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Hands together and eyes closed: a new Christian prayer thread (May 2015)

958 replies

Tuo · 19/05/2015 10:32

Welcome to a new prayer thread to take us into the summer. 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;

... 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 through his mental health problems and self-harm;

... AnxiousKeziah, following the loss of her baby DS;

... BlackEyedSusan, for all the many things which she has to juggle in her life as a single parent; for good support for her DD and DS; and for her mum;

... BlueTinkerbell, thanking God for the safe arrival of her beautiful DD4;

... Bsshbosh, who has terminal cancer, for the best possible quality of life for her for as long as possible; also for her DH and DD as they travel this road with her;

... DizzyDaffodil, who is struggling, asking God to be with her and for her to find RL support at this time;

... 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;

... FaithLoveandHope, for her mental health; for decisions about her academic work; for her STB-FIL who has been diagnosed with cancer; and for her relationship with her DP;

... fakenamefornow, thanking God that things have taken a turn for the better for her;

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

... HydrochloricTulip, for stresses at home and at work;

... innerstrength100, for strength to decide what to do in the aftermath of the break-up of her relationship last year and the unexpected coming back into her life of her ex;

... 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;

... LegallyBlonde77, as she goes through the adoption process - praying for a match very soon and for her family to be complete;

... LifeofBriony, for problems in her relationship with her DH;

... littlehouseinthebigwoods, for problems in her relationship with her controlling DH;

... MadHairDay, for her ongoing health issues;

... PositiveAttitude, especially for her mum who has dementia and for her dad, who finds it hard to accept help; for her DD2 recovering from a scary reaction to a dog-bite overseas, and for her whole family; for her studies and her role within her church; and for her and her DH as they plan new and exciting ways of working with the people of Cambodia;

... QuestionofFaith, as she tries to rebuild her life with her DH following his mental health problems and withdrawal from her;

... SESthebrave, for problems at work; also for her MIL who has had a cancer diagnosis;

... TooBusyByHalf, as she explores and hopefully rediscovers her faith;

... weegiemum, for her continued recovery from her very scary infection and septicaemia, and also for her DD's continued progress in overcoming her anorexia;

... ZipadiSoozi, for her dad who has dementia and for her mum and the whole family as they find ways to support him in this; also for her BIL who has cancer;

We pray also for all regular and occasional visitors including: Badvoc, BlessedAssurance, BlueSkies80, CaulkheadUpNorth, CharlotteCollins, chocolateteapot, cloutiedumpling, CocoaBean, DeladionInch, EilisCitron, FlabbyMummy, Gingercurl, JugglingFromHereToThere, ktef, legohurtswhenyoustandonit, LollipopViolet, LostinChilli, MaryBS, MrsPixieMoo, niminypiminy, ninetynineonehundred, PandaG, Pipbin, RoomForALittleOne, ScarletDancer, thegreenheartofmanyroundabouts, weegiemum, WobblyRainbow, 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:
Dutchoma · 12/07/2015 08:00

Only just seen this Sheep. Sometimes God hears our prayers before they are even said, certainly praying now for your mum and for you. How are things this morning?

SheepAreSuper · 12/07/2015 08:06

Thank you x

No change this morning which I'm hoping is a good thing. Will see the IC doctor later about whether they'll try and bring her out of sedation. We don't know how long she was without oxygen for so have been prepared for the worst.

Dutchoma · 12/07/2015 08:57

Thank you for the update. Prepare for the worst, hope and pray for the best. May God be with you all today.

BlackeyedSusan · 12/07/2015 11:15

how are you today sheep? praying.

there is blood everywhere. cushions, computer desk, carpet. ds has had a nose bleed and he likes to manage it himself. he tried hard.

he still has an active spot.

if dd has not got spots tomorrow, I am sending her to school and off to MOT and racing to the shops before the school ring. It will be a bit like supermarket sweep as I top upshop. several supermarkets are on the agenda tomorrow to get all I need.

Tuo · 12/07/2015 11:45

Oh Sheep - I am so sorry to read that. Praying for your mum today, and for all who love her, and for those who are taking care of her.

OP posts:
Dutchoma · 12/07/2015 11:49

With ds in tow BES? Best of luck. Sorry about bloodiness.

OsloGin · 12/07/2015 12:00

Adding my prayers. Dear friend should know about the job he interviewed for tomorrow.

BlackeyedSusan · 12/07/2015 13:24

no. that last spot should have dried up by tomorrow. they say about twelve hours for it to go cloudy then scab... hopefully by tomorrow moorning it will be scabby.

