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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:
Dontbesilly · 01/08/2015 09:55

Thank you for your words and kindness. We went to church yesterday and lit candles and spoke to our vicar. All night I have been sobbing and praying. The world goes on but it feels like mine has stood still. I need to pull myself together and become strong for him, my mum and my family. Thank you x

Dutchoma · 01/08/2015 11:03

I always think that 'pulling yourself together' when your world has fallen apart is a very futile attempt. Would it not be better to let the love of God which is endless and stronger than death fill your mind? Try and concentrate on 'how deep and wide and strong' that love is every time you are so overwhelmed by grief. Ours is a resurrection faith, death is not the end. And also there is life before death to consider. Don't spoil what you have by the thought of how short it may be.

WoahBodyforrrrm · 01/08/2015 11:16

Just over a month ago my life was normal. I was on my sons nursery outing helping for the day. We had a lovely day. I don't remember anything after getting home that afternoon.

During the night I had a massive seizure out of the blue, I was critically ill in intensive care, my family were told that they didn't know whether I would make it. Four weeks later I'm still here thank God. But I've been diagnosed with a large brain tumour. I'm 28. I have sons of 8 and 4, and twin girls that have just turned 3.

I am going in for surgery to remove the tumour on Thursday. It will then be tested and I'll find out the type and grade. I'm terrified of leaving my children while they're young. I'm angry that I put all my symptoms down to having a stressful busy life with my kids and lack of sleep. I'm not scared of dying, I know from that night how quickly it can happen and I would have been none the wiser. I'm scared of leaving them without a mother while they're so young. Especially my 8 year old, the little ones are young, they'd forget me in time but not my eldest.

Please could you keep my family in your prayers.

Dutchoma · 01/08/2015 11:29

Whoa that is a really big life changing thing to happen. Prayers that the operation will be successful and that you will not have to contemplate death in the short term. Prayers for all your children and for your husband as well.

WoahBodyforrrrm · 01/08/2015 12:11

Thank you dutch it really means so much!

BlackeyedSusan · 01/08/2015 14:17

I am back at mothers. she is worried about food. still.

we had some good days and some not so good days. dd had chicken pox for several days and we found a bit of the country that it rained and rained in. we did get to the beach and build sandcastles. ds had a wonderful time trying to defend his castle so it was not doomed. his defending mainly took the form of shouting at his parents to build the walls back up. we suceeded in defending against high tide, only for the stream to wipe it out when other children played damming the stream and altered it's course by several metres! he took it well though thank God.

mum was worried about packing and getting it all back in her bag all holiday. she worried about food. said my food made her ill, and she could eat no veg. we did an extra trip to the further away supermarket to get her food without veg and spent the day on this. then served up tea and she eyed our carrots and proclaimed she could eat root veg and mushrooms. we missed a lot of time at the beach organising her food when she could have eaten what we had.

she has told me that she can not eat stuff, then complained when she has not been given it.

she was desperate to go out with us and then got too cold several times. not taking her warm clothes with her as she was worried about getting too hot too.

the thing is that people do not realise that the children have their own difficulties... I am working full time to prevent meltdowns from ds, and keeping dd from various physical calamities, as she is not physically aware and will fall over it, off it, into it, walk into traffic, off edges, trip on stairs, knock things over, walk into things and bang her head... etc.

Dontbesilly · 01/08/2015 14:28

Thank you Dutchoma I agree with you, I am not thinking straight yet, thanks for the advice and for the direction when I have temporarily lost mine x

Thinking of you on Thursday Woah and your family also. Saying prayers for you x

Thinking of everyone else and sending prayers to you all x

PositiveAttitude · 01/08/2015 15:51

Welcome here Whoa & Dontbe Be assured of prayers throughout your difficult situations.

Sounds really tough BES. DH often reminds me that there is no reasoning with my DF, so sympathies. You can't do right whatever you do, so I sort of give up bending over too far backwards.

