have been in busy, noisy places with a lot of chat, our brains heat up too much. So, we need time to sit quietly somewhere and let our brains cool down for a while. If we don't find a quiet bit, they go strange for a while (meltdown) or stop us talking (shutdown).

We learn more stuff when we're adults. We get better at some skills.
I have a son who is autistic too. He did school. And University. And played national rugby. And now he works in a school, teaching young autistic people. It's great and we are very very proud of him.
Jesus had an autistic friend called Nicodemus. He didn't understand strange things people say, like "being born again". And he tried to solve things with a rule book. Plus, he was a bit rubbish at turning up to important things with the right stuff. But he was so loyal, and I think Jesus loved having him in his life.
God loves us lots and lots. Just like he loves other people too.

PositiveAttitude · 28/04/2015 21:54

Congratulations Blue.

Some prayers would be appreciated. Mum has been taken into hospital today and we have just had the consultant come and tell us that he thinks this could be the end for her. I am waiting for the phone call from the hospital that I never want to have to hear. Although I am praying that God takes mum peacefully. When I left mum this evening she told me that she loved me - she has not been able to put enough words together to say that in many many months and she was clutching her holding cross and smiling at the cross. I know she is in God's hands. Sad

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