Christian prayer thread for winter

[Madhairday]

Hello all! I just posted a long post on the old thread and realised it's full up, so just going to copy this here to sunshine - will try and do a roundup of other prayers too later. Everyone welcome here!

Just want to reiterate what Oma and Cocoa have said so well, sunshine. It's no wonder church feels like a hostile place and you freeze up. I feel so sad for you that that man did this to you. But Christ isn't the church , the church is supposed to be his body, reaching out hands of love and help and compassion, and sometimes they mess that up. Hugely. Sometimes evil crawls in. But that doesn't mean God's abandoned you. I love that Oma referred to the prodigal son, I was looking at Rembrandt's study of that parable the other day and so struck afresh by the father's absolute joy in his son being home, his grace in embracing him whatever he'd done. Sadly you've had a poor excuse for a father so it must be so difficult to frame God in the language of father for you but God is the father who loves you beyond your imaginings, who reaches out arms of compassion and forgiveness, who gathers you in and just loves you. Loves you so much, so, so much, without end. You can never do anything that will make God abandon you. Jesus said that he is with us always, even to the end of the age.

I know church is threatening, lovely, but there are a lot of people who would love to help, here on the internet and in real life. It's just a case of reaching out, but I know that must seem impossible right now. I've learned that God is a God of restoration, a God who longs to mend the broken places and devastations in people's lives. I've seen people set free from so much and believe with everything I am that God longs to set you free, too.

I'd love you to find some medical support. I'm so sorry your GP is so rubbish. More and more the case, sadly. I pray you can get in to see someone. Would you also consider some counselling? Like cocoa says, that doesn't mean they would take your DC away, just that they would want to support and help you. you sound a lovely mum and have done so well to get to this point. I'm glad you are reaching out here. Please take care and know God's love pouring over you by the Holy Spirit.

You're not hijacking the thread either. Everyone's welcome.

Thank you.

Thanks for the advice too. I'll try. It's so hard.

I've had my ups and downs in this area kettle. I've had to step back and let it wash over me. It's painful because you want to help them but as Dutchoma wisely said handing the problems over to God can be a blessing too.

How does one do this? My mind is constantly obsessing and thinking and analysing, ruminating and letting the hurt boil over.

Oma you are so wise and so right, and not at all controversial. God sits with us in our pain and our anxiety, even when we don't know it, and it's ok to just sit and be with God in that without striving.

Praying for peace for you Kettle and a knowledge of God's presence and love for you and your family

'God is a God of the present and reveals to those who are willing to listen carefully to the moment in which they live the steps they are to take toward the future.'
Henri Nouwen

It's hard when you are stressed and your mind ruminates and seeks to solve. I try to quiet my mind by saying ' Be still and know that I am God'. It might help to go somewhere quiet like a church to have time away from everyday life, just to say a quick prayer in a more neutral environment.

Most of life seems to be endless problem solving. It's hard to break away from that and just be.

I find it helps to concentrate on one sentence as Lisette says, or to read a psalm, like 103 (one of my favourites) where the emphasis is on praising God. To turn away from the problem and to turn to God. It takes a bit of practice and determination not to think about the problem and to turn deliberately away from it, but there is great award in managing it, even for a few moments.

Thank you, thank you all of you for your prayers. Much appreciated - DD1 is currently in Maths and DD2 is about to head off for a week in France. My little baby is getting independent.

Good luck to dd1 in maths juggling. I've just worked out it's 30 years since I sat the Irish Leaving Certificate. Today, second Thursday in June, is the second English paper. I can still remember sitting it

I also sat the Irish leaving cert this month but 31 years - small world....

Indeed Juggling! I remember it was very hot. I always think back to that time every June. Didn't quite realise it was 30 years though.

becca, beensaying a prayer for you in church.

(sorry for late posting, was a bit upset yesterday with other stuff going on)

so glad you got to church too.

Thankyou BES.

I've found over the last weeks that my readings have been reduced to Philippians 4:4-8 and trying to remember that God is there. I feel battered by life at the moment, to say the least, and it is hard to even think he's not forgotten me never mind anything else.

we are running a bit late this evening. It got a bit erm "lively" outside their dad's and we had to stay a little longer until the five police vehicles had calmed down the 20 or so people spilling out into the road shouting, the clean up had taken place, and then buggered off out the way.

Today's anxiety plan didn't go to plan at all, I felt really ill and had to abandon it. Ironically I'd just been in a church praying for strength to do it and had someone to help me as well. Feeling dreadful now like I've leg myself down.

Meant to be going somewhere tomorrow and am more nervous than ever now.

Our Lord feels far away today.

No journey is linear Becca. Sometimes you go backwards then forwards again. Trying is not failure.

The point is I didn't try, didn't even get in the car. I was simply overwhealmed with fear. Perhaps my expectations are too high, I so want to be able to go away next week and not lose something I've worked incredibly hard for, the one thing I promised myself I'd do as a child and I've failed.

Sorry, am rambling!

If the journey is not until next week, you haven’t failed yet.

It's six hours each way with daily journeys of over thirty minutes involving trains and buses. I've just about managed 30 minutes by bus. Unfortunately my plan to gradually increase so I could go hit a major problem called the weather! Until May it was difficult to go anywhere from where I am due to snow and other major weather issues, two weeks ago everywhere was flooded in flash floods so my plan to sort this over two months and build up never really happened in the end. Added to my GP recommending I don't travel it doesn't look likely.

You're right, though the time hasn't been and gone yet.

Hi all, I'm in need of some prayer this week. Would appreciate any warm thoughts. It's been a difficult one this week, and I've felt your support previously (namechanged). Wishing you a peaceful evening.

Sorry to hear you had a difficult week Ihsc. Praying that issues will resolve themselves and that next week is better.

I'm sorry to hear that ihsc am also praying for you.

Thank you both. Feeling the strength and support

I've name changed as haven't for a while. I'm the Henri Nouwen fan in above posts whose heading to Amsterdam soon.