Peter I have just been having a browse through some Kindle offers and I noticed that the Joni Eareckson Tada book about coping with physical pain is on offer for just 49p if you have a kindle. I think it could be on the 24 hour sale page, so if you are interested, dont hang about.

link if you are interested

madhairday · 01/08/2015 16:45

Hello and welcome to Dontbesilly and whoa . My heart went out to you both as I read your posts, and please be assured of my prayers. Oma's beautiful words convey all I want to say - be assured of light in the darkness, of our resurrection faith, our great hope. I hope we can support you here a little.

peter I have been thinking of you and praying in your pain. Pain can be so very all consuming it is hard to see beyond it sometimes. Praying for healing for you, for an easing of pain and good results from the scan. That book PA recommended is a really good one.

BES it sounds like it has been a difficult holiday for you in some ways. Glad you got some nice times too and time on the beach. Praying for some peace from it all for you amidst the chaos now!

Will be reading through and praying further, but just arrived home from New wine, and as usual it was an incredible week, times of encountering God in such powerful and profound ways. My lungs held up so well, very grateful. Glad to be home and have a lovely home shower and quiet warm house after living in a muddy field right next to the main arena which was v noisy (in a lovely way!)

LifeOfBriony · 01/08/2015 20:44

PA Pleased your DS's boss is a decent person and hope your son will get his op soon.

BES Glad you have done some nice things on your holiday amongst all your difficulties.

Dontbesilly so so sorry for you and your family. Praying for you.

Woah hope your op will be a success, that they will catch the whole tumour, and that there will be no side effects. I know someone who has gone through similar. I won't say too much as I don't want to out her or me, but her op was a total success and she looks really well one year on. I will pray for the same for you, and also for your family in the days, weeks and months ahead.

Tuo · 01/08/2015 21:50

Just caught up with thread. Prayers for all and a warm welcome to those new here.

OP posts:
Dutchoma · 01/08/2015 22:32

Giving thanks for the safe return of MHD and BES, sorry it was not much of a holiday BES, but very glad things went well for MHD

A prayer tonight from Amos 5 to remind us that God is great, that He can fulfill His purposes and that He can be trusted to bring the best possible outcome.

Seek him who made the Pleiades and Orion, and turns deep darkness into the morning, and darkens the day into night; who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out upon the surface of the earth: The Lord is his name. Amen.

BlackeyedSusan · 02/08/2015 18:54

so pleased that you had a good time and that your lungs kept breathing MHD. you really deserved it after a few tough holiday seasons. long may it continue.

prayers for a new computer PA.

watching to see if the buggers die... the weeds that is. been out in the front garden spraying the drive and paths as I have lack of dandelion envy of the neighbour who sprayed hers and never seen it since. hoping I have not accidently sprayed the lovely plants too.

BlackeyedSusan · 02/08/2015 18:55

deperately needed destressing in the garden after doing the supermarket with ds.

Dutchoma · 02/08/2015 21:11

praying tonight for Whoa, for Peterspots for Don'tbesilly and for BES.

Tuo went to the service at Iona this morning so here is a prayer of St Columba for all of us:

My dearest Lord
be Thou a bright flame before me,
be Thou a guiding star above me,
be Thou a smooth path beneath me,
be Thou a kindly shepherd behind me,
today and evermore.

BlackeyedSusan · 03/08/2015 00:01

things have improved, though it was a really late tea. all children, parents and twonks alive though.

FaithLoveandHope · 03/08/2015 00:20

Sorry to just jump in. Am praying through as I read. Really struggling again, feels like I'm in a non-stop rollercoaster of feeling okay and then being plunged into darkness again. Feel so triggered this evening and can't sleep. Currently listening to my "calm" playlist with the likes of Chris Tomlin and Stuart Townend to try and calm myself down. Up in 5 and a half hours for work and know I will be hanging. Please pray (probably in retrospect as I doubt anyone will pick this up tonight) that I eventually get some rest in God's loving presence tonight.

