Lament: Week 15 (Jan 30-Feb 5)
Lament Practice: Week 15 | Week of Jan. 30 - Feb. 5
Communities @ Grace
Overview of the Night:
15 Minutes Before Start Time : Arrive + Set Out Food
45 Minutes : Welcome, Pray, Eat, + Mingle
15 Minutes : Review Last Week’s Practice
45 Minutes : Introduction of Practice + Discussion
5 Minutes : Practice for Week Ahead
10 Minutes : Pray for One Another + Close
Goal for Week: This week we begin the study of prayers of lament.
45 Minutes : Welcome, Pray, Eat, + Mingle
How do you express yourself when you experience pure joy?
What situations can cause you to feel embarrassed?
15 Minutes : Review of last week’s practice experience
Reflect on the 3 values: A desire to be with God and learn from him, do what God teaches me, grow in love and service to all people. Practice one and share with the group.
45 Minutes : Introduction of Practice + Discussion
When you think of prayer, what comes to mind?
Lament is a practice of prayer outwardly demonstrating your sorrow or regret. It can include:
crying out to God to tell him your despair or sorrow
asking for forgiveness
seeking his help
reminding him of the times he has been faithful
often ending with your promise to give him the glory
God knows that we have “strong feelings” about our life or our regrets.
In both the Old and New Testament we see God’s people pour out laments to him. He values these prayers that will deepen our relationship with Him. Two thirds of the Psalms are laments.
Did any of you receive teaching about the use of prayers of lament as you’ve learned to follow Jesus?
Why might believers avoid using prayers of lament? (too messy, rude, disrespectful)
God deserves our reverence and gratitude. He also desires a deep relationship that is authentic and he wants us to bring our deepest needs to him.
Initially you may lament out of anger towards God, and he is ready to hear your true emotions and pain. We cry out to God because we believe he is our HOPE. He can change a situation or help guide us as we walk the rocky path, carrying us as needed.
What are your initial thoughts about using laments in your prayer life?
What shift in your thinking would help you use prayers of lament?
Acknowledging our situation, naming our feelings and asking for God’s help can have a miraculous effect on our emotional well-being. Sharing our burdens with the Creator can shift us away from despair and stress. When we are completely truthful before God we are able to receive his guidance and restore our joy.
Read Psalm 13, then provide a copy of “The Message” (found at the end of this lesson) to each member and have someone read it aloud.
What is your initial reaction?
What emotions is David expressing in this passage?
How does the prayer change from the beginning to the end?
(Leader: the tone changes from accusing God to praising him.)
Practice during Group
Let’s take a minute to privately reflect and pick a situation that could be your lament this week. Write it down.
Name the ways you feel pain, stress or despair from the situation.
Ways to Practice this Week - encourage people to pick one or two to try
Pick a Psalm - 10, 22, 38, or 130. Read it slowly (use several different Bible translations) and note the verse or passage that relates to your lament. Copy it down and talk to God about it every day. How did he speak to you about your situation?
Journal about one of these topics, note your feelings and how they might be changing as you lament to God and look for hope in the situation:
-Something or someone you are struggling with
-An injustice in your life, or in the world
-A grief
-Painful situation or problem in your life
-What outcome do you want in a certain scenario?
-What are your fears?
Write a lament or poem about a situation that grieves you.
10 Minutes : Pray for One Another + Close
Consider praying as a whole group or in triads for personal prayer requests.
End on time, in order to honor everyone’s time.
Psalm 13 from The Message - Eugene Peterson
1-2
Long enough, God—
you’ve ignored me long enough.
I’ve looked at the back of your head
long enough. Long enough
I’ve carried this ton of trouble,
lived with a stomach full of pain.
Long enough my arrogant enemies
have looked down their noses at me.
3-4
Take a good look at me, God, my God;
I want to look life in the eye,
So no enemy can get the best of me
or laugh when I fall on my face.
5-6
I’ve thrown myself headlong into your arms—
I’m celebrating your rescue.
I’m singing at the top of my lungs,
I’m so full of answered prayers.