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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:
PeterSpots · 26/07/2015 11:50

Thank you. He doesn't have anything to say. It has been a terrible time & it has hurt our relationship. I feel so overwhelmed with the thoughts & the hopeless of my problems. Thank you for praying for me

Lightnessofbeing2015 · 26/07/2015 13:12

Thank you for the invitation to this thread. I'm feeling quite lost atm in some areas of my life and am looking for spiritual guidance and peace. I am a Christian but looking for a more modern church to attend.
I have a lot to thank God for and am grateful for everything in my life. I have a good but extremely challenging job. I have lost my parents and have a child with serious illness but also two healthy children. I have a husband who can be unhelpful who tends to add to my stress and I feel I bear the burden for everyone and there is no one to help me.
I'd like to ask God for guidance and wisdom in my job and to bear difficulties with courage. I'd also like to explore my Christianity and develop my faith further.

Dutchoma · 26/07/2015 16:24

Peter and Lightness, you both seem to be so much at the end of your tether and I remembered I had read something in the blog of the iBenedictines - Digitalnun is a real treasure and I hope she doesn't mind me copying what she said here:
"... there are times when we are reduced to asking God — if there is a God, that is — why He has brought us to this. Faith, trust, everything goes. We are just a little blot on the face of the earth, exhausted and alone.

We can agree that feeling pushed to the limit is a fairly common human experience, but what we may not agree is that it is also a divine experience. God has more faith in us than we do ourselves. That doesn’t mean we can somehow summon up some ‘soul energy’ and confront whatever it is that is pushing us down and reduce it to nothing. Dragon slayers are not so easily found nowadays. I mean something messier and less triumphant. No matter how down we are, no matter how helpless we feel, the mercy of God is lower still. We probably won’t realise it because if we did, we wouldn’t be at our lowest ebb. Somewhere in that horrible, aching void we feel inside, in that sense of personal failure and distress, there is Christ. Not the Christ who rose triumphantly from the tomb, but the Christ who hangs on the cross with us and shares our pain. When we are pushed to the limit, God has some good purpose in mind. One day we may be able to look back and see that it was so. It is much more likely that we never will in this life. Being pushed to the limit takes us to the edge of eternity, makes us tremble on the brink of God’s infinite mystery, where we live by faith — our faith in God, and even more astonishing, His faith in us."
Blessings

PeterSpots · 26/07/2015 16:50

Thank you. I feel I can't overcome the pain. I have physiotherapy for my face pain Tuesday & an MRI on my pelvis Friday. I don't know how I can contemplate my thoughts but my face pain has become so sharp. I don't understand a plan that hurts so much. That isolates me so much. My eldest gets her A level results for uni in August. Each day is horrible for me but yes I am their only mum. I pray for some peace. I told my GP Friday about my thoughts. I know it is out of my hands & I pray for strength & peace.

Lightnessofbeing2015 · 26/07/2015 17:56

Thanks Duchoma. I am looking for spiritual depth now in my life. I am so busy working etc this seems to be neglected. I am not at the end of my tether though, just looking for more fulfilment , connection and enlightenment. I enjoy the way my work stresses me, but I need some time for my own health and healing too I am beginning to realise.

Peter I hope your pain eases soon and you feel better.I understand the feeling of isolation it comes from coping on your own for a long time. I hope and pray things improve for you soon.

PeterSpots · 26/07/2015 20:08

I pray for peace

Dutchoma · 26/07/2015 22:00

I will post an evening prayer as TUO is away.
Praying for peace for Peter, for a greater depth to her spiritual life for Lightness and for us all:

Lighten our darkness, we beseech Thee o Lord and by Thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night.
For the love of Thy only Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

FaithLoveandHope · 26/07/2015 23:17

I'm sorry to hear there are many people struggling so much at the moment. Praying for you all.

I'm now back from my trip away, very glad to be back though that does now mean I'm back properly in work tomorrow. I went to my home church this morning (didn't go last week as was away) and spent almost the whole time trying not to cry. I feel very down this evening but saw the part of the blog post you shared Oma It was really lovely and very helpful. I'm going to go use the pray as you go app and hopefully fall asleep in God's loving presence soon.

PeterSpots · 27/07/2015 10:58

Thank you for the prayer. Called Samaritans this morning & prayed for peace

Dutchoma · 27/07/2015 11:57

I do sso hope you got some answers from either or both of those sources Peter. Life can be so tough sometimes.
I think BES could do with our prayers too, being on 'holiday' with four people who present problems in their totally unique way, she is a bit overwhelmed, I think

NotaHappyDay · 27/07/2015 19:36

Hello all. I have name changed for this - I am an occasional poster on this thread and have appreciated prayers and support during the last few months.