I am using today to get on with housework. (hot weather rather put it all back a lot 35 degrees in the flat on the hottest day)

so far, I have unblocked the slow flowing basin, and degunged the bath plug hole and cleaned up the stinking mess it left. cleaned the outside of the loo. cleaned the sink and put a basket full of laundry away. if you have time to spare please pray for motivation and energy in this ongoing battle of unfucking the flat.

SheepAreSuper · 12/07/2015 13:57

Thank you again for your prayers.

We should know a bit more this afternoon.
Thank you also for asking how I am. Currently just about holding it together, trying to be positive and pragmatic and take each step as it comes.

Struggling with how to support her partner who, thank god, found and resuscitated her. But he's in shock.

4EverScottish · 12/07/2015 14:02

I used to post on here a long while ago, I just wondered how Bssh is as I've not seen her on MN for a while.

BlackeyedSusan · 12/07/2015 14:38

sheep, my dad died a couple of years ago. I coped by texting oma who posted on here. you will find that you will be able to do what you need to do. even if that is going away and crying. you need to let out the tension for you too.

with her partner, you prop each other up. you both find support from relatives that are not directly involved. ex supported me. sil helped with the children at the funeral. you just muddle through and do the best you can.

incidently, the posting about the recalcitrant flat is because it all got out af hand after my dad died, (along with a multitude of other issues)

anyway, I have done some of the washing up.... ds has granted me a small amount of time on the computer so I had better go get on with some more in a bit. as soon as he has crusted over I have to wipe down the sofa and wash his and my bedding vain attempt to keep dd infection free

BlackeyedSusan · 12/07/2015 17:20

I have hoovered the children's room now and tidied it up. the craft box is still out as dd is still being separated from ds.

it is quite hot here. the sun came out while I was upstairs and I had forgotten to shut the blinds. it is 41 degrees in the sun. (yes forty one degrees c)

just as I staggered downstairs from their room, the washing machine beeped to say that it had finished... grr..

BlackeyedSusan · 12/07/2015 17:39

only thirty in the shade though.

SESthebrave · 12/07/2015 21:09

Praying particularly for sheep, your mum and her partner. Has there been an update?

ZipadiSoozi · 12/07/2015 21:28

Prayers for your Mum sheep x

EdithSimcox · 12/07/2015 21:56

I have been coming by and praying every day even when I don't post, so I won't name check you all - you've all been in my prayers at some time this past week.

4ever - I was thinking of Bssh yesterday too, but I don't know her, so I've no idea I'm afraid. She used the Daily Gratitudes thread a lot at one point - I don't know if anyone there knows anything?

Still on the roller-coaster here - see the Church on a sunday thread if you're interested!

Praying for Sheep especially tonight.

FaithLoveandHope · 12/07/2015 23:03

hi all, praying especially this night for Edith and sheep

sheep any news? and Edith did you go to church?

So in the end we split up. I cannot do this any more. There's far more that's been going on than I'd like to post here as I don't want to out myself but its been so difficult and if I'm honest with myself I've not been happy for months. Now we've split up I feel that a weight has been taken off, but I also feel deeply sad. I feel sad and worried about DSS and how he will cope - but I cannot stay just for him. This past week has been almost unbearable but I've really felt uplifted and strengthened by God's presence which I'm truly thankful for.

In other news, my Mum got rushed into hospital and at one point it sounded and looked like she may die. She's not completely out of the woods but is better than she was. Please can I ask for your prayers for her and for my family too.

I'm hoping once all the logistics of the separation are sorted (housing being the biggy) I'll have a bit more chance to get on here and read through and reply properly. Please know though that I do always keep you in prayer even if I don't get chance to post.

SheepAreSuper · 13/07/2015 00:22

Thank you for the prayers and BlackeyedSusan for your advice on how to support her partner.

Little change in her progress. She came off the sedation today but showed very little response to stimulation of any kind. She's sedated again tonight so she can get some rest and we'll see where we are tomorrow. Feel so powerless, the hospital visiting times suck and every minute feels like an hour.

Prayers for your mum too Faith x

Tuo · 13/07/2015 00:22

Oh FLaH, I'm so sorry. It sounds as if you know it was the right thing to do in the end, although it will be hard and painful in the short term. Praying for you tonight, and for your DP and DSS. Also praying for your mum - that sounds very scary indeed. Don't worry about posting or not posting - you have a lot to deal with. Rest assured that we will keep praying for you in the meantime.

