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 ❤️
💜💜💜
Hi everyone.
How did everyone's July go?
I'm sad its almost over. I don't want it to be August already.
Praying for strength and peace for us all
@wittySpruce8187
Thank you Spruce.
"More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of." Alfred Lord Tennyson.
Love,joy and peace to all. x
@wittySpruce8187
It went fine, thanks for asking 😍 Yes, unfortunately, it has come to an end and back to work for me...but work has been my greatest challenge with my faith and I thank you for praying for us all for what's to come. I think with the help of this thread, I have more support than better to make it through the challenges I face at work 😉
💜💟💜
Verse of the day 
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3:20-21 ESV
@freeandloved
❤️ Loved the verse! Thanks for sharing 😍
@freeandloved
Thank you!!! God is Love! ❤️
Verse of the day - Aug 1st
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not rely on your own insight.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
Proverbs 3: 5 - 6
@Auckland
I'm sitting and soaking this in today, very apt timing for me as I am taking time with my hubby to reflect on our plans for the future. TY for sharing <3
@LifeIsMyCanvas 
@Auckland
Amen! 😊😊!
Good timing.
@GuardianAngel77
@Auckland
😁
2 Aug - Feeling abandoned and deep despair today, please pray for me.
@Auckland
Be strong and courageous; don't be terrified or afraid of them. For the LORD your God is the one who will go with you; he will not leave you or abandon you." (Deut 31:6)
God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord (1 Corinthians 1:9)
No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. (Joshua 1:5)
Thats my parting gift to you. Peace. I dont leave you the way youre used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft, (John 14:25-27) (MSG).
God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through? (Numbers 23:19)
Praying for you Auckland. 
@nolongerafraid Thank you so much.
@nolongerafraid
These verses helped me too. Thanks for sharing 😊
💜💜💜💜
@Auckland
I'll be praying for you! 😊😊😊!
Be strong the Lord will carry you through this!
@GuardianAngel77 Thank you!
@Auckland
You're welcome! 😊😊!
@Auckland
I'm so sorry to hear that. I will keep you in my prayers. I have felt this way, way too much myself
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@Macaiyla Thank you. I thought I was moving in the right direction then ended up in the deepest pit again. At this moment I am doing better, thank goodness. :)
@Auckland
It's such a relief when we get that one thing that happens to move us in the right direction. 😊 I'm glad you're doing better! 💜
@Auckland
Hi 💜
Are you feeling any better now? I know it's only been 2 days. Know we're here for you !
@wittySpruce8187 Thank you so much for asking. I have had a good day today, was around good people and went on a very long hike.
I hope you are doing well too!!
@Auckland
That's great that you were around people and took a hike. Way to go! 😊😊😊!
@GuardianAngel77 
@Auckland
😇😇😇😇
Ive been away from this thread and may most likely still be away. Some things, like faith, are such difficult subjects that we find ourselves sidestepping around as if not to wake a giant. Im afraid this describes me right now. Its with a heart caught in my throat that my thoughts skirt the edges of faith.
But I have not forgotten the good thing started here by our dear Deb or the precious members in attendance. I just wanted to let you know that you are in my thoughts and I know that even in my fears God still holds me.
@themainjane I totally get that. Just because I speak perfect Christianese does not mean I am all secure in my faith. It is tough.
You are okay Jane. 💖
@nolongerafraid
Thank you, mas <3
@themainjane
You are OK! We are here for you.
God is a loving God! He will meet you right where you are at. He's all ways around. God is gentle and kind and loving and caring!
You are all ways welcome back here . When you are ready to come back. 😊😊😊!
@GuardianAngel77
Thank you! 💜
@themainjane
You're welcome!! 😊😊😊!
I just finished reading all of The Purpose-Driven Life. I feel like @themainjane and @nolongerafraid. Although I believed this book would help me out of this Christian dilemma I'm in, the book really intensified all the issues I've been dealing with. I want to be better and feel better about myself as a Christian and believe I can be successful in my Christian walk. So now I'm going to read another book I've had for some years but never completely finished: Help Me I'm Discouraged by Joyce Meyer. I want so badly to live a life without feeling so discouraged all the time.
🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
@Macaiyla
💜 sending support, hope things get better
@wittySpruce8187
Thank you 💜
@Macaiyla
Im not sure if youve read The Shack at all have you? Its not any sort of philosophy or religious teaching book, simply a good old fictional yarn, but it really helped me to relate God to modern life. Im similarly unsure of my faith, so was looking for something relatable but non preachy.
Just a word of warning though, the start of the book is hard to get through. Without giving away spoilers, theres a tragic event, but for some it may prove triggering or upsetting, so just be warned. However, the pretext of the book is to make sense of that, so it goes on to provide comfort in abundance.
I hope whatever you choose to read provides you with the comfort and assurance youre seeking. But please know, youre not alone in wanting to better understand or affirm your belief. Try not to feel discouraged.
@DeborahUK
Thanks for the suggestion 💟
SN: I think everyone in this thread has really been wondering about you and missing you on here 😊 I'm honored that your first post back was a response to my post. Your input is always appreciated and you really take a great approach towards everyone here 🤗
Be blessed and thanks for the advice 💞
@Macaiyla
Thanks for your kindness. I was asked to take a break from the site as I became quite heated over something I strongly believe in, safeguarding site users. Hence my absence. But its nice to be back, and this thread is a source of both comfort and discovery. Id really like the comfort that a strong faith appears to bring, but still working on it. I think my brain is too logical and curious to just believe, but never say never. How about you? What causes you to question your faith?
@DeborahUK
Oh, got ya! But I'm right there along with you. It seems I'm starting to think too logically about my faith and it feels wrong. Feels sinful to question God's reasoning...and I thank you for asking because that felt good just voicing and writing out the issue I'm facing right now in my Christian walk...(see this is why we were missing you lol your input prompts so much good discussion 😊)
@Macaiyla
Its an interesting concept ..... is it sinful to question? God gave us enquiring minds. Would He have done that if He just wanted us to blindly follow? A faith that is formed from being curious is surely a stronger one than just believing because were fearful not to do so?
@DeborahUK
Yes, this definitely what's been replaying in my mind daily: why did He create us this way if He did not want us to be curious about our belief? This question gets so overwhelming and gets me anxious but I've been trying to study up and find the answers. I don't like this feeling of disconnect from God.
@Macaiyla
Do you belong to any fellowship groups? Or do they run Alpha courses in your part of the world? Im fortunate, because the church I belong to encourages curiosity. No question is too silly, impertinent or taboo. The thing is for me, if something is real, itll stand up to questioning wont it?
@DeborahUK
They have them here but I don't belong to any. I've been thinking about trying to find one soon. I definitely need to be a part of one.
@DeborahUK That's great, questions should be asked.
I have found though, that when it comes to faith, there is definitely a portion of it that defies logic.
For me, the challenge is that, despite the fact that I know that life isn't fair I still feel a loss of trust when I see people who behave badly get rewarded while I do my best to do the right thing and feel like I get punished for doing so.
So having Trust is where I tend to struggle.
@Auckland
Wow, those are my thoughts, exactly!
@DeborahUK
I agree with that a lot
@DeborahUK Welcome back!
@DeborahUK
Welcome back!! 😀😀😀😀!!
@GuardianAngel77
Thank you 😀
@DeborahUK
You are quite welcome!! 😊😊😊!
@Macaiyla
I heard that this is a very very good book Life Purpose Driven. I have the book but never read it yet.
@GuardianAngel77
Same with me. I got it when we were studying it at church when I was like 12, but never got past Ch 11. It is a good read.
@Macaiyla
That's good! 😊😊!
@Macaiyla
Hi. I'm a Christian also. I think we go through hard times in our walk with Jesus, but just remember all the promises God makes to us in the Bible. He loves you and wants to have a relationship with you! Thats why you were created! You are His masterpiece ❤️❤️ When i was in a hard place with thinking God doesn't love me, my counselor had me read "The Storybook Bible." It is for kids. But adults read it to. My counselor said he read it to. Any way, it is powerful and I couldn't stop crying. Jesus is on a rescue mission to save us! The regular Bible is amazing too! Take all your questions to God! He is big enough to answer! I will pray for you!! Also, check out "Gotquestions.org" - an amazing site where you can search and ask ANY thing about God, even counselor questions!!!! It is powerful! ❤️❤️
@KLM3278
Thank you for the comforting words 😍 I need to find my old children's Bibles I had growing up and revisit them. I remember as a kid those children's Bibles had me crying too at God's love for us. Also, thanks for praying for me 🤗 I am going to check out that website right now. Sounds like just what I need!