Dutchoma · 03/08/2015 06:48

Glad things improved BES. No need to dig up the patio just yet. Well done.
FLaH I do hope you got some sleep in the end. Have you ever tried to imagine standing on a loft ladder and imagining you can look into heaven. You can see how organised everything is, angels moving calmly about to deal with difficulties and somewhere pervading it all is the magnificent presence of God Who is in total control. Even if you do not fall asleep it is calming to be looking at that than to let your thoughts dwell on your own circumstances.
A happy Monday morning to all. Whatever our difficulties may we have a 'nevertheless' faith.

PeterSpots · 03/08/2015 10:15

Hello. Saying prayers for all. I have not felt any sensation of my bladder being full since the custoscopy. It has been nearly a month & I am very worried. I have been calling the hospital & i have been told it isn't anything to do with the consultant & he is now on extended holiday. Please pray they will listen to me & help me. To have this on top of my pelvic pain is so difficult. I pray die strength & patience.

PeterSpots · 03/08/2015 10:15

I will stand on my loft ladder too

BlackeyedSusan · 03/08/2015 11:50

there has been some dancing on the patio chanting "die, die, you buggers" that has been aimed at the weeds though.

mum has not slept and has got very negative... she asks me what to do and I tell her to rest on the sofa.... she follows up with another negative statement... and does no t lie on the sofa and then asks me what to do.. repeat with another worry... ad infinitum.

off to tackle the jungle at the bottom of the garden. she has worried it is all getting out of hand. it is a bit but is usually sorted by me over the school holidays.

praying for answers to your pain peter. go back to the gp and pester them to find answers? they may be able to refer to a pain clinic.

hope you slept faith and work is survivable at least.

woah. hoping your health improves.

EdithSimcox · 03/08/2015 13:13

Praying for all; it's getting busy round here.

I feel overwhelmed today with the need to be right about this whole
God thing. It is so important that I don't mess up my life and my family for a figment of my imagination, yet here I am still, persisting with God but filled with doubt. Please pray for my faith to be strengthened.

Dutchoma · 03/08/2015 13:52

Edith, how can something that has stood the test of time, has inspired millions upon millions of people,be a 'figment of your imagination'?

John Pritchard in his book Living Jesus tells of a man who was of royal descent but was brought up in humble surroundings. His life was spent in the service of others, but when he was 30 he and a band of his followers began to wander around the area of the Roman Empire in which they lived. They did this for about 3 years, but their actions began to upset the authorities so much so that they arrested the young man and crucified him. His name was ....Spartacus.
He is forgotten but Jesus towers over our global narrative as no-one else ever has.

EdithSimcox · 03/08/2015 14:30

Thank you, Oma. I was just thinking the same thing about so many people believing the same thing for so long :) That is reassuring.
Sometimes it feels like I'm alone in this though. Less so when I come here.

madhairday · 03/08/2015 14:56

Edith this must be hard for you as well as the feelings of an exciting journey. You are bravely stepping forward in something, not entirely sure it's right, but something is spurring you on. It seems to me that God has been seeking you out and is holding out hands to you, taking you on this journey. We all struggle with doubt, it is very normal and very right - we need doubt in order to engage deeply with the issues and the questions, we need it to help us form our faith more fully. You may find this book helpful Faith and Doubt - although I don't want to bombard you with too many books!

I am praying for your faith to be strengthened and for you to find peace in the midst of this storm and the right way forward. How is dp being at the moment? I think about you a lot. Flowers

FLaH I do hope last nihgt was ok and pray that today you will be strengthened and more at peace.

Peter I am praying that you are listened to and that they will find answers for you in your difficulties.

I really like the loft ladder analogy, Oma :) I think if I stick my head up there I won't want to come down again. Grin

Just thinking of this song today, for all those feeling like it all hurts too much. Flowers

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