Praying into 2016: a Christian prayer thread for the New Year

[Tuo]

Happy New Year friends.

This thread is a safe space where anyone - regular, occasional visitor, lurker, committed Christian or waverer - is welcome to come and leave their prayers in the knowledge that they will be prayed for. No problem is too big or small to share here, and if you just want to come and say 'hi', that's fine too.

Looking back through our previous thread, we pray in particular for:

ALittleFaith - for good treatment for her anxiety; for better understanding from her boss; for the lovely Faithlet.

amberlight - for her work supporting people with autism, and for her and her family.

Anjelica27 - for her DS, who has mental health problems, and for Anjelica and her family.

BlackEyedSusan - for all that she has to juggle as a single mum, for her DC, and for her mum. Praying for a peaceful and happy 2016.

Dontbesilly - for her dad, who has been diagnosed with cancer, and for all who love and care for him; also for the medical team looking after him; for her DH's work situation; and for Don't's DDog who has a heart condition.

DutchOma - with gratitude for all she does to support people on this thread and elsewhere. Thinking of her especially as the anniversary of the loss of her beloved Bob approaches, in particular after the recent death of her brother as well. May she know God's closeness to her in her grief.

EdithSimcox - for her to be able to find ways to support and nurture her faith; and for understanding from her DP.

FaithLoveandHope - for clarity about what she wants (and what God wants) for her future.

HardyLeodicean - especially for her FIL.

IHopeYouStepOnALegoPiece - for her to find comfort and joy in exploring her faith; also for a good recovery from heart surgery for her best friend's dad.

JugglingFromHereToThere - for her search for rewarding work, for health, and for comfort and strength for her and the rest of her family following the tragic death of her nephew.

Kaykat - following her divorce from an abusive ex; for happiness for her and for her DS.

legohurtswhenyoustandonit - for her to feel more at home and accepted by her church.

LifeofBriony - for her relationship with her DH; also for her DS going back to university after Christmas.

LightnessofBeing - for her new church, and for energy to cope with her punishing work schedule.

MadHairDay - for her health, especially in the cold, wet winter months which are always so hard on her lungs.

Pandora97 - as she starts a new job in a new town for the new year following difficult and stressful times relating to a court case in recent months.

passportmess (formerly known as QuietIsland) - for a colleague whose husband is very ill, and for a university friend who has been diagnosed with cancer.

PatchworkTurtle - for healing in her relationship.

PositiveAttitude - for her DD1, who is depressed, to get the support she needs; for her DD3 and her DH to work through their relationship issues; for PA's DH to find work that makes him happier, for PA's DMum to continue to be happy in her (relatively) new care home and for PA's DDad to cope with her being there. Above all, we pray for PA herself, who is always there for others when they need her, to be happy and fulfilled in 2016.

QoF - for courage when she is feeling anxious.

ScouseQueen - for a full recovery from recent illness.

SESthebrave - for her DH, who has been working abroad, and for SES, juggling everything at home; for her DS to find ways of communicating, rather than lashing out, when he is frustrated; and for her to feel appreciated for the work she does at her church.

TheRealGracePoole - for her ministry to women in her area.

weegiemum - giving thanks for an improvement in her DD1's (borderline) anorexia; praying for weegiemum's own health and for the Master's course which she has undertaken.

And, as always, prayers for anyone I've forgotten (with apologies), for all who lurk but don't post, for 'old-timers' who haven't posted recently, and for newbies who may not have posted yet.

A prayer of St Teresa of Avila

Let nothing disturb you.
Let nothing frighten you.
All things pass away:
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things.
Those who have God
Find they lack nothing;
God alone suffices. Amen

Hello and welcome HappyClappy. Nice to see you.

BES, HappyClappy is right- you juggle more than most. Don't worry about achieving all that needs doing; be pleased that you've made a start. You are amazing! Prayers for a good day tomorrow and especially for the consultant visit.

Edith - prayers for patience, of course, but also lots of understanding of how difficult this is. We are none of us really and we all often feel we're failing in holiness or goodness or whatever. I'm on minus points tonight having sent a snotty email to a couple of people who let me down over a work thing. They did let me down, but my response could have been more generous. Tomorrow is a new day: praying for one without difficult situations.

PA - it's so lovely to see you, but I'm sorry to hear about your tooth. I hope it gets better really quickly. Prayers for your conference too.

SES - hope your DD was OK. it's horrible walking away when they are being clingy (not that I have any of that now that mine are teens - they can't wait to see the back of me! - but I do remember it well).

A prayer of St Ignatius

Teach us, good Lord, to serve you as you deserve; to give and not to count the cost; to fight and not to heed the wounds; to toil and not to seek for rest; to labour and not to ask for any reward, save that of knowing that we do your will. Amen

Afternoon.

Love the

Prayers for you all today - esp for you BES. Praying for peace...

Please, please can you pray for dad. He's taken a turn for the worst. I am terrified and scared. Really, really scared. Frightened that I wont be able to cope without having him around. I feel as if my heart will break and my head won't be able to cope. Please can you pray, please xx

Prayers for you don't and for your dad, and for everyone who loves him, that you may feel God's love surrounding you all.

Prayers for you and your dad, Dont. Whatever happens you will cope because God is with you. "Don't be afraid, for I am with you"

oh don't

sometimes the fear of what it will be like is worse than what it turns out to be.

