Definition for the day ~ lament:1 : to express sorrow, mourning, or regret 2 : to regret strongly
Many of you are probably saying.....huh?!?! What in the world is lamenting and can you say that in public? LOL Well, to answer your questions... yes you can!
I had the privilege today to get a glimpse of what it feels like to sit in a Drew University seminary class taught by Rev.Dr. Nancy Lynne Westfield, and I must say it was awesome! Dr. Westfield raised some very GREAT questions. Her topic was 'A Conversation on Prayer' as I stated in my earlier post, and it was indeed a conversation. Dr. Westfield gave us a lot of insight on how we pray, and challenged us to question how our prayer life is & whether or not lamenting is apart of it. So, what is lamenting you ask? Lamenting is when we truly give God the highest respect, it is when we give God our whole heart. All of our hurts and pains, our sorrows, our burdens, our deepest wounds. It is when we are no longer being nice and sweet, but when we become that kid in the grocery store who is yelling and screaming because they either want their way or they want an answer as to why they can't have it! LOL Lamenting is the point when we expect an answer from God, and the point when 'WE' will stop at nothing until we find him and get an answer to our needs.
Dr. Westfield gave us a very simple analogy, she said "When you want to pray and you don't, you stop breathing!" Our soul is our very breath. It is the breath of life that GOD gave us. If someone came up to you on the street and said "Stop breathing" would you? No, you wouldn't! So why do we continue to give God these cutesy prayers? Why do we continue to cut off our breath, our spiritual connection to God by not activating all of our soul powers and connections?
Well, I have a theory....Dr. Westfield said, "Prayer is about developing Spiritual Maturity, when your prayer/lamenting life is active for your soul, you learn how to intuit God with your gut." So why did I say all of that....well, as a part of Dr. Westfield's teaching she had us pair up and have none judgmental conversation about a few things. During that time my partner & sister/friend Kimberly raised a very good point after listening to my responses. She simply said " I think you know your purpose and what your suppose to do, but you don't want to accept it." Now, to be honest, I think she has told me that before! LOL But today it hit me differently...today it say what are you afraid of?
So I ask you....Why are we so afraid of MATURING?!?! Why are we afraid to hear Gods voice, and the truth about what he has in store for us? Why do we choose to walk around feeling like we don't know, when all we have to do is create that INTIMATE relationship with God. The one where you can communicate without words, ya'll know what I'm talking about! LOL
Sooooo...........
Many of you are probably saying.....huh?!?! What in the world is lamenting and can you say that in public? LOL Well, to answer your questions... yes you can!
I had the privilege today to get a glimpse of what it feels like to sit in a Drew University seminary class taught by Rev.Dr. Nancy Lynne Westfield, and I must say it was awesome! Dr. Westfield raised some very GREAT questions. Her topic was 'A Conversation on Prayer' as I stated in my earlier post, and it was indeed a conversation. Dr. Westfield gave us a lot of insight on how we pray, and challenged us to question how our prayer life is & whether or not lamenting is apart of it. So, what is lamenting you ask? Lamenting is when we truly give God the highest respect, it is when we give God our whole heart. All of our hurts and pains, our sorrows, our burdens, our deepest wounds. It is when we are no longer being nice and sweet, but when we become that kid in the grocery store who is yelling and screaming because they either want their way or they want an answer as to why they can't have it! LOL Lamenting is the point when we expect an answer from God, and the point when 'WE' will stop at nothing until we find him and get an answer to our needs.
Dr. Westfield gave us a very simple analogy, she said "When you want to pray and you don't, you stop breathing!" Our soul is our very breath. It is the breath of life that GOD gave us. If someone came up to you on the street and said "Stop breathing" would you? No, you wouldn't! So why do we continue to give God these cutesy prayers? Why do we continue to cut off our breath, our spiritual connection to God by not activating all of our soul powers and connections?
Well, I have a theory....Dr. Westfield said, "Prayer is about developing Spiritual Maturity, when your prayer/lamenting life is active for your soul, you learn how to intuit God with your gut." So why did I say all of that....well, as a part of Dr. Westfield's teaching she had us pair up and have none judgmental conversation about a few things. During that time my partner & sister/friend Kimberly raised a very good point after listening to my responses. She simply said " I think you know your purpose and what your suppose to do, but you don't want to accept it." Now, to be honest, I think she has told me that before! LOL But today it hit me differently...today it say what are you afraid of?
So I ask you....Why are we so afraid of MATURING?!?! Why are we afraid to hear Gods voice, and the truth about what he has in store for us? Why do we choose to walk around feeling like we don't know, when all we have to do is create that INTIMATE relationship with God. The one where you can communicate without words, ya'll know what I'm talking about! LOL
Sooooo...........
How is your prayer life? Is lamenting part of your prayer life? Why or why not?
Lets Talk about it......God Bless!
I wasn't able to make it today because I had to work. But you allowed me to see what was going on at the luncheon. You're an excellent repoter. Love this feedback.
Thanks Auntie! I have an extra copy of the handout if you want it. Missed you today! HUGS
I wasn't used to lamenting prior to the last two years. As I have made a committment to re-dedicate my life to the Lord, I have made it my duty to lament. I lament in a small sister group and in that little space along and aloud to myself. My best friend recently turned me on to lamenting on paper and I am so excited with that concept. It works for me to lament and be able to go back over my feelings and thougths behind what I wrote and how I was feeling and the results that came from it all. I am on a road towards greatness, spiritually, mentally and physically and it feels good to get closer to God in this intimate way that is all our own. I have been a part of a mentoring group at church and we educate the young ladies to do the same thing in the times in which we all live in.