@Macaiyla
Yes, it's awesome! And you can really email them and they email back!!! Such awesome and helpful replies!!! I sometimes spend hours on that website reading questions and answers!!! Let me know what you think ❤️❤️❤️
@KLM3278
Sounds great!!! I will let you know!!!
@KLM3278
OMG!!! 😍🤩🤯 Mind is completely blown from the very first search on that site!!! I really thank you for sharing it!!! I truly believe it is a great additional resource to everyone in this thread 😉
@Macaiyla
I've not read the book, I think I gave it away actually. Felt like too much pressure, the purpose... like the one thing? No my purpose is to love God and others above all and how I do that is based on how I feel led by God in the moment. After all, the Mary and Martha story taught us to prioritise being with Him and not doing. Out of being, the doing will come I believe, or at least is has been that way for me. There is no pressure in coming to and being with Him, because we are fully accepted as we are right now. Just a thought
@LifeIsMyCanvas
Thanks for the comment ❤️
I just love everyone's fellowship here in this thread 😊🤗😍 I love how every post I have, members comment authentically and sincerely. Sometimes, that's all a person ever really needs to simply move on and make it through 💪🏽 I love and appreciate all of you 😍🤗💝
@Macaiyla
Ditto :)
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While we are giving out book recommendations .... I would recommend "Mans Search for Meaning" by Viktor Frankl. It's not a Christian book but a very powerful book on survival. Warning: it does describe concentration camp events so is very dark from that perspective.
@Auckland
I read this in college. It's also a great book!
Verse of the day - 6 August
Hear my cry, O God,
listen to my prayer;
from the end of the earth I call to you,
when my heart is faint.
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I;
for you are my refuge,
a strong tower against the enemy.
Psalms 61: 1-3
@Auckland
Thank you! 🙌🏽🙏🏽 Really needed this 💟
Thank you for this verse @Auckland
For some reason this seems appropriate to me today too:
Ecclesiastes 3
A Time for Everything
3 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
..........
12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live.
13 That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.
@DeborahUK My honest first reaction to these verses? You probably don't want to hear. But what popped up in my thoughts right after that?
Oh, but wait, this was written by the man that God made out to be the wisest man ever. Thanks Deb!
@nolongerafraid
And God gave us all Free Will. ❤️❤️ A gift we don't really understand I think, right. ❤️
@DeborahUK That is a good one!
@DeborahUK
Yes!! ❤️❤️❤️
@DeborahUK
I've been pondering on new seasons too recently. V fitting for me, ty! Other thing I'm thinking about is boundaries and if I need to adjust them to facilitate me moving into a new season as I'm sturggling a bit at the moment to understand the mind shift needed to do what I thing God is leading me into.
@Auckland
I'm not really sure what I believe right now. I've been going through a very difficult time and my thoughts are all over the place.
Despite that I can find comfort in the words of that verse. The thought of a refuge and a strong tower against the enemy is a nice thought.
Thank you for sharing.
@practicalIdeal2007 I understand. When we go through something really terrible, our faith/beliefs become questionable, our trust in people might all but disappear, our world is in chaos, but it is precisely at that time that we should fight to cling on to our faith (or get faith-maybe God is calling you). When you find your mind wandering over to the dark side, watch a video, read a book that uplifts (or at least distracts) you. Ideally, something that strengthens your relationship with God. If you aren't sure what you believe then take the time to search for God through study and prayer. Over time you will see the dark times happening less frequently and the peace God gives you happening more frequently.
I wish you all the best. God bless you.
@Auckland
I am searching. I am not entirely sure what I am searching for. Maybe I will know when I find it. I want to believe in so many things. It is difficult because what I want to believe does not seem to fit the reality of my life. I'm probably not making sense.
Thank you for your response.
