This Lent we are going to study the book of Philippians aka the book of joy. I will be referencing the book Because of This I Rejoice: Reading Philippians During Lent by Max O. Vincent. We will be talking about how to joyfully practice spiritual disciplines: prayer, witness, humility, hospitality, asceticism and giving.

For this first week, we will focus on joyful prayer.

I want to encourage you to read the whole letter of Philippians in one sitting.

For this week, we will be focusing on Romans 1: 1-15 and Philippians 1: 1-11

Plan to join us this Sunday morning at 10:30 am or go to our FB page to link to Youtube live on Sunday mornings or anytime on our website redoakpresybterianchurch.com

Questions to Ponder:

1. Have you ever felt your prayers were dull or rote? What got your prayers out of this rut?

2. Paul says, "Constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you." Philippians 1:4. What does it sound like to pray with joy?

3. I often use the ACTS model of prayers - Adoration of God, Confession, Thanksgiving and Intercession. What is your prayer life like? Do you use a model? How might a prayer model or pattern help to order your thoughts and expand your prayers?

4. The Psalm are a great thing to use in prayer. Which psalms do you find helpful in times of doubt, pain or suffering?

5. Try this idea from Marjorie J hompson's book Soul Feast: paraphrase a psalm by putting yourself into it personally. Use the psalm structure, but simplify and modify the words to make it express your own experience.

6. Several years ago I suggested we pray the Lord's Prayer once a day during Lent. Did you try this practice? Could this be a good practice for you to take on this Lent?

7. In her book Soul Feast, Marjorie Thompson describes the following process as the prayer of presence. I encourage you to try this spiritual practices. Try praying this way daily for one week, two weeks, and even a month as a means of abiding in God.

Find a posture that allows you to be relaxed and alert. It helps to have your neck and spine aligned. Close your eyes and breathe deeply several times. Consciously release any muscle tension you become aware of. Breathe in peace, breathe out tension.

Relax your mind. If particular thoughts keep returning, gather them up and give them to God to hold for you during this time. You can take them back later if you want.

Turn your attention to God's presence. Let yourself be fully aware of the mystery of divine love that continually surrounds and upholds us. God is breathing life into you at each moment; take in the gift.

Let God's presence fill your consciousness, and simply rest in this presence - just as you might with someone you love dearly and feel no need to speak to, just to be with. Let yourself be like a child cradled in the lap of a wonderful caregiver; or perhaps gently supported in an ocean of light; or enfolded in a peaceful warmth. Let yourself be held in God's tender embrace; rest and soak up the love that holds you.

Close your prayer by thanking God for any gifts received in this time. You can choose to return to this communion of presence whenever you want.

8. Soren Kierkegaard said, "A man prayed, and at first he thought that prayer was talking. But he became more and more quiet until in the end he realized that prayer is listening." Is your prayer life more of a monologue (one sided conversation) or a dialogue between you and God?