P.R.A.Y. with Tears | Dan Deeble | P.R.A.Y.
Teaching Notes
PAUSE
REJOICE
ASK
YIELD
The hearts of the people
cry out to the Lord.
You walls of Daughter Zion,
let your tears flow like a river
day and night;
give yourself no relief,
your eyes no rest.
Lamentations 2:18
Our English word prayer derives from the Latin precarious. We pray because life is precarious. We pray because life is marvelous. We pray because we find ourselves at a loss for many things, but not for the simplest words like “please,” “thank you,” “wow,” and “help.” I prayed when I held our babies for the first time. I prayed when work overwhelmed me, and I knew I couldn't cope. I prayed when my wife was wheeled away down the hospital corridor unconscious. I prayed the night I saw the northern lights. (Pete Greig, How To Pray pg 4)
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4)
“My God, my God why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46/Psalm 22:1)
“Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” (John 11:21)
“O that my head were a spring of water and my eyes a fountain of tears, so that I might weep day and night for the slain of my poor people!” (Jeremiah 9:1)
There’s a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,… (Ecclesiastes 3:4)
Better is a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting… (Ecclesiastes 7:2)
A sad face is good for the heart (Ecclesiastes 7:3)
Why do you always forget us?
Why do you forsake us so long?
Restore us to yourself, Lord, that we may return;
renew our days as of old
unless you have utterly rejected us
and are angry with us beyond measure.
Lamentations 5:20-22
Lament takes incredible faith.
“The ability to express dark thoughts and emotions can be a sign that a relationship is strong and that we aren’t afraid our feelings, heavy as they may be, will sink that relationship.”
Justin McRoberts, Prayer - Forty Days of Practice
Lament begins our path to healing
Three Options:
Dwell our pain
Deny our pain
Pour out our pain
Lament makes space for the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit Intervenes In Our Weakness:
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. (Romans 8:26)
The Holy Spirit Identifies With Our Pain:
We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.
Romans 8:26
The Holy Spirit Intercedes For Our Groans
And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
Romans 8:27
“Christ is (our) intercession in the court of heaven…the Holy Spirit is (our) intercession in the theatre of (our) own hearts.”
John Murray
Book Resource: How To Pray : A Simple Guide For Normal People by Pete Greig
Going Deeper Discussion
How are your prayer practices being shaped throughout this series? Any “Aha’s” or little breakthroughs you can share?
What is your natural tendency when you are in pain: DWELL or DENY?
What do you think? Is it possible to cross a line with God in your prayerful laments?
If you’re comfortable sharing, what’s a time in your life when all you had were prayerful groans? Did you experience the Holy Spirit’s presence through it?
Let’s think about our church family for a moment: do you sense God is doing something new among us (perhaps particularly related to prayer)?
Sunday Set List
WFC Lenexa + WFC Anywhere
Forever Free- Mitch Langley
The Blessing- Elevation Worship feat./Kari Jobe
WFC Speedway
Amazing Grace - Chris Tomlin
The Blessing- Elevation Worship feat/Kari Jobe
Be sure to save our Spotify Worship Playlist, updated weekly with the upcoming Sunday’s set!