Introduction: We're disoriented...we're hurting...we're angry...can we come to God with REAL, RAW Prayer?   Episode Notes   Welcome to Episode 2 of the podcast. Listen as Pastors Sean Clemons and Stephen Law explain what it looks like to come to God in REAL, RAW Prayer. Listen and access the show notes below or search for Vantage Point on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or gracecov.org/vantagepoint.   RAW PRAYER   Being completely honest with God on how we are feeling. He wants to hear from us, especially during hard times.  God wants us to express our feelings to Him.      LAMENTING - What is lamenting?  -feeling or expressing sorrow or grief. (Psalm 10)  -are a way to process emotions -not a license to say whatever we want: lamenting consists of an address to God, complaints, requests, motivation (why God should act) and confidence in God.    PSALMS - 5 Genres  Thanksgiving Hymn (Praise)  Royal Psalms  Wisdom Psalms  Psalms of Lament     Old Testament Scholar: Walter Brueggemann, The Psalms and the Life of Faith. Orientation-Disorientation-Reorientation   Orientation in Psalms - orderliness, goodness, and reliability of life; represented in creation psalms and retribution    Disorientation - new distressful situation in which the old orientation has collapsed(We all experience it)   Process of Lamenting  Suffering is not always caused because of something someone did.  We live in a broken world because of when sin first entered into the world. (Genesis 3)    Am I allowed to talk to God like that? We're afraid to go to God sincerely- Ps 88   The beauty of lamenting is that the lamenter is complaining to God and not others or hasn't given up. Difference between lamenting and complaining? Lamenting sees God as King and able to do something about the situation   Does lamenting lack faith? --What about Jesus? -death of Lazarus, on the cross (Ps 22:1) The God of Emotions: Jesus wept, God was grieved he made man (Gen 6), God is described as jealous in Exodus,  Jesus was moved with compassion when he saw the crowds (Matt 9)   What happens if I don't lament? negative impact, wounds won't heal , He may not give us the answer why? But, God will comfort us.  There won't be wholeness in those areas of our lives.    How to lament? Psalm 85 - The lamenting journey  Know God- who he is, what he's done (Psalm 85:1-3)    -referencing Israel's golden calf incident when Moses interceded to relent God's anger (Ex 32); their forgetfulness of the 10 plagues, Red Sea parting, and complaint of the manna and quail  -Real honest prayer (Psalm 85:4-7) -Communal -forget the formulas, and use your own words -forget the vague prayers Confidence that he answers (Psalm 85:8-13) -reorientation- newness, surprise, and gift  -involve celebration for the new situation    The Psalms are prayers to be prayed and as an invitation to go use our own words.  Often happens over time, thru a journey No specific timeframe  Hope is to come out on the otherside on reorientation    Vantage Point Challenge: Choose one psalm of lament and one topic that's uncomfortable and lament to God.   Closing word from Pastor Sean Clemons:  Jesus experienced real pain and anguish and he goes to God honestly and tells Him exactly how he is feeling.  We too can go to God honestly and let Him know exactly how we are feeling.  Matthew 26:37-39    Resources: Hurting with God: Learning to lament with the Psalms by Glenn Pemberton The Psalms and the Life of Faith by Walter Brueggemann A Sacred Sorrow by Michael Card A Heart Set Free by Christina Fox   Books of the Bible that contain Laments  Habbakuk Lamentations Psalms  Job   Psalms of Lament Community: 12, 44, 58, 60, 74, 79, 80, 83, 85, 89*, 90, 94, 123, 126, 129   Individual: 3, 4, 5, 7, 9-10, 13, 14, 17, 22, 25, 26, 27*, 28, 31, 36*, 39, 40:12-17, 41, 42-43, 52*, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 59, 61, 64, 70, 71, 77, 86, 89*, 120, 139, 141, 142   Specialized Lament Psalms/ Penitential: 6, 32*, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143    Imprecatory: 35, 69, 83, 88, 109, 137, 140     Did this episode help you see your faith, life, and culture more clearly? If so, please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.  

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