The Prayer Thread
Hello 👋
Let me start by saying I know religion has played a negative role in some peoples lives. If thats you, this thread may not be a good fit for you, although you may want to involve yourself to explore your feelings a little more. I just ask that you do so respectfully - all are welcome.
I often notice comments around faith, God and prayers in the daily check ins, and I wonder if theres a need for a prayer thread where people can come together and seek comfort in a quiet corner of 7 cups. So here goes ...... a brand spanking new thread for all things prayer related.
I confess Im not the most devout of Christians, so please dont look to me to find the right words all the time. But if you just want to sit a while, connect with God, and share that need with another human being, Im here to sit with you. I hope others will add to this thread and it becomes a place for mutual support.
And as for other faiths, oh gosh. Im a complete ignoramus. But I hope this can be an inclusive and respectful thread, so please dont feel excluded, whatever your beliefs ❤️
Question to the group here ---
When studying, I often read (or hear) that we should put God first. I am curious, in concrete terms, how do you do this?
1. Prayer
2. Study the bible
3. Your answer here.....
@Auckland
Idk I think like do what is good and right like just don't do stuff you don't think Jesus wouldn't do
Or also maybe it kinda just helps yourself but say like I walk in a classroom or office I don't want to be thinking 'wow I'm so much better than everyone here' or 'wow everyone here is so much better than me' bc God is the ultimate judge of our character so like remembering perspective in everything like we are all God's people. Just live your life don't judge others and try to do good
Ihni my friend but I like the question
@wittySpruce8187
I think I made a double negative I meant don't do stuff Jesus wouldn't do
@wittySpruce8187 lol, I am a little bit annoyed that we can't edit our posts...I always see an error right after I click "add post"
@wittySpruce8187 that makes sense, WWJD behavior demonstrates obedience to God. Thanks :)
@Auckland
This is what is meant by "We will know them by their fruits". So much false belief and teaching out there. People like to make themselves God and say, I'll take His love sure, but don't you dare "judge" me by saying it's not okay to do this or that. But real love, always points out truth, because that is what love does! "Tolerance" by definition doesn't care what you do. It's scary that we can no longer disagree with someones actions and choices, but still accept them. Because they believe the lie that agreement with them is acceptance. Jesus tells us to speak the truth in love. Truth is not always what we want. ❤️
I read an article somewhere, where the first thing to do is to be satisfied with God, his word, and all the good things he has done in your life. I tried this about a month ago and it has helped me to deal with my depression and anxiety.
I usually pray first and declare God's promises over my life.
I also worship by singing along to worship songs on youtube and this has really helped to lift my spirits especially during moments of discouragement.
I keep a journal and also write down bible notes or insights that I received while reading the bible. At night I reflect on my day and the messages that I receieved from my bible study.
I hope this helps!
@Silentwinds Thank you silentwinds. What do you mean by "Declare Gods promises over my life"?
@Auckland
The Boble is full of promises for us. For example
Isaiah 40:31 King James Version (KJV)
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
You can declare this over your life and trust that this is a promise that He keeps.
2 Timothy 1:7 New King James Version (NKJV)
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
So just imagine you are feeling fearful and confused about something. You can then declare that God has not given you a spirit of fear but of power and of love and a sound mind. These are Gods promises for you and you can declare them to be true for you. You speak Gods truth over yourself. God loves you so much and His perfect love casts out all fear.
Faith comes by hearing the Word. Speak the Word and it will do as it was send out to do. His Word is always yes and amen. It will help shift how you look at things. It will strengthen your spirit.
Is this helpful?
@nolongerafraid yes, really helpful. thanks!!
@nolongerafraid
Yes! It sound silly, but it really works!!!! I do everytime I'm discouraged, depressed, angry and when I started reading the word, my soul is comforted! It's really helped me to heal.
And also faith is the key that activates the word of God. We have to choose to believe that he is real or it won't work.
@Auckland I once heard a pastor address this during a sermon and I always remember his recommended prayer formula using the acronym: ACTS.
