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 ❤️
@DeborahUK
I like this because it speaks to the fact that we want to feel presence. (Not simply
@DeborahUK
Thank you Deb for creating this quiet space, this place we can come to for all things prayer related.
The words of Mother Teresa... "I always begin my prayer in silence, for it is in the silence of the heart that God speaks. God is the friend of silence - we need to listen to God because its not what we say but what he says to us and through us that matters."
I'm a quiet contemplativeChristian now, no longer attending church, but have found my celtic roots and faith and links to a community that sustains this.
@rozie
This sounds beautiful rozie and in the tradition of the mystics. I hope you share much of your practice with us ♥️
Hey everyone,
Just wanted to say hi before I go to bed and let you all know you are all in my prayers tonight. I pray God shines His love over each and everyone of you and that He will give you all peace, if not forever, at least just for today 💕
@WaterLily16
Thanks, Love 😍💜
@WaterLily16
Thank you sweet Lily ♥️💞
So for a couple years now, I've been questioning my purpose in life and wondering why God "wasted" His time creating me. I wanted to grab a good book to try to love reading again and it hit me. Since I was 12, I've had the book The Purpose-Driven Life by Rick Warren. It's been here in my living room, along with my personalized Bible I received as a graduation gift from my Christian preschool. I grabbed it thinking, wow, I've been asking for God to speak to me--sometimes I just feel so disconnected that I must be, have to be, missing all of God's signs--and there the sign was! I just finished Day 2 and the most amazing poem was referenced in this chapter "You Are Not an Accident."
Poem by Russell Kelfer:
You are who you are for a reason.
Youre part of an intricate plan.
Youre a precious and perfect unique design,
Called Gods special woman or man.
You look like you look for a reason.
Our God made no mistake.
He knit you together within the womb,
Youre just what he wanted to make.
The parents you had were the ones he chose,
And no matter how you may feel,
They were custom-designed with Gods plan in mind,
And they bear the Masters seal.
No, that trauma you faced was not easy.
And God wept that it hurt you so,
But it was allowed to shape your heart
So that into his likeness youd grow.
You are who you are for a reason,
Youve been formed by the Masters rod.
You are who you are, beloved,
Because there is a God!
The 4th stanza absolutely touched me! I just wanted to share this with all of you in this new community I've been blessed to come across. Be blessed everyone! 😊😍🤗❤️💜
@Macaiyla
You know God never left you
He
@DeborahUK
Thanks, Deborah! 😍 That was great! This thread is great! I hope someone else gets blessed by this poem as well. 💜
@DeborahUK Thanks!!
@DeborahUK - Wow. That is a wonderful poem, especially for me and now and tonight. I can feel an almost palpable wave of peace coming over me. ((Thank you, God. I needed that!)) I can now logoff and prepare for bed in a much calmer state than when I logged in. I am very thankful for that! I'll return soon to copy/paste it. Do you know who wrote it? Did you? ~ Platy
@cyanPlatypus6370
Im so happy to hear it provided some peace. I wrote it myself Platy. A DebUK special!
@DeborahUK - It is well written and meaningful. Thank you so for sharing it with us! ~ Platy
Sometimes I think I need instructions on how to pray when you know you need to but dont want to.
Since I am shirking focused prayer, Im trying to at least Pause (thanks for reminder Ava) and think it was Deb who added words about just trying to consciously be in Gods presence. Thank God that unformed prayers are valid and that He knows anyway and can accept me where I am. I cannot listen right now, I cannot bring myself to hear Him but I will try to rest nearby. Come to me all that are burdened(?) and downhearted(?) and I will give you rest. comes to mind.
I dont want to rest long (I also consider it synonymous with death) just peace, that kind of rest. Just for a bit. To spend time near Him and let this burden shift momentarily. Hed gladly take it. I could be free. But I hold on bc Im not ready to be free, dont know how.
@themainjane
This is interesting to read to me. I don
@singercrystalspirit
I
@themainjane
I get that! I have this fear that what God wants me to do will be miserable for me. And the funny thing logically speaking is, I dont even believe in a personal God who is a Who yet I still have that fear. Lol. I wonder where that fear comes from? I think it comes from strict religious people I have known who have told me it was wrong to do certain things I wanted to do, i.e. wear clothes I thought were cute or kiss someone or hug someone. I grew up Southern Baptist/Reformed Evangelical. Wow, thats totally where the fear comes from! Thanks for responding to me and giving me the opportunity to respond back and explore that!
Im totally feeling much better today - I suppose its just emotions and moods, always changing. Itll probably come around again eventually too. Maybe I can tap (do EFT) on that issue to lessen its emotional charge so that it doesnt bother me so much (the fact that people in my past told me it was wrong to do things I wanted to do like wear cute clothes) and so that I dont associate peoples artificial religious rules with God as much anymore.
How are you today?
I just wanted to share some verses from the Passion Translation. I don't know if you know it but it is really awesome.
These verses are very encouraging to me. I hope they are to you too.
Psalm 46:10 Surrender your anxiety! Be silent and stop your striving and you will see that I am God.
Psalm 4:8 Now, because of you, Lord, I will lie down in peace and sleep comes at once, for no matter what happens, I will live unafraid!
Proverbs 15:4 When you speak healing words, you offer others fruit from the tree of life.
Psalm 38:9 Lord, you know all my desires and deepest longings. My tears are liquid words and you can read them all.