Today is my wedding anniversary. My H and I have been having some problems but I thought we were getting on better. Both off work today - we hadn't made any plans but I was going to suggest a meal out this evening. I gave him a card and said "Happy Anniversary". He said "no it isn't". I was shocked, just told him it is our anniversary and I'm not going to ignore it.

We have spent the day avoiding each other, him doing DIY, me doing tidying up and sorting out indoors.

Very very sad.

Dutchoma · 27/07/2015 19:43

That is indeed very sad NaHD, I'm so sorry. You have obviously put some thought into making it a happy day and it could have been if your husband had played ball. It is sad for both of you that he is not. I wonder why he took the day off if he did not want to celebrate in any way?

NotaHappyDay · 27/07/2015 19:52

Peter I hope you find peace. The Samaritans provide a good listening ear, I hope the people you are talking to give you the right kind of support.

Praying for all on the thread especially those facing serious illness of themselves or their loved ones and those struggling with their relationships.

NotaHappyDay · 27/07/2015 19:58

Oma he has taken the week off to do DIY. I booked just today off a few weeks ago hoping we could celebrate. I was encouraged when someone at church yesterday said "I hear you are having a special day". I hadn't mentioned it so he must have heard it from H.

Yesterday at church the music and prayers seemed relevant to me and my situations (work and home) and I felt encouraged. Today it's the opposite. My DM had given us an anniversary card which I had put up and H took it down.

Dutchoma · 27/07/2015 20:06

So very sad. It isn't even as if anybody is angry, so you could 'make up' before bedtime as the Bible suggests. Especially sad if you thought you were getting on better.

FaithLoveandHope · 27/07/2015 21:31

NaHD that's so very sad. I'm sorry to hear things are so difficult :( praying for you.

Praying also for Peter Lightness and BES , for Tuo who's away and for Oma for being wonderful as usual and stepping in with evening prayer last night.

I utterly broke down earlier. Things were going okay at first but then something went wrong, I got a bollocking even though it wasn't my fault and I just completely broke down. Things have built up on top of me and today came spilling out via email to someone I probably shouldn't have told so much to. Worried about the response and trying not to cry tonight.

NotaHappyDay · 27/07/2015 22:31

Thank you Oma, and thank you FLaH and I am sorry you are having such a hard time too.

I find work helps when things are difficult at home, but it is difficult to hold it together when something goes wrong at work too. Thinking and praying.

A good cry might help.

You are in my prayers.

PeterSpots · 27/07/2015 22:49

Thinking of all. Another day to be grateful for with my children. Praying for all. Thank you for your prayers.

Dutchoma · 27/07/2015 22:59

As I don't know how to copy and paste on the iPad (I am an Oma after all) I am copying out one of the collects from the prayer book for Compline:

Be present, O merciful God, and protect us through the silent hours of this night, so that we who are wearied by the changes and chances of this fleeting world may repose upon thy eternal changelessness; though Jesus Christ out Lord. Amen

EdithSimcox · 28/07/2015 00:15

Hello all. It turned out I could get online while I was away, though not for long enough to post much, and I have been reading and praying regularly for you all, especially Peter, Lightness, BES, FLaH, everyone who is away, and today for NaHD.

Oma, it is so nice to read your calm reassurance every day.

I wanted to share this tonight - it's my favourite 'strengthen-my-faith' prayer at the moment:

Stay with us Lord,
open our eyes and set our hearts on fire,
as you open your word,
as you break your bread,
as we live your life.
Enrich us with your grace,
empower us by your Spirit,
enfold us in your love,
as we walk the journey of faith with you.

Amen

PositiveAttitude · 28/07/2015 07:49

Reading and praying through.

Prayers for Peter and NaHD for peace and strength in your situations.

My uncle died on Sunday night. Please pray for his distraught wife and family. He was a lovely, quiet, caring Christian man and I know he is now in God's presence. It was very sudden. Everyone has been expecting my mum to go first!! We have not told mum and we have to discuss funeral plans as I don't think it would be right for mum to go really, but dad is thinking she should.

Also a very selfish prayer request. My laptop has broken beyond repair. I need one for work, but our finances are mightily stretched. It is a necessity, but so is food and mortgage. Feeling a bit low and deflated about a lot of things here. I feel like shouting "I believe, help my unbelief!"

Dutchoma · 28/07/2015 07:56

Thought for the day:

God loves each one of us as if there was only one of us to love. St Augustine

PeterSpots · 28/07/2015 08:23

Mornings are hard when I wake the same so thank you for the prayer. I am turning towards God. Not away. It is hard to keep faith but your words are an anchor

Dutchoma · 28/07/2015 08:30

Peter If there was one specific thing to pray for today, what would it be?

PeterSpots · 28/07/2015 08:39

For the pain to stop.

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