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Philosophy/religion

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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:
Anjelica27 · 25/08/2015 21:47

struggling with how to write this. Eldest ds back from honeymoon so all right with the world. He is so happy and I'm so grateful for that. Ashamed about how happy I am just to have him close by. Dh, only he's definitely not, very angry about not being at the wedding, and poor ds so angry with us all. Big appointment with psychology team tomorrow. Please, if you can, add us into your prayers tonight. Thank you

QuietIsland2 · 25/08/2015 22:02

Will do anjelica especially for the big appt. X

Dontbesilly · 25/08/2015 23:00

Hello everyone. Hoping everyone is well. I have been thinking of you all and praying for you too. I really missed you all while the site was out of action. Just goes to show how supportive and lovely you all are and how worthwhile this little group is.

Angelica. Of course I can, you are in my prayers. Hoping things go well with the big appointment. Please don't feel ashamed to be happy now that your other ds is close by. You really do deserve to be happy too. Praying also for things to get better soon.

Good luck with the diy bes. Your like a one woman whirl wind who never rests. Hoping your headache went away quickly and your recovered from your stay at your mum's house.

If you don't mind me asking again. Could you please spare us another prayer. We are desperately hoping that another oncologist in a hospital in the next big city will agree to take over dad's care there. They work with the doctor dad saw privately in London and we feel that it would be better for him to be treated there. Please pray that the new oncologist will agree to accept dad on and take over the treatment. I pray so much that she will do this. I feel as if we are navigating a journey one stepping stone at a time and before each leap forward we need to be prepared both physically, mentally and in prayer.

Hoping everyone is OK and keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers and I thank you all, and God, for your prayers for us too. I am so grateful for finding you all xx

QuietIsland2 · 25/08/2015 23:06

That's a lovely thing to say don't. Am praying for your df and Angelica 27's ds and for everyone else's intentions.

Lightnessofbeing2015 · 26/08/2015 00:05

Praying for both Anjelica and don't tonight.

BlackeyedSusan · 26/08/2015 11:57

I spent all day monday wiped out and onthe floor reading, just feeding the children. Came round a bit yesterday and managed to have a go at mending the wardrobe. I felt better enough to ring my mother and she is still wittering about the fecking garden. this time the trees at teh bottom of the garden, which were not cut back as they are still fruit bearing. (must go up and pick it sometime but will have to go for the day only as dd is busy every weekend from now until november) she is worrying that they are so thick she can not see the houses at the bottom of the garden, they are getting yards high, and they are so thick that they will have to be cut off with a saw. One years growth. been cut off everyyear for the last ten years with no issues. will she bloody listen will she hell. she absolutely can not listen to a word I am saying. she is determined to kill herself with worry and take me out with her

BlackeyedSusan · 26/08/2015 15:52

well I have achieved one job that needed doing before back to school. childrens hair cuts. ds has gone out of the way as he put it. to escape the annoyed mother who has put up with the whinging and moaning and the constantly moving head... and the scissors that are trying to trim the bit that were missed as he swivelled

EdithSimcox · 26/08/2015 19:56

Deep breaths BES. Do you know the Jesus prayer? Very calming for moments of exasperation.

MHD thanks for asking... Up and down really. I am making a super-human effort (in my eyes) to be the strong one and hold us together. In DP's eyes I have chosen God over her and she veers from wanting to leave me to saying, depressed or sarcastically, that she will just have to put up with being second fiddle. On Monday she actually said, for the first time, that our relationship was over and I did have to make an actual choice - to tell her that I'll drop God for her, or not - to make her stay. And even pushed like that, and with both of us in tears, after hours of discussion, and our 3 beautiful DC in the next room, and desperately wanting our family to stay together, I couldn't do it. I don't know why not, it would make my life one hell of a lot easier. So instead I talked her down, and round, and won a reprieve for another few weeks (or days, no way of knowing when the next big crisis will come).

Typing on phone, but have read all and am continuing to pray for everyone.

QuietIsland2 · 26/08/2015 20:12

Article 18 UN Declaration of Human rights:

Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

EdithSimcox · 26/08/2015 21:43

Oh yes Quiet, she knows that. :)
She also has the right not to stay with me though - for whatever reason. :(

QuietIsland2 · 26/08/2015 21:49

I hope she will stay with you Edith. You seem like a lovely person. I really like the wording of article 18. It's very lyrical.

QuietIsland2 · 26/08/2015 23:03

I'm a Dietrich Bonhoeffer admirer so I'd like to post his morning prayer for tomorrow:
MORNING PRAYER
O God, early in the morning I cry to you. Help me to pray And to concentrate my thoughts on you: I cannot do this alone. In me there is darkness, but with you there is light; I am lonely, but you do not leave me; I am feeble in heart, but with you there is help; I am restless, but with you there is peace. In me there is bitterness, but with you there is patience; I do not understand your ways, but you know the way for me… Restore me to liberty, and enable me to live now, that I may answer before you and before me. Lord, whatever this day may bring, Your name be praised.
– Dietrich Bonhoeffer

QuietIsland2 · 26/08/2015 23:05

He was imprisoned by the Nazis when he wrote this hence the reference to liberty.

Tuo · 26/08/2015 23:52

Thank you for sharing that prayer, QuietIsland. I also loved the one you shared a couple of days ago FLaH.

Sorry not to have been around much recently - work is very busy and I'm doing more than my usual share of juggling!

I'm reading when I can, though, and praying for all, but especially tonight for Anjelica, for Edith, for BES, and for Dontbesilly.

I will try to start a new thread before the weekend, as this one is almost full. I will update the OP to reflect recent posts, but if you have any specific requests you'd like included, just post them here in the next couple of days.