@practicalIdeal2007
If it's okay to say, don't forget Jesus is always searching for YOU!!! He loves you and wants to be in a relationship with you. It's amazing to think about. God calling to our hearts, and it's nothing we have to do to earn this love. It's His grace. This doesn't make the hard things disappear - but it does give us a hand to hold and arms to be held by, when we are SO scared we can't go it alone anymore. ❤️❤️ I'll pray for you tonight. And here is a loan of my teddy bear 🐻- he is very cuddly and is good at helping feel safe. He is good to hug as you pray and ask Jesus to comfort you and help you feel His peace. ❤️❤️❤️
@KLM3278
I really wish I understood or knew more about Jesus.
Thank you for the loan of the teddy bear. I have a bear that someone gave me a long time ago. It's nearly as big as I am. It is amazing how comforting it is. When I don't know what else to do I hold it tight.
@practicalIdeal2007
What you said about your bear, it's SO true about Jesus to. ❤️ "When I don't know what else to do, I just hold tight to Him." ❤️❤️ And He won't ever le good. ❤️
Check out the website site - Gotquestions.org
This is an amazing site that answers literally thousands of questions about God, Jesus, faith, etc. You can always write to them and they really answer back!!! And it's all free ❤️❤️ I can also answer questions you have to ❤️❤️❤️
hi. I'm not keeping up with the thread here in the last few days. So ...
<>< and Hi @DeborahUK Welcome back.
(Real short? haha. Last week many many things happened. including attending the pre-funeral service for one of my best teachers and trying to celebrate with Dad for his retirement. Yup, all prayers appreciated!) <><, Platy
@cyanPlatypus6370
That's a lot ❤️ Praying!!!!!
thank you @Auckland for bringing my attention to this thread. I need prayer from any of my loving brothers and sisters out there. Im feeling so lonely, so dead inside, so stuck without anything to fuel me with life energy or reinforce my belief in any hope. no positivity. ive been so ravaged by depression and isolation that it's like everything inside me has dried up. The world is so bleak. I'm the driver of my flatlining life comatose driving lifelessly behind the wheel with no glimmer of light on the horizon just moving pointlessly across a static gray landscape with nothing ahead to look forward to. i cant even do my creative writing. THIS KILLS ME. DESTROYS ME. IT'S AGONY EVERY DAY. i dont know what's wrong with me. how do i get my creative drive back? is it gone forever? has my spirit already been destroyed and all that i am perished just left to rot in this husk of flesk, a vessel without joy without a sense of purpose, detached from everything, alienated from the world.
I DONTWANTTOBETHEDRIVEROFMYLIFE I SUCK AT THIS. GOD PLEASE TAKE CONTROL.
im just drifting. deteriorating. i feel so dead. so worthle$$. i want love. my #1 fear that i will never have it. idontwanttobealoneforever. iwant to quit smoking, been smoking so long and it's so hard to quit but it's so hard to feel motivated when im this lonely unhappy and incapacitated not even able to write. im unloved. maybe unlovable. impossible to imagine a better road ahead. impossible to conceive of the light. impossible to believe i can find love. im 34years old and im a pathetic abysmal failure. im such a wreck. ive screwed up so bad and i will never have what i want. im just a vacant zombie suffering in emptiness. anguished by this unchanging inextricable stranglehood that has sucked me bone dry. im starved of joy and purpose. there's no stimulus.
i want to live life ABUNDANTLY. o Lord Jesus. life feels all randomness and stark solitude. just going nowhere digging myself deeper into nowhere. im nobody buried in a dungheap in the middle of nowhere. LORD HEAR MY PRAYER. ZAP ME BACK ELECTRIFY INTO A FLOURISHING TEEMING GROUNDSWELL OF ENERGY I WANT TO CLING TO YOU LORD AND GLORIFY YOU LORD. MAKE ME AN INSTRUMENT OF YOUR PEACE. LORD PLEASE THE WORLD MY LIFE ALL FEELS STRIPPED OF MEANING A BLANK BARREN PAGE DEVOID OF NARRATIVE OF PURPOSE. im antagonized by the ever present menace of emptiness. i have played with the darkness. sought proof of the spiritual in the occult.
I DONT WANT THE WORLD TO BE RANDOMNESS AND CHANCE NO ESSENTIAL MEANING. I KNOW U SAVED MY LIFE 16 YEARS AGO LORD PLEASE ANCHOR ME LIFT ME UP OUT OF THIS INSUFFERABLE MIRE. RENEW ME LORD. REINVIGORATE ME. RESCUE ME. I NEED U SO BAD.
