Note: Remember the author’s aim is “to introduce you to so many possibilities for enjoying God’s presence that you will find your own.”
Chapter 7: Focusing on What’s in Front of You
1. What is in front of you right now that provides a topic of conversation with God?
2. What is the idea behind missionary Frank Laubach’s ‘game with minutes’? (p. 49). How could you adapt this idea?
3. Which leaders in the fields that you care about would you like to pray for?
4. How can you practice God’s presence while you engage in the world?
5. How do you become more attentive to God’s presence plus deal with mind wandering?
6. From the prayer on pages 62 and 63, what expresses some thoughts you have wanted to say to God, but haven’t?
Chapter 8: Finding God in Irritating Moments
7. So, what is irritating you and how are you going to handle it now?
8. Why is offering God our questions and irritations wise?
9. How do imprecatory Psalms help? Can you give an example?
10. “In order to abide in Christ and enjoy God’s presence, we must learn not to pretend to be okay.” (p. 59). Comments?
11. Think through “Questions to Ponder” on page 60.
Chapter 9: Loving God in Anguished Moments
12. The author writes of sitting in the posture of her hurting friends and praying for them. Are there ways you could use this idea?
13. “Times of anguish can transform us if we push away self pity and put our energy into longing for God.” Comments? Experiences to share?
14. What are some ways you can practice God’s presence in temptation?
15. Let’s put Psalm 63 on our summer memorization possibilities list. ☺
16. Quote from page 65, “In these distressing moments, we lay our brokenness before God. This advances us toward the goal of knowing him because a broken spirit dissolves the wall of self-sufficiency that separates us from God.” Read the rest of this paragraph. Comments?
17. Think through “Questions to Ponder” on page 66.
Group Challenge: Discuss what you can hold each other accountable for this week.
- Study Questions, Discussion, Comments from the Ladies' Bible Studies at Nampa Bible Church
10/23/10
Enjoying the Presence of God, Chapters 4,5,6
Chapter 4: Talking to You Means Praying For You
1. Page 29 quote: “ I saw that even though my official task was to . . . . my real task was to bring God’s presence to everyone I met.” Thoughts?
2. Page 30 quote: “Being aware of God’s presence helps us focus on the other person so deeply that it’s nearly impossible to avoid praying for him or her.” Thoughts? Experiences to share?
3. Jan writes, pages 30 and 31, on praying to see someone’s heart. How can you do this in your life? Can you describe an experience of being caught up in your own thoughts and plans and unwilling to hear others?
4. How can you bring Christ’s presence to a situation? What does it mean, “prayer is the greater work”? (p. 32).
5. Think through and answer the Questions to Ponder on pages 33, 34.
6. Anything else of significance in this chapter?
Chapter 5: Weaving Prayer With Activity
7. Have you ever found yourself busy and occupied and suddenly realized you were ‘missing God’?
8. Is there a symbol – like lighting a candle – that could help you remember to focus on God in busy/difficult times?
9. How can you include God in the everyday, mundane tasks?
10. How can you go against the hurry, hastiness, and greed of a culture that urges us to pack as many useful tasks into a day as possible? (p. 39).
11. How does your body show signs of needing to slow down and be aware of God’s presence? (p. 39). What can you do about it?
12. Think about and answer the Questions to Ponder on page 41
13. What other significant points did you underline in this chapter?
Chapter 6: Praying Without Words
14. How have you served/loved/prayed similar to the example Jan gives on pages 42,43. What ideas does this give you?
15. How can you incorporate your physical body movements into prayer, praise, surrender?
16. When have you experienced God’s presence in physical activity?
17. How do active prayers get us closer to Romans 12:1?
18. Answer Questions to Ponder on page 47.
19. What else did you note in this chapter?
Group Challenge:
1. Page 29 quote: “ I saw that even though my official task was to . . . . my real task was to bring God’s presence to everyone I met.” Thoughts?
2. Page 30 quote: “Being aware of God’s presence helps us focus on the other person so deeply that it’s nearly impossible to avoid praying for him or her.” Thoughts? Experiences to share?
3. Jan writes, pages 30 and 31, on praying to see someone’s heart. How can you do this in your life? Can you describe an experience of being caught up in your own thoughts and plans and unwilling to hear others?
4. How can you bring Christ’s presence to a situation? What does it mean, “prayer is the greater work”? (p. 32).
5. Think through and answer the Questions to Ponder on pages 33, 34.
6. Anything else of significance in this chapter?
Chapter 5: Weaving Prayer With Activity
7. Have you ever found yourself busy and occupied and suddenly realized you were ‘missing God’?
8. Is there a symbol – like lighting a candle – that could help you remember to focus on God in busy/difficult times?
9. How can you include God in the everyday, mundane tasks?
10. How can you go against the hurry, hastiness, and greed of a culture that urges us to pack as many useful tasks into a day as possible? (p. 39).
11. How does your body show signs of needing to slow down and be aware of God’s presence? (p. 39). What can you do about it?
