BUILDING A HOUSE FOR HIS PRESENCE

Purpose:

Over the next 10 days, we will focus on aligning our lives and community around God’s presence. This guide is designed to provoke deep reflection and encourage transformation in individuals, marriages, families, and youth as we build a life of devotion to God.

Fasting is one of the ways we tangibly express that devotion. In Matthew 6, Jesus said, “When you fast,” not “if you fast.” His words reflect a clear expectation for all believers to incorporate fasting as a regular rhythm of seeking God. Through fasting, we create space to expose and reveal what we are building our lives around, particularly in the tangible areas of time, resources, and relationships.

While it is easy to love God with our emotions and thoughts, devotion is revealed through our actions and how we steward key aspects of our lives. Let this time of fasting challenge and inspire you to build a life fully centered on Him.

How to Participate:

  1. Through Fasting

    1. Food Fast: Water only fast, Daylight to Dark Fast, Daniel Fast

    2. Encouraged to eliminate social media and/or other forms of media during fast

  2. Through Mini-devotionals, Questions and Reflections

    1. This guide will lead you through reflection on three key areas: your Time, your Resources, and your Relationships. These areas are practical ways to assess whether God’s presence and will is truly the central priority in your life.

    2. Choose and answer the questions that apply to your demographic (individual, married, family, or youth).

    3. Each set of questions and devotionals is intended for deep reflection, prayer, and discussion over a three-day period, helping you to align your actions with your devotion to God

  3. Through Events

    1. Corporate Prayer Night: 1/14 @ 7

    2. Corporate Prayer/Celebration Night 1/21 @ 7pm

Days 4-6

1/15/25 - 1/17/25

RESOURCES

Mini-Devotional: Honoring the Lord with my resources

God spoke on our relationship with money and material possessions more than anything else other than the Kingdom of God. Like or hate it, the way we handle our resources reveals the state of our hearts. Are we storing up treasures on earth, or are we investing in God’s kingdom? True generosity flows from a heart that is fully surrendered to and trusting in God’s will.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. - Matthew 6:21

  1. If I did not have a way to explain myself and you could only look at how I spend my money, where would others say my heart is?

  2. Does it reveal where I want my heart to be?

Self Reflection Questions

Choose and answer the questions relevant to your demographic (individual, married, family, or youth)

    1. How does my use of money reflect my trust in God? Do I see my wealth as His, or do I treat it as something I control?

    2. Am I hoarding resources out of fear or scarcity, rather than trusting in God’s abundance and provision? Where can I be more generous, even when it feels uncomfortable or risky?

    3. If I were to give a percentage of my wealth that truly cost me something, what would that look like? How would my heart change if I gave without expecting anything in return?

    Potential Actions to Commit to:

    • Commit to regularly tithing from my income as an act of trust in and honor for God.

    • Identify one area where I can give sacrificially, such as supporting a ministry or helping someone in need.

    • Identify a fear-driven area where you’re hoarding resources (time, money, possessions) and take a bold step to give it away.

    • Pray before making significant purchases, asking God to guide my financial decisions.

    • Set aside a “generosity fund” to respond to needs as God leads.

    • Begin a radical generosity habit by giving without any expectation of return, even in small, spontaneous ways like paying for someone’s lunch or covering a bill.

    1. How can my spouse and I work together to honor God with our financial resources?

    2. Are we generous with our time and money, or do we hold on tightly to what we have?

    3. How can we increase our generosity as a couple in a way that reflects God’s kingdom?

    Potential Actions to Commit to:

    • Create a shared budget that prioritizes tithing as a first expense.

    • Pray as a couple about how God wants you to use your resources for His glory.

    • Set a radical generosity goal as a couple: commit to giving away a set percentage of your income for the next year and pray together about where it should go.

    • Sponsor a missionary, ministry, or local charity together.

    • Set generosity goals, such as increasing your giving percentage yearly or helping meet a specific need.

    1. How can we teach our children the importance of honoring God with our resources?

    2. Are we modeling generosity and stewardship in a way that our children will see as valuable?

    3. How can we as a family increase our giving to the work of God’s kingdom?

    Potential Actions to Commit to:

    • Include your children in discussions about giving, teaching them to tithe from their allowance or earnings.

    • Plan a family giving project, such as assembling care packages for those in need.

    • Model generosity by letting your children see you giving cheerfully and intentionally.

    • Choose a cause or missionary to support as a family and pray for them regularly.

    1. How do I spend my money, and does it reflect my values and relationship with God?

    2. Are there areas in my life where I need to be more generous to others, especially those in need

    3. How can I build a habit of generosity, even with the small things I have?

    Potential Actions to Commit to:

    • Commit to tithing or giving a portion of any income, even if it’s small.

    • Look for opportunities to bless others with simple acts of generosity, like sharing a meal or giving to a friend in need.

    • Save a portion of your money for a cause or organization that aligns with your faith.

    • Practice gratitude daily by listing ways God has provided for you and how you can use those blessings to help others.