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 1 - 3

1/12/25 - 1/14/25

TIME

Mini-Devotional: Reorganizing what I prioritize

Time is a resource we can never get back. The way we spend it does not lie. It exposes the true priorities of our hearts. Am I investing in what matters to God, or am I wasting it on things that will not last?

“Our greatest fear should not be of failure, but of succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter.” – Francis Chan

So teach us to number our days, that we may get a heart of wisdom. - Psalm 90:12

  • What does this passage say about my use of time?

  • How does society teach me to spend my days?

  • According to this passage would I say I live wisely or foolishly?

  • If I couldn’t explain myself & someone only looked at my calendar, what would they say I value?

Self Reflection Questions

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

    1. What does it mean to live each day with God’s presence at the center?

    2. Is my daily routine a reflection of that priority, or have I been living reactively rather than intentionally?

    3. When I look at how I spend my time, what does it reveal about what I value most? How much of my time is spent on eternal things versus temporary distractions?

    4. What would happen if I consciously created space in my day for prayer and stillness with God?

    5. How might that change the course of my life in the long run?

    Potential Actions to Commit to:

    • Spend 15–30 minutes daily in prayer, Bible reading, or quiet reflection with God.

    • Begin each day by asking “God, how can I live for You today?”

    • Remove one distraction (e.g., social media or TV) weekly to focus on God.

    1. How can my spouse and I intentionally prioritize time for God in our relationship?

    2. In what ways can we strengthen our marriage by intentionally creating space for God’s presence?

    3. Are we making time to pray together, to talk about our spiritual walk, and to support each other’s individual growth?

    Potential Actions to Commit to:

    • Pray together daily, even if it’s a short moment before bed.

    • Schedule a weekly “spiritual check in” to share what God is teaching you & pray for each other.

    • Read a devotional or Scripture together weekly to grow spiritually as a couple.

    1. How can we as a family intentionally make time for God’s presence in our home?

    2. Are we prioritizing family time that fosters spiritual growth, or are we often distracted by other commitments?

    3. How can we make our home a place where God’s presence is acknowledged in our daily activities?

    4. Are we teaching our kids that other interests are more important than attending church?

    5. What would our children say we value most based on how we spend our time?

    Potential Actions to Commit to:

    • Set a family prayer time each evening to pray for one another and thank God for the day.

    • Read a Bible story or devotional together regularly.

    • Establish a weekly family Sabbath.

    • Encourage each family member to share how they saw God working in their day.

    1. How do I spend my time, and what does that say about my priorities?

    2. Are there habits or hobbies I need to reconsider to make more room for God in my life?

    3. How can I be more intentional about spending time with God and living out my faith at school or with friends?

    Potential Actions to Commit to:

    • Start each day with a short prayer, asking God for guidance and courage.

    • Start a bible study to grow spiritually with peers.

    • Spend 10–15 minutes daily reading Scripture or journaling