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Christian Prayer thread

991 replies

Dutchoma · 25/10/2018 13:32

NIGHT PRAYER

Comfort me with Your love O God
Wrap me up in Your strong embrace
Shelter me from the storm O Lord
Envelop me in Your tender care
By day I pour out my heartbreak to You
By night I give you my racing thoughts
In You I take refuge
In You I will not be afraid
For you hold me strong, You hold me safe
Calm my fearful heart O God
Still my anxious mind O Lord
For all my life is found in You
All my being is given to You
All my hope begins in You

Prayer found on web.dawesvillecps.wa.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/17th-September.pdf

I found this prayer on Facebook and tought it was a beautiful way to start the new prayer thread.

There was a beautiful picture with it too, but I don’t know how to transfer that.

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Madhairday · 25/02/2019 22:22

Oh wounded - you've encouraged me so massively. Thank you. This is an amazing privilege to read because as I wrote this book I prayed it would speak to and minister to people who were struggling and suffering in all sorts of ways and that somehow burdens might be eased through it. So to read your words is incredible and sustaining. Thank you so so much. Flowers and yes, thank you to lovely Oma for sending it Flowers

These words came at such a crucial time too, having had the most awful of weeks. Bless you.

BlackeyedGruesome · 25/02/2019 23:22

There is less than half a year to meet on school run. Ds is off to secondary soon.

Been praying for the situation that can not be named. (Stcnbn) hope it resolves as it should.

DD is a bit better but in a scattier than normal phase. Sent to sit in a chair and sat on top of the shopping which was on the chair. Nearly pulled a cupboard over, and several other things.

Becca19962014 · 26/02/2019 14:21

I'm glad DD is feeling a bit better bes.

Weather here is hot enough to make me ill and it's making me really scared for summer. It's been over 21c here today.

I've been dreading lent and Easter this year as Easter Day is the first anniversary of my godmothers suicide Sad. Im on prayer lists and bible study lists and I keep getting reminders of lent. I'm really dreading it this year. It's always a difficult time as my benefits are always renewed in March each year and this year I'll have that to cope with as well. Cruse refused my referral on the grounds that I'm not going to be able to cope with it. I spent my appointment today with social worker sobbing whilst they sat and wrote Lord knows what and then at the end needed food for my diabetes and talked about stupid stuff to calm me down (only to cry all the way back).

I feel completely alone. Despite being booted from my community I still try and say prayers/services but it's incredibly hard. Advent was unbearable and I ended up needing daily GP support, that however is no longer an option as the mh consultant wrote to GP saying I was much better so now I cannot access support.

I noticed I've bad stretch marks on my neck. I rang my physio and they've said its a bad sign that my EDS is effecting my neck. Other joints which have the same marks sublux and jam a lot. So I'm terrified.

Which is basically me in a word : terrified.

My existence is, now, incredibly boring, every day struggling for food and meds. I don't feel I have a life anymore. I've no functioning to do anymore and I'm terrfied that summer/more heat will mean I cannot even manage to do that and I've no idea what'll happen to me then as I've no one I can go to for help. I feel totally worthless and a burden.

I don't know what I want from this post.
I don't see where God is in this at all.

Dutchoma · 26/02/2019 17:18

It all sounds very hard Becca. Where is God in all this? Probably closer than you realise.
Think about it like this: if a bird is caught under a net, it will struggle to get out, whereas it would be better if it stayed still and realised that the strawberries were actually on its side of the net.
Be still and know that I am God.

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Becca19962014 · 26/02/2019 19:15

Thankyou.

Becca19962014 · 28/02/2019 16:00

Things are really bad today. Had email from social services saying they're ending all my support due to my behaviour.

They choose now.

They know how much I'm dreading lent/Easter and benefit renewal and worsening of EDS (GP said they can now see the defective collegen in my neck so no doubt at all now it's badly effected).

I rang in tears and got told I can have one last appointment "to chat about techniques".

Dutchoma · 28/02/2019 18:44

must have come as quitea shock Becca

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Becca19962014 · 28/02/2019 19:16

They won't even say what I've done wrong other than my "disgraceful tone" and "accusations that are unfounded".

That's what I get for stupidly sticking up for myself when staff bullied me and mocked me.

Clearly I've done some things very very seriously wrong, what's worse is I don't know what they are and how can I ask for forgiveness if I don't know what I've done wrong.

Six weeks ago they told me there are no techniques.

Becca19962014 · 28/02/2019 23:59

Can't sleep.
Devastated.
Sad

Lord, why have you forsaken me?
I've nothing but, terror, jealousy and bitterness left.

