I was nervous. This is totally new to me. "What if I don't do it right? What position should my body be in?"
It was the first time someone taught me how to spend a solid chunk of time in solitude and prayer, otherwise known as Contemplative Prayer, or Extended Prayer. On our Lake Forest staff we call it a DAWG Day - Day Alone With God.
The Season of Lent is traditionally marked by a renewed level of fasting and prayer In a person's life, to identify with Jesus' deliberate journey to the cross and prepare our spirit for the feast that is Easter. One way to deepen and broaden your prayer life is to learn how to be with the LORD in extended times of prayer, which includes solitude.
If you're interested, I'm inviting you to spend next Thursday March 12 with me in a farmhouse, learning how to spend a DAWG day. (details below, as well as other unique learning experiences coming soon)
I WAS nervous the first time I was involved in a learning experience to set aside an entire day for prayer (a whole day? I thought!). It WAS totally new to me. And I DID wonder what to do with my body for that long of a period of time, and worried about doing it right in order to not waste my day.
My mentors that day taught me how to break an extended prayer day into manageable chunks, with a scripture reading, prayer, writing, or walking agenda for each chunk. They gave me resources to use for guidance. They taught me how to position my body at various times to help focus my wandering attention. And as I tried on what has been called 'Contemplative Prayer' for centuries, I found that I was not alone at all. I was given the gift of true companionship with God, in a way that translated to a more common sense of His friendship with me throughout the next month. It has become one of the most important ways that I 'pray without ceasing' as God says is possible in His Word (I Thessalonians 5:17).
I wish for all of my friends who are disciples of Jesus to learn this means of prayer. It makes a person less dependent on external teaching about Christ, more able to feed on Him and His grace in the interior of our spirit, where He dwells through the Holy Spirit.
So I'd love for a few of you to join me in a farmhouse during the day next Thursday, 1.15 hours away, for this experience that I will lead you through. You can also join Joe Essick or Cammie Howard on a Thursday in April or May, respectively. Here's the skinny, and some other helpful courses:
DAWG Day (Day Alone With God) Take a day away (9am-4pm) with one of our pastors or ministry directors who will mentor you in how to be alone with God, in a way that feeds your spirit and leads to closer communion with Christ daily. You may attend any single DAWG Day, or multiple days.
- with Mike Moses: Thursday, Mar 12 in the mountains
- with Joe Essick: Thursday, Apr 23 in LKN (men only)
- with Cammie Howard: Thursday, Apr 23 in LKN (women only)
To register for next Thursday or any other of our Discovery Courses, click here LFC Discovery Courses
Here are a few more GREAT courses about to begin at LFC:
The Holy Days Leviticus 23 outlines a series of annual Holy Days that God commanded Israel to observe from “generation to generation.” We will examine the seven annual Holy Days and how each festival represents a step in God’s plan of salvation. We will see how echoes of the gospel message can be found throughout the Bible and how each of the Holy Days are (or will be) fulfilled in Jesus Christ. LFCHuntersville: Sundays, Mar 8 – Apr 26 from 6-7:45pm
Christ in the Passover: A presentation of a Jewish Seder Dinner, Led by Jews for Jesus. Passover, the oldest and most important of Jewish religious festivals, commemorates God’s deliverance of the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt and His creation of the Israelite people. Come experience part of this tradition through a visual representation of the Passover meal, known as the Seder. LFC-Huntersville: Tuesday, Mar 31 at 7pm. (Angie and I will be at this - we've done this twice and it is immensely powerful)
Bible Burger: Part Two Continue to journey through the Bible by learning how to study it on your own and with others. In this two-week class, Joe Essick will teach you tools for interpreting scripture and how to apply it to your life. LFC-Huntersville: Sundays, Mar 8-15 from 6-7:45pm.
Redeeming Conflict Led by licensed counselor and Ministry Partner, Steve Benson, this course will help you to address a variety of conflicts in your life that God can use to redeem. Weekly topics will include: Discovering your Conflict Management Style, Seven Principles of Conflict Resolution, Forgiveness and Reconciliation and more. LFC-Huntersville: Sundays, Apr 19 – May 24 from 6-7:45pm.
Trading Places: Caring for Aging Parents Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner Mary Kent Splain and Pastor Mitch White will give practical advice and guidance around the difficulties and privileges of caring for aging parents. Both Mary Kent and Pastor Mitch will share many of their own experiences as both are living this out with their own parents. LFC-WestLake:Sunday, April 19 from 6-8pm