12. Think about and answer the Questions to Ponder on page 41
13. What other significant points did you underline in this chapter?
Chapter 6: Praying Without Words
14. How have you served/loved/prayed similar to the example Jan gives on pages 42,43. What ideas does this give you?
15. How can you incorporate your physical body movements into prayer, praise, surrender?
16. When have you experienced God’s presence in physical activity?
17. How do active prayers get us closer to Romans 12:1?
18. Answer Questions to Ponder on page 47.
19. What else did you note in this chapter?
Group Challenge:
10/16/10
Enjoying the Presence of God, Chapters 2, 3
Chapters 2 and 3; Note: questions are for discussion purposes. Please underline and star important points to share and challenge your group.
Chapter 2: Practicing the Presence of God
1. “An awareness of God can flow through our day the way blood circulates through the body” (p. 14). Have you practiced God’s presence and not realized it? Have you longed to experience it? How does this awareness during a normal day change things?
2. Read Psalm 37:4. Think about Jan’s comments on this verse. Thoughts?
3. “It isn’t a matter of achieving God’s presence, but surrendering to God’s presence..." (p. 16).
“Oddly enough, a practiced awareness of God’s presence doesn’t pull people into themselves..."(p. 17).
Think about these quotes and give your reaction. What else did you underline on page 17?
4. Jan says that western Christians tend to approach God only through facts and information or inspiration and feelings. What is she suggesting that we need to start doing?
5. From the train story on pages 20, 21 comes this quote: “Something of this kind is an everyday occurrence with us who pray for everybody we meet. It never happens unless we are praying.” Thoughts?
6. Think about the two questions on page 21.
7. Other important points from this chapter?
Chapter 3: Thinking About You Becomes Praying for You
1. What is a breath prayer?
2. As you read through example breath prayers, what are some of your thoughts?
3. How do scriptures and breath prayers intersect?
4. How can you use breath prayers when you don’t know how to pray or when your thoughts are turning in a negative direction?
5. What breath prayers do you already pray?
6. What favorite scriptures could you turn into breath prayers?
7. What events or situations in your life do you think about but have never prayed for?
8. Other thoughts?
Group Challenge: (So what are you going to do about it?)
Chapter 2: Practicing the Presence of God
1. “An awareness of God can flow through our day the way blood circulates through the body” (p. 14). Have you practiced God’s presence and not realized it? Have you longed to experience it? How does this awareness during a normal day change things?
2. Read Psalm 37:4. Think about Jan’s comments on this verse. Thoughts?
3. “It isn’t a matter of achieving God’s presence, but surrendering to God’s presence..." (p. 16).
“Oddly enough, a practiced awareness of God’s presence doesn’t pull people into themselves..."(p. 17).
Think about these quotes and give your reaction. What else did you underline on page 17?
4. Jan says that western Christians tend to approach God only through facts and information or inspiration and feelings. What is she suggesting that we need to start doing?
5. From the train story on pages 20, 21 comes this quote: “Something of this kind is an everyday occurrence with us who pray for everybody we meet. It never happens unless we are praying.” Thoughts?
6. Think about the two questions on page 21.
7. Other important points from this chapter?
Chapter 3: Thinking About You Becomes Praying for You
1. What is a breath prayer?
2. As you read through example breath prayers, what are some of your thoughts?
3. How do scriptures and breath prayers intersect?
4. How can you use breath prayers when you don’t know how to pray or when your thoughts are turning in a negative direction?
5. What breath prayers do you already pray?
6. What favorite scriptures could you turn into breath prayers?
7. What events or situations in your life do you think about but have never prayed for?
8. Other thoughts?
Group Challenge: (So what are you going to do about it?)
Enjoying the Presence of God, Chapter 1
Chapter 1: Trying Too Hard (page 7-12)
1. When Jan gave up trying to have the perfectly organized quiet time, what habits did she take up? (pg. 8). Can you identify with this? What habits do you tend to fall into when you give up extreme self discipline?
2. Take some time and think through what your have done in your quiet time over the years? How do you feel about your quiet time? Are there highs and lows? Any patterns?
3. Do you tend to “work” at your relationship with God? If so, in what ways?
4. Do you have a favorite Psalm that is “honest and gritty”? How has this Psalm helped you be more real with God?
5. What does Jan mean by “being”, not “doing”? (pg. 9) Describe what this means in your own life.
6. What did Jan learn from Brother Lawrence’s life and writings?
7. As you contemplate these thoughts, what is your desire?
1. When Jan gave up trying to have the perfectly organized quiet time, what habits did she take up? (pg. 8). Can you identify with this? What habits do you tend to fall into when you give up extreme self discipline?
2. Take some time and think through what your have done in your quiet time over the years? How do you feel about your quiet time? Are there highs and lows? Any patterns?
3. Do you tend to “work” at your relationship with God? If so, in what ways?
4. Do you have a favorite Psalm that is “honest and gritty”? How has this Psalm helped you be more real with God?
5. What does Jan mean by “being”, not “doing”? (pg. 9) Describe what this means in your own life.
6. What did Jan learn from Brother Lawrence’s life and writings?
7. As you contemplate these thoughts, what is your desire?