Opening Prayer: Almighty God, You know the desires of my heart and you know how I will experience the most joy and peace in my life. Help me to learn to depend on you for all I need and want. Amen.

Read: Philippians 3:1-11

Reflect: What is Paul’s opinion of the good works he had done according to the law? Now that Paul has relationship with Jesus, would he still consider himself faultless according to legalistic righteousness? Is there any sense in which Paul would consider himself faultless? What does it look like to become like Jesus in his death?

Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself.

Hymn: “O Thou in Whose Presence”
O Thou in whose presence my soul takes delight,
On whom in affliction I call,
My Comforter by day and my Song in the night,
My Hope, my Salvation, my all!

Where dost Thou, dear Shepherd, resort with Thy sheep,
To feed them in pastures of love?
Say, why in the valley of death should I weep,
Or alone in this wilderness rove?

O why should I wander, an alien from Thee,
Or cry in the desert for bread?
Thy foes will rejoice when my sorrows they see,
And smile at the tears I have shed.

He looks, and ten thousands of angels rejoice,
And myriads wait for His word.
He speaks, and eternity, filled with His voice,
Re-echoes the praise of the Lord.

Dear Shepherd, I hear and will follow Thy call;
I know the sweet sound of Thy voice.
Restore and defend me, for Thou art my All,
And in Thee I will ever rejoice.

Closing Prayer: “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ….The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you” (1 Thessalonians 5:23, 28)