A: Adoration (open prayer with expressing our adoration, love, and reverence for God in His infinite majesty and everlasting glory)
C: Confession (Next, confess with thy lips and the fullness of your heart what sins you need to repent for, what failures, shortcomings, lapses of judgment, or transgressions you need God to forgive you for)
T: Thanksgiving (At this point you reflect on all that you are grateful to God for. Thank God for all the blessings and gifts in your life, all the small things that we might take for granted on a daily basis, like having a roof over your head, or food or access to clean water, having a job, or a family, etc. I always thank God for my dog. :-) )
S: Supplication (Finally, devote time to lifting up the needs and desires of your heart to the Lord. Express to God what pain or sadness you feel, what difficulty or stress you are facing, what healing or relief you need. The ways in which you wish to grow or become closer to God. I always pray that one day I will find love. I also pray that God will help direct me to my calling in life, that I may have stability again. And I pray that God will help restore my creative energy and repair all the severe damage to my heart, I pray for God to enable me to walk closer with Him, through His guidance, strength, discernment, wisdom, patience, and resolve.)
@hollowman84 Wonderful!! That helps us from rushing into Supplication 
@Auckland
God wants to be in a loving saving relationship with us!!! And He is Holy and we glorify Him when we walk in this purpose to! ❤️ We have been given Free Will. So much we can choose besides Jesus Christ as our Savior. So much we can choose to believe instead of The Bible. I think when we put Jesus as most important in our lives, then we will use our Free Will in a way that glorifies Him ❤️ And this then accomplishs what you asked ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🐻
@KLM3278 Hello - Thank you for replying, what does it mean in concrete terms to "put Jesus first"? Can you give me some examples?
@Auckland
Well, an example is how we can choose to:
1.) Think about God first, pray, and read/study the Bible.
Some people think about lots of other things other then pleasing God. They think more about making money, their job, relationships, etc. And God sinply becomes a feel good add-on. They don't want Him as Lord. So they won't follow His Word. Or they'll follow only what they want to from the Bible and then not things they do not agree with.
Are these the kind of examples you are wanting? I think the more we seek Jesus, the more He shows us, and the more our hearts & minds follow after Him. ❤️
Dear Lord,
Please bless everyone who is struggling and suffering, and at this time please reach out with a special grace to those suffering with anxiety. They need your love and comfort, Lord. They struggle with immense pain. Thank you, Lord.
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
Amen.
@SereneBlueberry
Thank you for the special prayer ❤💜
@SereneBlueberry
I agree. Thank you for this prayer. I deal with anxiety a lot! like probably at least part of every day. And the part that wrecks me is the ....
"Cast all your anxiety upon him (God) because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)
(sigh) I think as Peter wrote this verse, he meant for it to be comforting. But it feels condemning to me (because I feel I do the action called for in this verse poorly) which is really sad. So, yes, thank you for praying for me and all those who deal with anxieties in many forms and GAD (generalized anxiety disorder) in particular. ~ Platy
@cyanPlatypus6370
When I feel condemned, I always decalre this word:
Therefore I say to you this: Her many sins have been forgiven, for she loved much; but to whom little is forgiven, he loves little."
Luke 7:47
I know that when I sin in my mind (being judgemental, having a critical spirit, or bitter) or with my mouth, I can always return to God and ask for forgiveness and ask him to change my heart. I don't need to be ashamed to go to my Father in Heaven and my Lord Jesus Christ who died for my sins. I use to be ashamed and get really discouraged when I would mess up but the holy spirit revealed to me not to be ashamed to ask for forgiveness.
@cyanPlatypus6370
Oh Platy, Im sorry to hear you take little comfort from that verse. You do sound to me like youre being tremendously hard on yourself though. Im afraid Im no scholar of the bible, so I cant highlight parts of it that refute what youre saying. But I dont believe God is measuring you on how wholeheartedly you can embrace every word.
What does it mean to live a Christian life? To love others, to show kindness, to share your good fortune, to not sit in judgement, to be honest and true. I wonder what else you would add to that? You embrace those values, and God will judge you on that overall, not nitpick over how you cope with a distressing and challenging anxiety disorder. Please try not to use those words to beat yourself with.
@DeborahUK
Thank you for your reply here, Deb. I am alone most of the day (well, with my beautiful SFO of course), so to 'hear' things written personally to me ... it helps somehow. Especially here at 7cups because I hope someone(s) might actually understand instead of saying "I understand."
Yes, I am waaayyy too good at being hard on myself. And I agree, I think maybe God would want me to understand what this verse means for me in a deeper way; but it seems to me that God is okay with us not liking a verse or passage for a time. He is patient and will wait for us to be ready to learn whatever it is He wants us to know.