Sheep - keeping prayers going for you and your mum. Also praying for her DP, that must have been so frightening for him. Ultimately, counselling may help him, but for now I'd say that letting him talk about it if he wants to is the best thing you can do. (My DH's step-dad had a quite similar experience, and DH found it quite difficult because he kept wanting to go over and over what happened, which DH found it very hard to hear... but it was clear that it was important to him in dealing with it all.) That and just being there for him, of course. I hope that you also have someone there for you, to hold you hand through this.

BES - praying for Operation Tidy Flat, and for your DS to be restored to health soon and your DD to stay a pox-free zone.

Edith - praying for you and your DP, for God to be there for you wherever you may find Him, and for your DP to find peace about your faith and enough understanding to be accepting, even if she never fully 'gets it'.

Also praying for my auntie, who has had a stroke, and her children and grandchildren.

This is the Anglican collect for today, which I liked and thought I'd share:

Merciful God,
you have prepared for those who love you
such good things as pass our understanding:
pour into our hearts such love toward you
that we, loving you in all things and above all things,
may obtain your promises,
which exceed all that we can desire;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

OP posts:
Dutchoma · 13/07/2015 07:56

FLaH that was a very difficult decision to make, especially taking your dss into consideration. Any chance of a word with his mother or is that completely out of the question? Praying for your mother as well and for Sheep's mother and TUO's auntie.

Edith I've had a look on the other thread. The church going is just the sympton, isn't it? The real sticking point is that your partner does not want God in her life, she feels threatened by Him for whatever reason and you 'going over to the enemy camp' is more than she can bear. I think the prayer TUO posted is significant indeed because God desires to be 'loved above all else'.
So as the Dutch saying goes, we can skirt round the issue like 'a cat round a bowl of hot porridge' but it has to be acknowledged that when it comes to a choice between God and another person God just has to come first. Nothing else will do. Take 'comfort' (in the sense of 'strengthening'') from scripture that 'perfect love casts out fear' and I pray for you and for your partner that she will come to see, through your love for her and your love for God,that she has nothing to fear. You do realise, don't you that God loves her more than you can ever do, whether she likes it or not, because God can do nothing but love us.

Trust God that He will be with you and honour your love for Him in this very challenging situation.

EdithSimcox · 13/07/2015 08:26

flah you are brave, and it sounds like you have done the right thing, praying for you.

tuo praying for your auntie and her family

oma you are right - church is a symptom, it is joining the enemy's army that is the real issue. And I do understand what you are saying about loving God above all else. But I love DP too, and we have made vows to each other to stick together for better or worse; we have 3 DC together who would be completely devastated if we split up. I don't think God wants me to break our family apart over this - though He is certainly challenging me hard to find a way of making it work. (And I realise that some Christians would not accept our relationship anyway, but that is just who I am).

Dutchoma · 13/07/2015 09:00

Edith you say 'I don't think God wants me to break up our family'

I think that God wants nothing from us apart from everything. Ok, big contradiction here. God loves us unconditionally. Think about it. He loves not only you, he also loves your partner, your children. You are the channel through whom that love flows.

Your partner might 'rather die than come to church with you', she would rather 'die' than believe in God. But without God she has no life at all and she is 'miserable as sin'. These are hard things to say and it is a hard teaching to follow. Disciples of all ages have struggled with this. Still, no Christian can say anything except what Jesus says: Love God with all your heart and soul and mind (this comes first) and your neighbour (partner) as yourself (that comes second).
Then the promise of God is that everything will fall into place as you trust Him for the outcome.

BlackeyedSusan · 13/07/2015 11:54

a watched pox never scabs.

FaithLoveandHope · 13/07/2015 12:42

Thanks all for your prayers. Oma I think speaking to his mother would be a really bad decision - she hates me and hated me being around her son, I know she would be overjoyed that me and DSS's Dad has split up. I'm worried about DSS but feel there's nothing I can do and I just have to trust God that DSS will be okay.

Edith thank you for your prayers. I agree with everything that Oma has said. On my way into work this morning I was listening to the pray as you go app on my phone. The reading for today was Matthew 10:34 - 42, this bit in particular I thought was appropriate for you this morning:

34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; 36 and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household.
37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38 and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.

It is an incredibly challenging verse for us all but may be worth mulling over / praying over.

I hear what you're saying about some Christians not accepting your relationship. Do you think that is part of the reason why DP is struggling so much? But not all Christians think that and I think sometimes peoples fear of Christianity is a fear of what they think Christianity is rather than what Christianity actually is for the millions of people who follow Christ. Oma's last two lines sums up the (imo at least) most important part of Christianity.

EdithSimcox · 13/07/2015 13:38

Hi Flah yes, before I read your post I had just listened to the exact same thing! It is a challenging prayer day for me for sure.
Thanks to you both for your thoughts and for continuing to pray for us.