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 ❤️
The Fathers loveletter.
@DeborahUK thanks for the thread I'm a Catholic and I've struggled to make sense of this.. Its taken me long year, so now I find d my peace praying to god and talking in my own way. Things are just beginning to come together in my fragmented mind..
@energeticPenny8
It's nice to meet you 😃
I think lots of us can relate to what you shared. ❤️ Praying to God is so important, which you have discovered ❤️ Important first steps ❤️
@KLM3278 thank you Klm :) 💕 having this forum has opened my mind to so many things.. To understand and figure things out.
@energeticPenny8
The Bible says "Iron sharpens iron" ❤️❤️It's always so good to talk about Jesus' love for us!!! And the healing only He can bring to us!! I'm glad you're here!! ❤️❤️❤️
I was going through my diary this morning and found this note from a while back. This is what I felt God was saying to me at the time but I think/hope it is timeless. I hope it will encourage you too as it did me. I am trying to grasp this too, it feels so far away now.
I greet you every morning and I am by your side all day. Open your eyes to see that I am with you as you go to sleep.
Child, as you wake up, shove aside all worries and cares that want to shout louder, inflating themselves to block your vision of me. Remember that I am the Alpha and Omega; I am the beginning and the end. I am your good Father that greets you with new mercies every morning, and I am the lifter of your head.
How will you remind yourself of this? Is it a note or an alarm? There is gravity in this, so take time to consider the call of your heart to seek me. What is stopping you?
Proverbs 8:17
I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.
Do u think god does do forgivin
@sincereJar9515
Yes, definitely! 
@sincereJar9515
how does he do that
@sincereJar9515
I don't know how He does that. I know He has a very big heart and He loves us so much. He sent His son, Jesus, to die for us on the cross so that we could be forgiven and live free of guilt. All we need to do is believe and accept it.
The good thing is that Jesus did not stay dead. He rose again after 3 days. And He is now a King in heaven.
If you believe that He will give you His Spirit. And this Spirit is called the comforter. There is nothing like it! And all you need to do is ask and it will be given to you.
@sincereJar9515
The idea of forgiveness can be a scary, tricky thing. How does God do it? I dont know. Why does it even have to exist? I dont know. Somehow, I think, God has room for all things because I believe He created all things. Even the things we dont understand.
But back to the thing about forgiveness being scary - I dont think God ever intended us to feel like we have to ask forgiveness for things that were not our fault. When Ive done this it gets confusing and then I end up just feeling worse and not happy with God or myself. As for God forgiving other people, that one is up to you. If it makes you feel better to ask God to forgive others it is ok to do that. If it makes you feel better not to ask God for their forgiveness that is okay too. As scary and hard is it sometimes is the only thing I know to come back to is that God does love us. And He is okay with all our questions, all of our good thoughts and bad thoughts.
Its good to ask questions. Please keep asking people and God until you find some of the comfort He so very much wants for you to feel. God loves you. He understands things we do not. He even understands when we cant think of the words. That is prayer too and He hears you and you are not alone. 💜
I like this prayer for its simplicity. And because it asks for forgiveness for the mistakes I think Ive made. Because its so easy to believe, whether from others telling us, or us telling ourselves, that were flawed in some way, or responsible for things that have happened to us. And yes, sometimes we are, but there are also plenty of times were not. So please God, forgive us for the mistakes we think weve made, but also help us to recognise when its another person at fault, and not us.
Amen
@DeborahUK
Beautiful, thanks. Self forgiveness is one of the hardest things to do. So yes, I need help God, to do just that. 😥
I am having a hard time forgiving myself. It kinda keeps me away from God too. Like I don't deserve to be loved and taken care of.
While I am sitting here feeling torn inside I am reminded of something that happened with my daughter. It is actually a good story, I will write it down and see where it leads.
She was 16 and had just gotten her scooter license. At that time it was still legal to drink alcohol at 16 too. I remember she came and said she wanted to go to a friends birthday party and drive her scooter. I was not really happy about that because I really have a very strong conviction about drunk driving. I lost a friend to it. I was really worried she would drink and then drive but she insisted. So I let her go.
She called me and woke me up around 3 am that morning. She sounded scared but she asked me if I could please come get her because she did have drink. My normal reaction when someone wakes me up at night is not something you would look forward to. But I hung up and I felt so proud of her. I was extremely happy and proud. She was scared and knew she messed up but she did not try and hide it. She trusted me enough to tell me so I could save her. I got up, got dressed and went to go get her. She was standing outside and I could tell she was scared of my reaction. She got in the car and all I could do was tell her how proud I was of her. It was overwhelming love and pride I felt.
So I guess that is how God feels when we come to him even if we are scared, guilty and ashamed.
@nolongerafraid
What a fabulous example Mas! Told like that God feels so relatable, whereas there are other times He feels very distant and I cant imagine what our relationship may be like.
Im sorry you find forgiving yourself so difficult. Im short on words today, so I wonder if this helps instead.....
@DeborahUK
Thanks Deb!
Sending hugs, sounds like you could use it too!
