Thursday, April 28, 2016

ACE #426: The Spiritual Boot Camp Experience

This past weekend, I was honored to plan and experience a Women's Spiritual Boot Camp at my church.


A boot camp is defined in a few ways, but the definition that best fit for our occasion is "a program or situation that helps people become much better at doing something in a short period of time". 

The theme was "Reset, Refocus, Recommit".  The main scripture was Colossians 3:12-17, but it is verse 16 that I emphasized, “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish (advise, recommend, exhort, counsel) one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in our hearts.”

There is something about the disciples of Christ coming together to learn from one another and to learn with a Spirit of gratitude in our hearts.  The workshops focused on four key areas: forgiveness, worship, breaking free from strongholds and intercessory prayer. We all desired to become BETTER in all of those things for the glory of God.  We were intentional about preparing for spiritual warfare.


The following are snippets of what the presenters taught:

"Forgiveness and trust aren't the same. You have to earn trust. We can't always earn forgiveness. God gives us common sense. You don...'t have to trust people who keep hurting you, but you do have to forgive them." Exhorter Doris Coffey, St. Paul AME Church, Lexington, Ky.


"Praise is thanking God for what He's done. Worship is thanking Him for who He IS. The Is-ness of God...His sovereignty, His greatness...worship is getting in His presence, even if it means falling flat out on your face!" Rev. Dr. Angela B. Smith-Peeples, Canaan Christian Church, Louisville, Ky.

"Anything you do for longer than six weeks and it is outside of the will of God and keeping you bound is a stronghold. The first step to being free from a stronghold is admitting you have one." Rev. Stephanie M. Raglin, Embry Chapel AME Church, Elizabethtown, Ky.

"Some situations can only change if you pray...pray...and pray some more. But there are some things we can pray for...but it might not be God's will for our lives." Evangelist Gayle Lang, St. Paul AME Church, Versailles, Ky.

After this event, God showed me the importance and necessity of women of God investing in our spiritual education.  We rarely fail to invest in things that enhance our outer appearance, but often fail to invest in our inner appearance, in other words, the conditions of our hearts and our souls.  

I would encourage someone to be intentional about growing who you are in the wisdom of the Word of God so that you can withstand the attacks of the enemy.  All I can say about this past boot camp experience is, "It was good!"




Colossians 3:12-17 (NIV) 

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

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