Simply, I can't.

Donhill · 01/03/2019 05:59

Lurking and praying for you all but especially Becca. It sounds so difficult. I pray that things get easier for you.

Dutchoma · 01/03/2019 08:36

Becca please realise that social services are not God. Even church is not God. You may have been ‘forsaken’ by ll the world, but only Jesus was ‘forsaken’ by God on the cross, so that never again would any of us have to go go through that agony again.
If you look at Psalm 22 you will see that there is a distinct turning to God at vs 19 in spite of all the great misery the author is going through in the first 18 verses.
All the world may have forsaken you, but God is the same yesterday, today and forever and He loves you.

But, and I am sorry to have to say this, you will not be able to see that if you are filled with rage and bitterness.

You have control over your thoughts (just about the only thing you have control over) and you can choose to turn away from what the world thinks and trust in God alone.

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Becca19962014 · 01/03/2019 09:09

Social services made me choose. I could have their support which I needed to claim benefits or my religious community. I couldn't have both.

Now I've ended up with nothing. An important lesson even I can see.

I've no control over my thoughts. If I did I wouldn't be paralysed by rape and other abuse flashbacks.

I've not slept so this probably makes no sense.

Dutchoma · 01/03/2019 13:17

Becca I can only repeat that God is faithful and trustworthy. There is nothing else I, or anybody else can say.
You remain in my prayers.

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Becca19962014 · 01/03/2019 14:33

I am trying to believe that. I appreciate it may not seem that way though.

I've said some prayers today - feeling unwell due to lack of sleep and period so going to rest for a bit.

I cannot say enough how much it means to me that you pray for me.

woundedwarrior · 01/03/2019 23:43

@Madhairday I am so glad I have been able to encourage you even in a small way. Father God certainly answered your prayer that your book would speak to and minister to people who were struggling and suffering and that burdens might be eased through it. So be assured, MHD, you have been and are of great service to the Body of Christ even in the midst of your own challenges and pain. I haven’t been able to read much more due to my own home situation this week, but I will continue asap and you should know that I intend to purchase half a dozen copies to pass on to friends I know are struggling in similar ways, much like the lovely and kind of heart Oma did for me. I am sorry to hear you have had an awful week and I continue to lift you up in prayer for this, for your life in general, and for the situation that cannot be named. May our Mighty God sustain and strengthen you and may He refresh and renew you in Spirit xx

@Becca, I was not aware of EDS before reading your (and BES’s) posts but I went and looked it up and I have to say I cannot imagine really what it must be like for you both to live with such a challenging condition. I can feel your anguish and your pain, Becca, and it’s heartbreaking. Oma is right in that social services are not God, nor is church. Oma is wise and kind in Spirit to share this truth. Everything she said is good, and true, and will point you to the Source of all help and support, for there is only One who can do that when everything fails and everyone else lets us down, for whatever reason. I’m not sure where you are but I’ve seen on both the EDS UK and EDS.com websites that there are support groups and wonder if you’ve already tried that avenue? Forgive me if so, I was just wondering. Sometimes only people experiencing the same thing truly understand what it is we are dealing with. I also looked for prayers I might pray for you specifically in your current time of need and hope you will receive these prayers in love as I offer them with love to a sister greatly distressed:

Tender God,
Your gentle and kind-hearted love waits for Becca in the darkness and shields her from the light when it feels too overwhelming. Help her particularly when she feels in the depths of depression. Continue to cherish her when she finds it so difficult to cherish herself. Enable her to discover companions of compassion who will abide with her, as you abide in all things and in all places where the heart and mind aches for peace and a place of rest from the storm. I ask this in the name of our brother and friend, Jesus Christ. Amen (Adapted from original by Christopher Newell 2012)

Becca, may the Lord God Bless you each step of Life’s way. May you learn each day to open yourself to love and the blessings of love. May you find a stick to lean on when the road is hard - and not use the stick to beat yourself. May you be blessed with life's abundance and blessed in poor days too, learning again what really matters, what lasts. May you never give in to despair or the lie that nothing can change. May you find ways of life and walk them with courage, knowing that every step is within the heart of Christ who holds all our days in love. © Revd Dr Christopher Jenkins

O Lord our God, for Becca whose life right now is strained and stressed…hear our prayer and pour out your peace. For Becca whose hold on life is fragile…hear our prayer and pour out your peace. For Becca and all of us whose illness makes us vulnerable…hear our prayer and pour out your peace. For Becca and those of us whose families struggle to understand us…hear our prayer and pour out your peace. For families and friends, nurses, doctors and therapists and all who seek to walk alongside the stressed and strained, the vulnerable and the fragile…hear our prayer and pour out your peace. O Lord our God, for Becca and all whose lives are in turmoil…hear our prayer and pour out your peace. Amen. ©Mary Hawes

I pray too that you are able to get quality sleep, rest your mind as well as your body, and remember to eat and take care of yourself. I send you much love Flowers

BlackeyedGruesome · 02/03/2019 21:12

I have been fairly lucky in that I have the easier end of the eds spectrum.