@DeborahUK
God I ask that we would comprehend more fully Your great love for us and Your connection with us. Help us to know You intimately. Deepen our awareness of who You are. Youre not cold, distant, or absent. Thank You for Your great love! In Jesus powerful name, amen.
@nolongerafraid
Yes, I think so to. ❤️
Deb, I wasnt tagged but Id really like to join.
Im struggling with hurts and self-doubts. Anger towards myself and others. I also feel bad for feeling bad bc some people have been thru or are going thru so much worse... I should be able to handle this.
I dont know why its important to me for my pain to be known by others. I used to cry out to God because it felt unjust. Must I always be unknown? He seemed to answer back Yes. So then I struggled with accepting that answer.
I cant explain it all and in spite of myself I look to humankind when I should just look to God? Its so confusing. Or maybe I just dont like the answer.
At any rate thank you for this thread. So so much.
@themainjane
Your post is so open and honest. God knows our pain and hurt. He can handle your questions and anger and tears. He handles mine and I'm not special. Any way, thinking of you today. I will say prayer for you. That you can feel God's love for you. "In this world you will have trouble, but take heart. I have overcome the world." ❤️
@KLM3278
💜 klm
@themainjane
❤️❤️❤️
1 John 4:4 , right? Without looking it up, I think that's where it is. (Please hold a moment ... ) Yup ...
"You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." --- 1 John 4:4 (NIV)
@KLM3278 :) Quoting/giving Scripture as encouragement, not as condemnation = 
Thanks for showing us a good example, KLM :) Platy
Oh, wait ... umm, I guess the 'overcome' part tossed me into 1 John, eh? lol
@cyanPlatypus6370
1 John 4:4 New International Version (NIV)
4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
Yes. This is telling us that Jesus' death & resurrection is what has won the battle. Once we have Jesus as our Savoir nothing can seperate us from our creator. ❤️ Satan and evil are in this world. But God is greater! This world is temporary and is passing away! But in the end God wins! ❤️
@themainjane
Florence and the Machines new album was recommended to me on Spotify today. The second song is called Hunger. The first stanza is about how she started starving herself at 17 because an empty stomach was something tangible to deal with, whereas feeling empty from Love was more painful.
It hit home because I used to be bulimic. Look up her lyrics - Im not doing them justice.
But, I think it also applies to what you are describing. Often, in my life Ive felt a certain emptiness. Sometimes it feels like emptiness. Other times it feels like a separateness, when I long to feel connected. Ive been told it means I need God. But, I disagree. I think we all have God all of the time. I think God is always there. I think the emptiness is part of being human. Its our awareness of separation. I think the cure, so to speak, is mindfulness - where we place our awareness. There will always be a measure of separation, between ourselves and the divine, between ourselves and our loved ones. But if we place our focus instead on the times we feel connected, on the emotions of connectedness... I believe that makes all the difference.
We create our own reality, as some put it.
@themainjane
I wasnt quite done but the app glitched. Anyway, my thoughts.
xx
@singercrystalspirit
glitches on me too. Will reread above and listen to lyrics in time. Right now Im not feeling so strong but I do agree with your thoughts on separation and connection. Ive never been able to word it like that but yes, that is a big part of the searching.
The aching pain of empty but heavy love... think it does hurt almost worse than anything. I want to thank you for sharing a part of yourself when you spoke about your struggles with bulimia. Im always so thankful when I hear someone has overcome or is coping well with such problems bc I know that on top of the great emotional pain there is such a great cost to the physical body. Like many forms of addiction, can be so deadly serious. I am correct in understanding you no longer practice bulimia? I commend your strength and vulnerability in giving up such a harmful disease. Blessings to you.
@themainjane
Yes, thats correct ☺️ Stopped cold turkey at age 21. Although its debatable when an eating disorder stops, as its so complex and layered. And is really an anxiety disorder. Ive come a long way thats for sure, but sometimes I look back at my life and feel that more than half of it has been wasted with eating disorder stuff. Or anxiety or depression. Part of what Im working on in therapy this month is really getting to some of those emotional pains and dressing them. Ive wanted to leave it behind for so long and its quite difficult to do so easily for some reason.
@themainjane
I
@singercrystalspirit
cross-country again... you definitely have a wondering soul 💜
@themainjane💕
@Peacefulhelper22
Hi ☺️
I don't know if I can do this but I would like to ask for prayer for my friends daughter. She really needs help. You can read about it in my diary. And if you are praying, please remind me, I am having a hard time calming down. Thanks!
@nolongerafraid
I will pray for her
♥️
PLEASE PRAY FOR MY MOM
EVERYONE ANYONE PLEASE
She's sick again.
Please
@wittySpruce8187
I will pray for your mom.
@nolongerafraid
Thank you so much it's look like she's fine for now!!
I'm so relieved. How is ur friends daughter?
@wittySpruce8187 Praise God for that! Good to hear that! She had decided to press charges, I am really happy to hear that. I will talk to them this afternoon and then I will see/hear more. Thanks!
@wittySpruce8187
Praying!!! ❤️
@KLM3278
Thank you!! It looks like she's good for now!!