Luke 1:37 Not one promise from God is empty of power, for nothing is impossible with God!
God says that I could sleep unafraid and that nothing He promises is empty of power, I am going to test Him on His word and tell you tomorrow how awesome I slept 
@nolongerafraid
Well, I must say, I needed every one of those verses! 💜💟
@Macaiyla
I am glad to hear that! Big hug! 
@nolongerafraid
🤗🤗
This my favorite spot on 7 cups. Thank you to all who are sharing inspirational quotes.
Hi all 
I just feel like asking for prayers this morning. From anyone who feels inspired.
Thank you!
@singercrystalspirit
I will surely pray for you. I hope that whatever it is you have on your heart, that God will hear you and give you a sense of peace <3
@WaterLily16
Thank you ☺️💞
@WaterLily16
Just saying hi ♥️ Was thinking of you.
@singercrystalspirit
this is sweet, thank you for thinking of me 💕 How are you?
@WaterLily16
I am pretty well! Anxious often lately with the many unknowns going on. How have you been? 💕
@singercrystalspirit
Absolutely!
@Auckland
Thank you! 💞
@singercrystalspirit
I am on it too!
Will start by speaking shalom to your soul, your body and your spirit. That they would align with the Word of God.
Matthew 11:28-30 The Passion Translation (TPT)
28 Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Then come to me.I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis. 29 Simply join your life with mine.Learn my ways and youll discover that Im gentle, humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in me.30 For all that I require of you will be pleasant and easy to bear.
@nolongerafraid
Thank you!
Shalom is a beautiful word. I hope I feel some of that in my heart today 😊 I feel a lot of sadness today.
xx
@singercrystalspirit
I read this interesting article the other day about sadness. If that is true, and I do actually believe it is you should be able to feel happy even when you are sad. I don't know if you like animals but looking at these adorable donkeys just makes me smile and it brings a little happiness. I hope it works for you too.
@nolongerafraid
WOW thank you for sharing this!
This makes sense to me personally - being around a culture of beating depression is like learning how to be un-sad. Important, but only half the picture.
♥️
@nolongerafraid - I like animals.....
correction: I LOVE animals! I didn't read your article yet, but the sleeping baby donkeys are very sweet :) Maybe I can bring some of their peaceful sleepiness off the website page and into my apartment and within me! Need more peace here. Earlier (umm about 2.5 hrs ago) my anxiety was really very high. There are some appointments scheduled for the start of this coming week and I the worrier of all worriers :( yes, I am borrowing worry from then already now :( It's not a good thing and I gets me all worked up and then I get pretty much nothing done. Also for prayer for me? Some real and hopefully long sleep overnight; some more peace and less anxiety; finding/creating more joy. Those and more I'm sure. Thank you, all yous! ~ Platy
@cyanPlatypus6370
He Platy! I am hopeing you are feeling a bit more peaceful. You can know that worrying is not helping but I understand how hard it is not to do it.
I usualy try to come up with the worst case scenario and then laugh at myself for being ridiculous. That works some of the times.
I have this picture on a t-shirt that I wear when I am particularly worried or anxious.
I will keep you in prayer.
@nolongerafraid
Oh how cute!! 😊😊😊!!
It made me smile!! 😊😊😊!!
Thank you very!! 😊😊😊!!
@GuardianAngel77
@nolongerafraid
😆😆😆😆!!
Please could you pray for my son. We dont know whats wrong with him but we re at the hospital now waiting to see a doctor.
@WaterLily16
I am praying too! Hang in there
The Lord's prayer sung by me. Just a short bit.
I think by praying this prayer you acknowledge that God is great and worthy. And it also releases some of heaven on the earth. Like an exchange. That is how I picture it anyway. That what is in heaven, which is always good, replaces what is broken and evil here on earth.
When we ask we shall receive, if it is according to His will. Healing is always His will. I have no doubt about that whatsoever.
He tells us to go out and heal the sick, so I speak healing over your son and I trust God to do the rest as He has promissed.
I speak peace over you that surpasses all understanding. I pray for the right doctor and no more delay.
@nolongerafraid
I listened to it, it was indeed beautiful. Thank you for sharing it!
@nolongerafraid
You have a beautiful voice Mas. Id love to hear the full version. So peaceful.
@DeborahUK
Thanks Deb, I'll get you the whole version but tonight I feel really tired so I am not in the mood for singing right now.
@WaterLily16
Thank you so much for your prayers!! We saw an amazing pediatrician at the hospital. He has a viral infection which has caused blisters in his throat which is why he cant eat and has a hard time swallowing :(
I feel reassured though, hes got lots of meds to take and needs to keep his fluids up! But at least now we know what it is that has been causin him so much pain!
Thank you so much again 💕
@WaterLily16
That is good news. Will keep praying for quick recovery.
@WaterLily16
Praying for your little one <3
@WaterLily16
Am glad you got it figured out love ♥️
@WaterLily16
With you in love and prayer, Lily.
@WaterLily16
Just prayed!!!!! ❤️❤️
I went to church today 
It as awesome!
@nolongerafraid
This amazes me. Maybe bc I dont feel able to go to church but wow - go you!!
Sounds like it was a positive experience!
@themainjane
I did not think I was either but it was really cool. I don't think I will go every week though
@nolongerafraid
I'm glad you did !!! ❤️❤️❤️