These are: headaches three or four times a week, annoying to sore but does make chores more difficult.

Joint pains, annoying to very sore. Rarely painful.

Dizziness on standing up or standing too long.

Annoying this week is the acid reflux and heartburn, restarted meds as was able to manage without for a couple of months. Thank God!

Other gut issues, IBS like symptoms, sometimes really sore. Daily symptoms. Too painful to drive occasionally.

Urinary urgency and frequency, varies with hormones.

Not able to walk far which is limiting life's enjoyment. Varies with hormones.

7 fold more likely to have autism, am on the waiting list,

Allergies: to an antibiotic family and bog standard dust mite/ hayfever/ feathers

Asthma more likely and I have recently been prescribed an inhaler as got restricted breathing with bonfire smoke.

Anxiety, tend to be a bit of a panicker really. Little things massively stress me out as anyone round here for a while will testify! This could be autism related.

Dental crowding, four teeth out to make room. Gum issues more likely.

Fatigue. This is a major issue as sometimes I just cannot get things done or if I do, I get a next day too exhausted to move day where I can hardly manage to get out of bed other than the basics of feeding children. I have learned to pace myself more but it is very frustrating.

I bruise easily, used to get random swellings in hands and fingers.

Random falls, trips, wobbles, bumps, stumbles, walking into things etc. (Wing mirrors and doorframes and door handles mainly. )

More sinussy when have a cold, can't remember if this is proven with research though.

Pregnancy issues included worse nausea, worse joint pains, they really hurt, quick labour ( advantage!)
Poor wound healing and infected stitches, ouch!

Menopause is interesting, at one stage I was walking like a puppet on a string as legs would not do what they were told. Seems to be improving a bit now though.

Sometimes I get a weird sensation of liquid trickling down the inside of my skull and headaches, not often though.

I do get the misunderstanding of medics and other professionals though. As described in scientific literature.

I don't get dislocations though.

And have developed an academic crush on M Castori, who is currently researching a lot in this area. or is that just orthostatic hypotension?

Becca19962014 · 07/03/2019 10:34

Remembering you all in prayers.
Sorry for not being around very much, don't want to be a burden. Things are still a problem and I'm feeling very unwell. I suspect because I cannot sleep.

I didn't manage a service yesterday but I did speak to someone in a church briefly.

Madhairday · 08/03/2019 14:34

Praying for you Becca. I hope this weekend is more peaceful for you.

Thank you so much @woundedwarrior for your lovely words Flowers

I'd still appreciate prayer for The Situation That Cannot Be Named, stuff is ongoing and really hard. Praying for justice and reconciliation.

How are you, Oma and BES? And everyone else around? Love to you all!

FriarTuck · 10/03/2019 17:50

If anyone is around this evening / tomorrow morning and fancies offering up a few prayers for my cat I'd be really grateful - he's in for an op tomorrow and although he's been there, done that before he's getting older and any op is a risk and my anxiety (and guilt at putting him through it) is increasing steadily. God has heard plenty of prayers from me on the subject already but....
Best wishes to all on here who are struggling on some way.

Dutchoma · 10/03/2019 17:59

All creatures great and small - the Lord God loves us all. It’s horrible when pets are poorly.

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FriarTuck · 10/03/2019 18:11

Thank you. I feel so guilty putting him through it even though I know it's for his own good. And if anything happens to him....

BlackeyedGruesome · 10/03/2019 19:02

Praying for TSWCNBN and cats op and cats owner.

FriarTuck · 10/03/2019 19:12

Thanks Blackeyed - prayers for you too. You sound like you have so much to deal with. And I feel for you on the anxiety front as I have the same (autism-related!)

karenandthekids · 10/03/2019 21:33

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FriarTuck · 11/03/2019 18:01

Cat is back home safe and well (and with a very healthy appetite - he's seriously milking the sympathy vote!) Thank you for prayers - God was definitely there for us today.