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

Do share if you want to Aphie. We're here to listen and support.

That's lovely about dd, BES.

Aphie, you're most welcome here and we would love to pray for you and support you in any way we can, if you need to share stuff here then we will listen and be there with you, I am so sorry things are so tough for you.

So glad to hear your friends baby is fine, iHope. :)

Well, we have sent off two more job applications here, so praying into these ones. If one of them is right, then God is in it and it will be OK. But it's so hard, the waiting.

I'm v busy with writing, an agent requested my full manuscript so v excited but the waiting game is so long with it all. Still, I love doing it even if it comes to nothing.

Looking forward to a little half term break away - anyone doing anything nice? I have a chest infection at present so trying to rest to get better for that.

Delighted to hear about the agent's interest MHD. Yes, patience is apparently a virtue! I will be praying hard for the right job to come through.

No holiday plans as yet. We have had a barbeque this month though. I think its been two years since we had one if those. It rained too!

Lovely to see you MHD. Praying for the job possibilities, and for your writing, and for happy, healthy holidays.

Not going anywhere till later here, due to GCSEs...! I'm still not 100% better after being ill a month or so ago, and have finally made a doctor's appointment, so hoping to clear things up (niggly cough, sinus problems, tiredness, etc.) soon.

BES - that sounds good re. DD's music exam. Well done her for giving it her all.

Aphie - how are you feeling? Continuing to hold you in prayer.

Also praying for passport, and QoF, and Hope and her pg friend, and PA and her whole family, and Oma, and Edith, and Larry and all visitors to this thread, as well as 'old friends' who've not been around for a while.

I heard this hymn on the radio today and wanted to share the last verse as a prayer for all of us...

Spirit of our God, descending,
fill our hearts with heavenly joy;
love with every passion blending
pleasure that can never cloy;
thus provided, pardoned, guided,
nothing can our peace destroy. Amen

how long does the recruitment process take in your industry MHD?

ex had an interview today in this city so hoping for that too. living on savings and redundancy payments. faith is supposed to be a fecking virtue too... this patience and faith thing is annoying. what is more annoying is that church is skewed towards "blessing" and not so hot on learning through difficulty and learning to trust and have faith and patience with what God is doing. It is a major big deal for me to trust that God will provide and hold my nerve with finances.

Thank you Tuo. Our family are beginning transition for a foster baby today. Prayers for a smooth transition would be appreciated, and for everyone involved. The whole thing has been handled badly by social workers and emotions running high.

Prayers today for all manner of transitions.

Sorry, Larry: what is happening with/about the baby? Transition from what to what? Ignore me if you'd rather...
Prayers for jobs to turn up sensibly quickly.
I would appreciate prayers: I heard today that dd's friend who was coming to Halland with us in August has written off the van we were all going to travel in. Just not sure what we are going to do next

Oh dear, Oma, prayers that it will sort out and you'll find alternative transport, there's a bit of time yet to sort out insurance etc? Sounds horrible for her though.

Larry, praying for the baby and for you in this process.

BES- prayers for you to trust God and yes, agree some churches are too 'receive the blessing' and prosperity gospel which I think is so wrong and not at all what Jesus taught, or Paul - so much in his letters about perseverance through really crappy times, strength in weakness etc. Sometimes I think these people are reading different scriptures to me....sigh. Prayers that ex will get a good job.

Prayers for TUOs dd with GCSEs and the stress of it all - how is she doing, TUO- hope she is coping ok. We'll have this next year, not looking forward to it much. Prayers that your dd will feel really confident about them all and happy with what she's done.

BES, recruitment is like most others really - fairly quick turnover between applications and interviews and they do let you know pretty much immediately. We actually had one in your neck of the woods a few weeks back but it wasn't to be (and actually felt wrong so I was relieved but they were v complimentary to dh about his interview - just wanted someone with some experience in an area he didn't have much in.) - so now these applications are in the interviews if we get shortlisted will be in the next few weeks.

We could be moving in two months time - this is what is really scaring me at the minute!!

Baby moving from foster home to foster to adopt DutchOma. Don't want to say more.

It may not be as bad as it sounds. Dd said: dboyfriend wrote his car off, but it was not his fault at all, someone went into the back of him.