And when judgment does come, I am so very thankful that God sees Jesus in me and will judge me according to what Jesus has already accomplished. Anyway, yes, thank you for reading and for the reply. It is good to see you're back :) 
Platy
" " Dear God, Thank you for loving me just the way I am, even right this second. I don't understand and I may never comprehend how great and long and tall and deep your love is for each of us people-sheep. Thank you for loving us humans, even when we, in the midst of some mental illness diagnosis, do weird, odd, or just wrong things. Thank you for offering us forgiveness in all things. I love you, God. Not anywhere near to perfect love; but as best as I know right now - that much, I love you. Thank you, Jesus. In the mighty name of our Risen Savior, Amen! " "
@cyanPlatypus6370
Be gentle and kind to yourself!! 😊😊😊!!
@GuardianAngel77 -- If I treated myself how I want to treat my best friend, I might take a lot better care of me.
Romans 8:1, Platy. Romans 8:1!!!
@cyanPlatypus6370
So very true! 😊😊😊!
@SereneBlueberry
Amen, Amen!
Dear God,
please help me to hang on for just a little bit longer. Pleas give me the strength to keep going in this miserable existence; we both know that, as bad as it may seem, its still shielding me from having to face a reality that would break me.
@halib22 xxoo
I love you, O LORD, my strength.
The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer,
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised,
and I am saved from my enemies.
Psalms 18:1-3
@Auckland
Amen Amen!!
Hi could some of you pray for my friend and her family and me and the guy who hit us?
We were kinda in a car accident. Everyone's ok it seems but I'm kinda worried I strained my back or hip somehow in the impact
Pls pray for my friend and her family's peace of mind and to repair the car if that's possible
Also for the guy who hit us bc he honestly did not mean to and he was so sorry he took all the blame and I just don't want him to be racked with guilt bc we're all ok besides the cars
@wittySpruce8187 - For sure. Prayers for all of you - human types (and vehicle types too)! I am super glad to hear that you are okay - or at least feeling mostly okay. ((kisses to make it feel better? just from your mom :P )) Take good care! Ice is good for first 24 hours (or is it 48 ... ?) 20 minutes on, 20 mins or more off, 20 mins on ... etc. Tylenol or Advil is good for anti-inflammatory. (I've been in too many car accidents I think. 
) I hope this helps and definitely prayers too!!! <3 Platy
@cyanPlatypus6370
💜 thank you
@cyanPlatypus6370
It seems like everything's ok physically. My muscles ached for awhile and apparently they just remained tense from the impact
But I took your advice by taking pain reliever which helped so thanks! (:
@wittySpruce8187 Absolutely! Glad to hear no one was seriously injured.
@Auckland
Thank you and yea we were really relieved 💜
@wittySpruce8187
Just prayed for you ❤️
@KLM3278
Thank you (:
@wittySpruce8187
Lord Jesus be there right now and touch them.
Heal and restore them!
I asked this in your name Lord Jesus Christ!!
Amen
@GuardianAngel77
Thank you I really appreciate that
@wittySpruce8187
You're welcome!
Here is a prayer that all trauma survivors will be able to find peace, strength, and comfort in difficult times. I pray that they will heal and recover from their experiences of trauma.
@Canadian7
Amen!! Thank you very much for the prayer!!
The Vessel
The Master was searching for a vessel to use;
On the shelf there were many - which one would He choose?
Take me, cried the gold one, Im shiny and bright,
Im of great value and I do things just right.
My beauty and luster will outshine the rest
And for someone like You, Master, gold would be best!
The Master passed on with no word at all;
He looked at a silver urn, narrow and tall;
Ill serve You, dear Master, Ill pour out Your wine
And Ill be at Your table whenever You dine,
My lines are so graceful, my carvings so true,
And my silver will always compliment You.
Unheeding, the Master passed on to the brass,
It was wide-mouthed and shallow, and polished like glass.
Here! Here! cried the vessel, I know I will do,
Place me on Your table for all men to view.
Look at me, called the goblet of crystal so clear,
My transparency shows my contents so dear,
Though fragile am I, I will serve You with pride,
And Im sure Ill be happy in Your house to abide.
The Master came next to a vessel of wood,
Polished and carved, it solidly stood.