I DONT WANT IT TO BE RANDOMNESS AND POINTLESSNESS. idont understand this. why i be so unloved. why the world so dark and depressing. why i am too paralyzed to write. o Lord i know things could be worse. dont understand the horrific tragedies that happen every day. cant find u in this mess. this muck. WWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAA DONT KNOW THE KIDS DIED IN THAT FIRE WHY THAT PERSON HAD TO BE MURDERED WHY THIS OR THAT TERRIBLE ACCIDENT OR HURRICANE OR EARTHQUAKE OR MURDER OR MASSACRE HAPPENEED. idontknowidontknow. iwant to thrive Lord. i fear the emptiness fear the void of existence. Lord without u im a goner. im so broken. in severe need of repair. CHRIST ALMIGHTY.
LORD I AM NOT WORTHY LORD I AM NOT WORTHY BUT SAY THE WORDS ONLY
I neeed you Jesus. replenish me. let me drink from thy cup. i want to dwell in the house of the Lord now. i wish to never run dry. fill me up with the overwhelming force of the Holy Spirit. shock me back into life let me feel the FIRE OF YOUR PRESENCE. O Lord. grip me. fasten me to your sanctum of strength. i am dried up. athirst. famished. so lonely. so stagnant. crippled.
O Jesus. Heavenly Father. I need a boost. I need a godwink. I need your support your love your enduring presence and almighty power to sustain me. o eternal night when will it vanish when will the light at last find my eyes? Lord help me. Lord awaken me. Lord save me.
Pray for me. Pray for me. Pray for me. I need the healing touch of the Holy Spirit.
@hollowman84 Hello hollowman - Welcome to the prayer thread. I must point out that you say that you aren't writing, yet here you are writing. This does count. Really!! So congratulate yourself on that.
If you don't mind, can I ask if you have reached out to any group at church or somewhere? You need to go a get around people to help you heal. It really will help. Maybe even volunteering to help others can help lift you from the darkness. What action can you take right now?
You have my prayers. xxoo
@hollowman84
Am relating to your words, praying for you and also finding that for me, music filled with lots of truth takes off the edge of all those feelings of darkness and despiration. Swamping myself in His love, drowning out the depression and feelings of giving up. Stoping the lies in my head, holding on for something better.
https://youtu.be/sIaT8Jl2zpI - I'm listening to this and hoping it soaks into my soul, hope you find peace and joy in your soul again soon
@LifeIsMyCanvas Oh my God Canvas, how I needed to hear this too!
@LifeIsMyCanvas nice song!! great voice! thanks for sharing!!
@LifeIsMyCanvas
I loved this song!! 😊😊😊! Thank You for sharing this with us!! 😊😊😊!
@hollowman84
Wow, I'm at work at my desk craving my daily fix of "The Prayer Thread" and this post--which is your first one here--is the most purposefully authentic post to date on here. This post helped me in so many ways to read someone articulate my personal dilemmas. Despite the length of the post, I was glued to it entirely. I'm praying for you @hollowman84. 🙏 That darkness is scary but I'm so thankful that you and I know exactly where to turn----TO GOD. I'm praying for a renewing of your faith and strength, the same prayer I'm praying for myself... I want to have a nice real-life group discussion about your issues. This would be one real-life discussion that I know is what I've been in need of and will help me heal too...@hollowman84, it will get better, we'll get better, and our faith will be renewed. Just keep pressing on, nearing closer to God, yearning for Him ❤💜❤💜
@hollowman84
I be praying for you!! 😊😊😊!!
Lord Jesus restore He's soul bring him back.
Lift him out of this deep dark place of darkness.
Let him know that he is not alone in this journey.
Lord bring him happiness and joy back to him.
I ask this in your name Lord Jesus Christ!!
Amen!
@hollowman84
Hi Hman84 ❤️ God hears you. Keep reaching out and remembering His love. Have you heard of "The Storybook Bible"? It's for kids, sorta, but my counselor had me read it and it burst open my heart to the truth of Jesus being on a rescue mission for us! He isn't trying to hide from us or trick us! He is right here as you are praying!!! Jesus loves you SOOOOO much! I will pray for you like you asked. Pray that He shows your heart, mind, spirit, His perfect love and grace ❤️❤️ Remember in our weakness, HE is strong 💪 ❤️