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.

We are about to hit the hardest 2.5 days of the GCSEs - especially tomorrow so please may I ask for your prayers for my DD? She has worked so hard and the two exams tomorrow are her future A Levels so she is under a particularly high level of pressure.
Thank you all.

Will do Juggling - praying for energy, calm and clarity plus good papers. And a cool day weatherwise in the exam hall.

Will do juggling

I'd appreciate people remembering me in their prayers, I've spent all day sobbing today and am really struggling, peace seems further than ever. Thankyou!

Becca I'll certainly say a prayer. I'm sorry you've had such a bad day. There will be better ones.

Thankyou.

I'll pray for you now Becca. Sorry everything feels so overwhelming at the moment.
Thank you for your prayers.

Sorry to hear that you are still feeling so bad Becca. Remember that God loves you. Whatever your feelings about yourself, you have great value in His eyes.
The same goes for your daughter, Juggling: God will be with her, whatever her exam results.
I pray that this may become a reality for both of you and that your daughter will feel your confidence as she goes into the exam room.

Thankyou oma have woken up ill and needed your kind words today.

Dear Becca, praying you may know how much loved you are, how much God delights in you, how much value you hold. Praying for peace to flood you and for strength to fill you. Prayers for you to know God near, collecting your tears and wiping them away.

Ihatesoddingcancer - prayers for you too.

And BES - gosh that sounds stressful. Prayers for a more peaceful week.

Love to all

Oh and praying for your DD, Juggling, may she recall all she needs to recall. It's such a hard time for them

Hope lungs behaving MHD.

prayed juggling.

(well, not literally while juggling...)

I've not been capable of travelling again. I've tried I just find the fear on top of everything else overwhealming. So much for going away. The last two days I've done almost nothing (exceptions being when I was asleep or forcing food down so I could have my meds) but sobbing. Even in public. Spoke to gp who said speak to social Worker who said speak to GP or go to hospital (I'm even more afraid of hospitals than travel and going out, even GP is a problem).

I wrote in my diary last night God made a mistake and didn't call me. I was just looking to belong and misunderstood, could that be why I struggle so much? Serious question.

I've failed with going out in the car a few times. It's not compulsory to go away. Perhaps try baby steps. Do you have a therapist who could spend more time with you than a GP Becca?

You are always one of God's beloved.

I can't afford a therapist and even if I could the nearest is several hours away by train and buses. I have an hour with social worker but I think they're getting fed up of me not getting better. Not in a nasty way just it annoys them that I'm not improving just a couple of steps forwards and then ten back, I'm currently worse than I was two weeks ago when I started this whole thing, I appreciate it wasn't going to just go but I didn't realise just how hard and how much time it would take, not to mention cost!

Praying for you becca~ have you contacted MIND, I’ve found them helpful in the past.

Praying for all dc and their parents in the last stretch of exams.

For becca and anyone else struggling - I find this helps me to feel less alone.

Perhaps online/Skype counselling might help. Try Mind as Orchidflower mentioned. I feel for you Becca. Anxiety is very hard and minds can be stubborn. Can you leave the house at all?

Whatever else Becca God does not make mistakes. You may mistake His call for you, the only remedy for that is to ask Him and if you hear no answer to wait until you do. In the meantime praise Him for creating you in your unique form and shape. You are beautiful and beloved. Keep that in the forefront of your mind. The solution lies within you, you need to unlock it by praising God for what is, not for what you would wish for. Praise Him for your tears, praise Him for your anxiety even. Try to hold a beautiful picture in your mind: a rose, a sunset, a beach, whatever. And even if it is two steps forward and three steps back, praise Him for the forward steps.

Online/Skype means a reliable internet connection which I don't have (mountains badly effect signal) I've done ok with radio but it cuts out as I lose signal - it's useless during the day. I can go out but it's really difficult.

Thankyou oma I try to do that.

Goodnight Becca wishing you a better day tomorrow.

Praying for a good day for becca and all those who suffer from physical or mental illness.

prayers becca. (and i remembered to tell you this time)

next week we have 6 appointments in three days:

hospital me, car, gpx2children, car, hospital dd.

hopefully ex is coming to the hospital in the big city.

Thankyou BES. I'm keeping you and yours in mine when I'm able to.

I managed church today. Am not well enough to go away. Am being sensible. There's another event in September maybe I'll go to that instead.

Well done Becca that's really good progress. When I get anxious I have to push my 'panic' brain away and let my 'sensible' brain kick in to stop the catastrophising. Easier said than done because panic brain is normal for me.