You may use me, dear Master, the wooden bowl said,
But Id rather You used me for fruit, not for bread!
Then the Master looked down and saw a vessel of clay.
Empty and broken it helplessly lay.
No hope had the vessel that the Master might choose,
To cleanse and make whole, to fill and to use.
Ah! This is the vessel Ive been hoping to find,
I will mend and use it and make it all Mine.
I need not the vessel with pride of its self;
Nor the one who is narrow to sit on the shelf;
Nor the one who is bigmouthed and shallow and loud;
Nor one who displays his contents so proud;
Not the one who thinks he can do all things just right;
But this plain earthy vessel filled with My power and might.
Then gently He lifted the vessel of clay.
Mended and cleansed it and filled it that day.
Spoke to it kindly. Theres work you must do,
Just pour out to others as I pour into you.
-Author Unknown
@DeborahUK
Beautiful ❤️
@DeborahUK
Loved this 💜❤️💜❤️
@DeborahUK
Amen.
Thank you very much for sharing this!!
I claim this for me Lord Jesus Christ!!
@DeborahUK
@DeborahUK
Wow, those last couple of paragraphs are very powerful.
I'm assuming the master is meant to represent God? Sorry I'm not real educated on these things. A God like that would be one i might like to know. One that sees beauty and purpose in the broken and discarded.
@practicalIdeal2007
Well yes, I certainly interpreted it as God.
But I also interpreted it as life in general. So often we write ourselves off as not being beautiful enough, energetic enough, knowledgeable enough, simply not being enough. Yet we all have our beauty and our uses, whether in spreading Gods word, or just being kind and loving to one another in general. And of course, that starts by being kind and loving towards ourselves.
I could use some prayers if anyone wants to send any prayers or good energy/thoughts my way
@nolongerafraid
Hugs 😊
@nolongerafraid
I love this so much!!! Thank you for sharing
Hope you're doing okay 💜
@singercrystalspirit
Lord Jesus Comfort spirit . Be with her and minister
to her. Amen In you're name Lord Jesus Christ.
@GuardianAngel77
Thank you darling 😊😊
@singercrystalspirit
You're welcome! 😊😊!
@singercrystalspirit
Just prayed for you!! ❤️
@KLM3278
Hugs 😊😊 Worked.
Amen! 
Definitely needed this today.
@sunnyAcai8948
❤️❤️❤️
I thought the words in this song made a great prayer for the current situation
@LifeIsMyCanvas
Thanks
@LifeIsMyCanvas
HUG 🐻
@LifeIsMyCanvas
I loved this song!! Thank you very much for sharing this!! 😊😊😊😊!!
"Lord i hope this day is good"
going to bed soon but hoping for a good day when i wake. ive been up and down and off emotionally lately and behaving in some really vile ways. i just want a good day - please god help me to make it a good day and do the things i should do. and please keep me from doing the things i shouldnt do. help meto accept that i dont have to be right. that no one has to necessarily hear my side of anything when it comes to matters that will only serve my ego. help me when i wake this day to serve you and not myself. you more than anyone know how far ive got to go to get things back to good...i need your guidance. help me to accept it. amen.
@themainjane What an honest prayer. He is with the broken hearted, so take heart!
Hope you sleep well
@nolongerafraid
thank you <3
i know that god can do this small thing....its not so much for him to change a heart, i just have to be willing to accept the changes i know he wants me to make.
so i will take heart and continue to pray for a good day. praying to remember to pray!
hope you are well too.
@themainjane
I have been better
@nolongerafraid
im sorry to hear. Sounds like a rough time... any prayer requests or anything youd like to share to lighten the load?
@themainjane Thanks Jane but no. I'll be fine
@nolongerafraid
i'm sorry. and i do hope you find someone to talk with... being alone with bad thoughts or a difficult problem never really makes it much better.
please take care of you. <3
@themainjane 💖
@nolongerafraid
Oh no!!! Safe HUG!!!! I hope you're feeling better!
@nolongerafraid
Lord Jesus calm @nolongerafraid raging storms in her life. Lord Jesus give her peace. I speak peace! Peace! Be still, peace, peace. Lord Jesus be with her
Let her know that you are there with her. Let her know that you are her Father!
Amen I ask this in your name Lord Jesus Christ!!
@GuardianAngel77 Thank you
@nolongerafraid
You're welcome! 😊😊😊!