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

another murder near here in broad daylight has freaked me out somewhat.

Another one BES. Every reason to freak I would say. I pray for a peaceful night for you and for all your family.

Hello all. Sorry for the long absence. RL happened. Quite intensively. But all is well, I'm just really busy.

Popping back to add prayers, first and foremost, for Trazzletoes and her DS. Praying for a clear diagnosis and for love and care and support from all who care for them both. I really really hope that it's not a return of the cancer, and will be praying.

Also praying for Sweet and for your auntie and mum. How is your auntie now? Was the MRI conclusive?

And praying for greyscale, for peace of mind and positive thoughts in tough times.

Praying too for Don't, for your health and also for you as you grieve for your dad - remember that it's a slow and ongoing process and don't be too hard on yourself. Also praying for your mum and for your DD in her school situation.

Larry - praying for all involved with the fostering and adoption process, in your own family and more generally. It is an amazing thing to do. Praying too, obviously, for the children involved, and remembering their birth families.

BES - prayers for you in your tidying endeavours... I'm so sorry to hear about the murder near you - that must be so frightening. Stay safe. Prayers for the victim and all involved.

Praying for MHD as she faces uncertainty about her family's future direction, and praying also for her health.

Praying for Edith and her DP, and for passportmess, and QoF, and for PA, and amber, and for Oma... and of course for anyone else I've forgotten.

This thread is getting quite full so I will start a new one over the weekend. If you have any specific requests for the new thread, now is your chance to declare them. (Lurkers... unlurk if you want to go on the list...)

Meanwhile, I am also praying for anyone affected, directly or indirectly, by the terrible shootings in Orlando.

Watch, dear Lord, with those who wake, or watch, or weep tonight, and let your angels protect those who sleep. Tend the sick. Refresh the weary. Sustain the dying. Calm the suffering. Pity the distressed. We ask this for the sake of your love. Amen

the sixth or so within half a mile in the 12 years I have lived here, including one at the end of our road.

Dutchoma - thanks for replying. Please say hi to Trazzles from me and say that I am sending positive thoughts to her and Joseph.

two disturbed nights in a row.

feel so ill. really bad night is the cause.

Can you nap while they're in school Bes? Might just give you the strength to get by today.

Prayers for Jo Cox MP. I am praying hard that she pulls through. Her poor family.

I wrote too soon. Rest in Peace Jo. Prayers now for her family and friends.

horrendous.

I came to add my prayers for Jo Cox's family and friends. So very sad and senseless.

I am a lurker and I take solace and faith in the prayers which are posted here. I have a very difficult situation regarding DC2 and I have been praying for some weeks for clarity and strength to find the way through to keep him safe, and that we get some support. My prayers tonight are for everyone who needs solace, comfort and strength, and for peace, compassion and safety in the world.

What a lovely post Cocoa - welcome. Prayers for your ds and for support for you.

Your last sentence is so true.

Amen to that Cocoa and welcome - be assured of prayers for dc2 and you.
Praying for Jo Cox's family. It seems to have been such a very hate filled and tragic week. The horrendous attack on the gay club in Orlando, the senseless violence happening at the European Championships and now this. It is beyond all comprehension.

Welcome Cocoabutter. The world is a hard place at the moment. Praying that you will indeed find a solution in dealing with your dc2.

And praying for Jo Cox and her family. However dark it is, God can and will bring good out of all evil.

It is five years ago today that BlueTinkerbell's baby, Sterre was born sleeping. She is doing a skydive in aid of SANDS tomorrow. Prayers for her and her family.

wish blue luck.

aaaaaaaaaaaaaggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh too much to do too little time too much stuff to fall over.

catalyst... a wet duvet that is dripping too slowly and non available washing basket as it is containing some of the wettest bit. fighting airers and wet washing. smallest has kicked stuff about and broken stuff and fallen out of his tree, literally, with a bump on the head while we were doing dd's homework in the garden . he has climbed up the wall (literally) over the concrete path, shouted and stomped and whined and banged on the floor. and I am all emotioned out. therefore no chips for tea. the dinner is hardly frozen as it went in the freezer today, so much for putting away for next week. dd is whining as we have to get up early, I am grumpy as we have to be out somewhere at 8.30am. dd is having a megastress over homework. there is shopping everywhere, and washing and all the stuff ds has kicked about. and a mountain of washing up. too much to do and too little time to do it.

Sorry to barge in again like this. I'm really struggling so badly at the moment. My mental health has plummeted, I'm going through several med changes, seeing a couples counsellor with DP and recently been referred to the primary mental health team. I've fallen away from God and am struggling to pray / keep going to church. I feel like God gave me a lifeline yesterday and I pushed him away. Yesterday DP walked in on me just about to self harm. I felt like that was God telling me not to do it. But then DP asked if I wanted space and I said yes so he went upstairs. I then self harmed really badly, I haven't slept all night and I'm struggling to cope. Please can you pray for me, that I can draw closer to God and stop pushing him and others away.

I'm a lurker, but want you to know I am praying for you right now Faith. Xx

faith lovely, God is holding you in his arms and is closer to you than you feel. it is the being poorly that makes you feel far from God. praying that you will know his comfort and feel him with you.

Dearest Faith you cannot fall away from God, because His love is everywhere and He holds you. You need urgent medical help, so please go to A&E or the OOK service to deal with the result of the self harming. Please stop everything you are doing and get medical help. Now. Sending you much love.

faith have often wondered how you were doing. You haven't missed out on a lifeline, that lifeline is constant and always there not something to be grabbed or missed. You have been better before and you can be better again but you need practical help from health professionals to set you on the right track. Please contact someone and keep us updated. Lots of love and prayers.

Thank you all so very much, you are all so very lovely. I have managed to get about 2 hours sleep after posting which is better than nothing. Sorry just to clarify, when I say quite badly it was worse than I've done before but it's still superficial. From past experience a&e don't do anything except stitch you up (if necessary and in this case it's okay) and send you away again. I have my mental health assessment with the primary mental health team on Wednesday so I'm really hoping they can help me.

Glad to hear it Faith. Is there anyone in RL you can talk to? Just to get you over the few days till Wednesday. Apart from us on here of course. I''m really glad We have heard from you as it is much easier to pray for a specific issue. Be blessed.

Prayers for you Faith