Praying for you dont and you will cope but you are not there yet so try and do the not very easy task of coping with what you have now to deal with. You will have the strength to deal with each day I know but looking ahead to a whole bunch of tough days in the future will paralyse you for now.All vey easy to say I know so big hugs as well. And of course prayers

Prayers for you Don't, for your Dad and your family. We are all with you in spirit.

I need to find the information i recorded at christmas which seems to have run off with several odd socks , the plot and my marbles.

please pray that the consultant or junior dr will understand that Ihave been delivering as much of their needs as is physically possible. even though we have not managed to do one part of what was requested.

Oh Don't, I am so sorry to hear that your dad has taken a turn for the worse. Is he in the hospice now? I hope that he is as comfortable as he can be, and I am praying for you, for him, for the rest of your family and for everyone who loves and cares for him. May you find ways to let go of fear and hold onto love. Take one day at a time, and for now focus on the here-and-now - the future will take care of itself when the time comes.

BES - you sound stressed about the appointment. It is patently clear from all you say on here tha tyou are doing all you can for your DC and that they couldn't wish for a better mum. Praying that it will go well for you.

Adding prayers for amberlight, and thinking of PA (how's the tooth?) and MHD (any closer to a decision?) and Edith, QoF, abbs, and Oma.

A Prayer of St Apollonius (170-245)

O Lord Jesus Christ,
give us a measure of your Spirit
that we may be enabled to obey your teaching:
to pacify anger,
to take part in pity,
to moderate desire,
to increase love,
to put away sorrow,
to cast away vain glory,
not to be vindictive,
not to fear death;
ever entrusting our spirit to the immortal God
who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns
world without end. Amen

Amen.

Praying for you today, dear dont

found the info from christmas. just not done the star chart. shit.

ok so off to get a telling off from the hospital. I am sick of some professionals not realising that Ihave two children with additional needs that need to balanced out and juggled.

Don't - praying for you, your Dad and your family. For strength and the reassurance of love.

BES - prayers for you that in the midst of all you are dealing with, you will feel the presence of God supporting you and guiding you. Be assured, you are doing a great job.

dicharged! she will grow out of it gradually. slight change in routine... from set times to a couple of times before bed.

oh and we got free parking. machine was full. it had been working earlier and was being emptied as we got backto the car park.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

St Patrick (5th Century)

I love the prayers posted on here. Going through a tough time.

Dont, just read your post now. Praying hard for you and your family and your dDad. Thinking of you today across the miles. x

Larry hope the prayers are helping you in this time of need. I loved the St Apollonius prayer Tuo; I've never heard of him before now. Thank you too Edith for the St Patrick's prayer - one of my favourites.

Praying for you all. Well done on free parking at the hospital Bes

The St Patrick's prayer is sometimes known as St Patrick's breastplate. I've just been reading a devotional guide to praying and it suggests with this prayer to say it at the beginning of day as 'there comes with it [the prayer] a galvanizing confidence that we are secure in the armour of God, the presence of Christ'.

I really like the last line 'Christ in mouth of friend and stranger' as we are both friends and strangers here online. (There are some of us who have met in real life though) x

Welcome Larry. We are here if you want to share some of your worries, but will pray for you anyway.
Yes, 'friends and strangers' across the miles, whether we have met in real life or not.
I too love St Patrick's breastplate, I wish we would sing it sometimes, but it is years ago that I did.
How are things with you Dont?

Thank you Dutchoma.

brushes off fish scales. at tleast the bloody thing did not bite me this time

got to get the dcs. sports relief day. this could be good in that he is shattered. or bad in that he is tired and extremely grumpy. as in hitting/kicking grumpy. got thumped on hte bum one aftersport pick up.

Hello Larry. It's good to see you, though I'm sorry that things are hard for you at the moment. As Oma says, feel free to share if you'd like to, but equally there is no need - we are praying anyway.

Briony - I missed you when I posted last. It's nice to see you too. Are things any better with you?

Don't - keeping prayers going for you and your Dad.

BES - hope today's was a 'good tired' sort of a day.

PA - praying for your weekend away.

MHD - still praying for your decision-making.

Edith - praying for you and your DP too.

Oma -- thanking God for your reassuring presence on the thread.

Posting this full version of the Serenity Prayer for all on this thread, whether regulars, newbies, lurkers or first-time visitors.

    God, give me grace to accept with serenity
    the things that cannot be changed,
    Courage to change the things
    which should be changed,
    and the Wisdom to distinguish
    the one from the other.
    Living one day at a time,
    Enjoying one moment at a time,
    Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
    Taking, as Jesus did,
    This sinful world as it is,
    Not as I would have it,
    Trusting that You will make all things right,
    If I surrender to Your will,
    So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
    And supremely happy with You forever in the next.
    Amen.

Hi all, praying as I read through. Thank you for prayers some weeks ago re the operation. That happened on Thursday and went well. Results next Wednesday.

could do with prayers.

lots.

an emotional mess right now.

Praying for strength for you BES.

Things are a bit better with me, thanks, Tuo. DH and I are getting on a bit better, but it does seem that every time I think that, something else happens. DD's friend, J, has woken from his coma but has some short term memory loss. He is still in hospital. Thank you to those who prayed for him.

The new job is very busy with a mixture of productive and unproductive days. I am mostly enjoying it but am looking forward to some time off over Easter.