Lord, in your mercy, hear all our prayers...

OP posts:
PositiveAttitude · 27/08/2015 08:41

Just had a read through and a prayer for you all as I read.

Something that struck me for Edith as I was reading your post. You say that you are making a "Super-human" effort. Firstly, and on human terms you should not have to do that in a relationship as it should be a 2-way effort. But from a different view I would like to say that maybe handing it totally over to God for Him to deal with would relieve you of pressure. We are not super -human, we are just human - but God is God and can do the Super-Natural with no effort at all. I realise it is so easy for someone else to say, but how would you feel praying "God, I need your help here. I hand this all over to you, whatever you may do. I believe You will handle this for the best for me and ask you to take over" Or it could be just a "God - I give up!!! Take over!!!!" The outcome may not be what you expect, what you want or what you imagine. But in God's hands you can relax and not have the stress that this is causing you. Prayers continue for you in your situation. And for your DP, too.

Sorry, I dont mean to be unfeeling towards you, I just really felt that I should type what I thought.

FaithLoveandHope · 27/08/2015 11:00

Hi all,

Still in the midst of deadlines but wanted to pop on briefly. The issue I had last week was related to my PhD and has now been resolved in a way far better than I could've hoped for. I'm so grateful to God for helping me get through that, albeit in a long winded manner. I'm starting to feel more hopeful and positive and can honestly say my supervisor is amazing. Now, if I could just get through these deadlines, I'll feel much calmer :)

Edith I'm so sorry things are so difficult for you at the moment. I love what PA said, particularly the prayer. It can be incredibly hard but sometimes we do just need to pass the situation over to God and let him guide us through it. Continuing my prayers for you and DP.

QuietIsland that is such a lovely prayer, thanks for sharing.

Right, I should really get back to the report before I panic about how I'm not working! Can't believe it's almost time for a new prayer thread! Praying for all.

BlackeyedSusan · 27/08/2015 11:46

oh edith. Sad I think she will have to choose whether she wants you as you are or whether she wants to leave. it is her that needs to make the choice not you. not that that is much comfort of course. one thing though...jesus said he would never leave you, evento the end of the world... And I imagine that a relationship break down really does feel like that. mine was a blessed relief to escape so not comparing like with like

BlackeyedSusan · 27/08/2015 11:50

thank god. I have some (about 6 things) hanging in my wardrobe.

I am washing the stuff on my bed as it has been hanging about for 8 months. rather not hanging about, piled about. good chance to see what I want to keep. I am afraid some much loved things need to go or be reccled into something else. Sad

I need to extricate my other stash of clothes. and then I can put the second hand curtains away in their place. they do not fit. Sad unless they are extended in some way. but they may fit the next place. the ones with the brown flowers on that were here when we moved in will probably have to get recycled instead. Grin

BlackeyedSusan · 27/08/2015 13:54

ok so I had six things hanging, then the other end broke, so I had a heap of things at the bottom of the wardrobe, however, we are back to having things hanging again. (this fix was easier as I only had to cut a chunk out of wood, rather than drill and chisel a groove as the rail was not quite long enough to do that both ends.

EdithSimcox · 27/08/2015 16:01

Thank you PA Flah Tuo and Bes for your thoughts and prayers.

You are right that I have made my choice, and now it's for her to make hers. I have prayed for hours and for weeks about this and I am quite sure that God wants me to continue to do my utmost to keep my family together. So I will continue to do all I can (short of giving up God completely) to facilitate that.

Just to be clear because I don't want anyone to have the wrong impression, DP is not being difficult; her distress is genuine (I won't explain why here) and she is also making a gigantic effort to overcome it so that she can stay with me. (And obviously my efforts are not super-human, I'm sure you will allow me a bit of hyperbole when it all seems too much). Smile

Thank you all for your support. Flowers

EdithSimcox · 27/08/2015 16:10

quiet that's a lovely prayer. And thank you for saying I seem like a lovely person - it's so kind of you. not sure I am though

Lightnessofbeing2015 · 27/08/2015 22:09

I am drawn to pray tonight as I am anxious and unsettled . Partly about my work and fear of making a mistake and partly about having to leave my home for my work.

From the Lord's Prayer website

A prayer for peace comfort and strength :

Lord ,

Lead me into the valley of your protection
May I feel safe and secure sheltered there

Lead me to drink from streams of life.
May I find hope and healing in the waters.

Lead me to fields of green meadows
May I rest in quiet places on the softness of your grass.

Lead me into the light of your eternal truth
May I bathe in the promise of heaven

Amen

Tuo · 28/08/2015 00:06

Just realised that I'm away tomorrow night, so may not be able to start a new thread till the weekend. Might have managed it tonight but got caught up in a nasty accident (not me or my family involved - I just happened to be there when someone fell and injured themselves badly, requiring an ambulance to be called) which has made me very late (and I still have some work stuff to do before I can go away tomorrow).

Obviously if someone else wants to start a thread before I get back, do go ahead, but if this one is still up and running I'll start a new one as soon as I can. Sorry for not being more on top of this.

Prayers for all tonight, and sorry to post and run... it has all been a bit manic.

OP posts:
Dutchoma · 28/08/2015 07:29

Praying for a time of refreshment for you TUO.

Dontbesilly · 28/08/2015 08:41

LOB, prayers for you. I get anxiety about work and not making a mistake too. It is quite deliberating sometimes and as hard as I try to reassure myself I am a good worker and always try my best, the anxiety doesn't lift. Thinking of you.

Tuo so sorry that things are manic for you and praying for some calm. Hope the person who fell is OK and prayers for them too. I bet they were so relieved to have you there in a time of need.

Thoughts and prayers for all x