Hope all works out with the van Dutchoma. Glad no one was hurt.

I like this prayer:

Eternal, Holy God,
I come to you burdened with worries,
fears, doubts, and troubles.
Calm and quiet me with peace of mind.
Empty me of the anxiety that disturbs me,
of the concerns that weary my spirit,
and weigh heavy on my heart.
Loosen my grip on the disappointments and grievances
I hold on to so tightly.
Release me from the pain of past hurts,
of present anger and tension, of future fears.
Sometimes it's too much for me Lord,
too many demands and problems,
too much sadness, suffering, and stress.
Renew me spiritually and emotionally.
Give me new strength, hope, and confidence.
Prepare me to meet the constant struggles of daily life
with a deeper faith and trust in You.
Let your love set me free, for peace,
for joy, for grace, for life, for others, forever.

Amen

That's a lovely prayer Passportmess. A good prayer just before bedtime.

Just popping back on to say thanks for keeping me in your thoughts. I just generally have terrible anxiety that comes in waves relating to my health and dying. I had a bit of a scare with an abnormal smear and while they say it tends to correct itself it still left me with terrible anxiety about it and the rest of my health.
Some days I can be perfectly reasonable about it and others I can't calm the thoughts.
Currently on a working holiday as a carer looking after the person on their holiday abroad. Should be enough to distract me but it's not always the case.
Really like the prayer passportmess I agree with Dutchoma it's nice before bed.

Thank you Dutchoma and Aphie, it is a very calming prayer.

Aphid, I'm an anxious person and I had a health scare earlier in the year so I empathise. I found it helpful to observe my thoughts as they popped into my head without rushing to connect/ worry about them. It's a bit like mentally taking a step to one side and let the swirling worries float by. Most of what I worry about is something simple that transforms into something scary through my worry. I find prayer very helpful. I wish you peaceful sleep.

Sorry Aphie, that's an unfortunate autocorrect! My apologies.

Hello everyone, reading, praying...

Some of you might remember that this time last year I got very excited about maybe doing a short course - sort of baptism prep thing, though I am baptised and confimed. Anyway I couldn't do it, which was disappointing. But this year I can and the first session was today, and it was fantastic. So lovely to be able to talk about Christianity in RL without being judged... Just wanted to share that with those of you who remember the struggle!

I remember Edith and how disappointed you were. Glad it has happened this year and that it exceeded expectations.

That's great news Edith. Hope interview went well Bes. Hello to everyone, you are all in my prayers.

Edith - that is wonderful. It has been a privilege to share and follow your journey on here. Praying that things continue to be more positive for you.

BES - praying for your finances and for ex's job situation.

MHD - also praying for you and your family as you think about the future.

Aphie - praying for peace of mind for you.

Don't - thinking about you, your DD, and your mum. Your poor mum must feel so nervous. I really hope her house sells quickly and she's able to find somewhere where she feels safer and more relaxed.

Larry - praying for you and your family and for the baby.

I have been to the doctor's and he says there's nothing obviously wrong, but there has been a nasty bug going around which does tend to linger. He says to go back in two weeks if I'm not feeling any better. Of course, I'm feeling MUCH better since making the appointment.

This is a beautiful prayer of Catherine of Siena:

O eternal and glorious Trinity, deeper than the deepest sea, and the abyss of love for whom we thirst and long; let us for ever desire your light, for ever seek your face and for ever wrap ourselves in the robe of your majesty and Godhead; world without end. Amen.

tuo I was ill from this year from February until beginning of May. I would start feeling better and then it would hit again. I went to the docs a few time, had 2 lots of abs and was starting to worry it was a sign of something else and then all of a sudden it lifted. Good old MN reassured me a bit as a search bought up quite a few threads with people discussing the never ending virus they had so definitely seemed to be a "thing" this year.

edith really happy to read your post.
mad praying for resolution for your situation.

We had ds first communion last weekend and it was wonderful, very happy occasion.

Reading through and praying.

Today is the day the baby goes to foster to adopters. Great joy for them, great sadness for foster carers who have had baby since birth. Please pray for smooth transition for the baby, but also for the former foster carers and their children, including another foster child who will be going for adoption soon.

Praying for all involved, Larry.

Thank you DutchOma.

Praying too Larry