Stand Up and Voice Your Praise

Thank God for all he does for us

1.    Read Jonah 1-2.
2.    When was Jonah praising God—before or after he was spit out of the fish?
3.    What difficulties are you facing this week that you can still find reason to praise God through?  Is this easy or hard? Why?
4.    Pray that we can always find thanks in our hearts, even when we are in tough situations.

Family Activity: Attend the Concert of Worship and Praise at Riverside Community Church on Sunday, Jan. 24.

“When you take control of your physical appetite, you develop strength to take control of your emotional appetite.” Elmer Towns

Scripture Reading
Proverbs 3:9-10
•    What do you think it means to honor the Lord with your wealth and your firstfruits?
•    What is God’s special promise to those who put him first in their giving? (v.10)
•    Have you positioned yourself to receive this promise? (Explain.)

Prayer: Ask God to help you put him first in your finances. Then ask him to fulfill this particular promise in your life.

“When we fast, we are effectively going on a hunger strike against hell to say, ‘Loose those who are bound by deception, lies, alcohol, drugs, pornography, false religion, etc.” Jentezen Franklin

Scripture Reading
Matthew 6:1-4
•    What insights on giving did you glean from this passage?
•    What special needs do you sense God would have you give to?
•    What is God’s promise to those who give in God’s way?

Prayer: Pray for those in your life who have special needs, and ask God if there is anything he would have you to do about the situation. Then, obey what he says!

“Fasting can bring breakthroughs in the spiritual realm that could never be had in any other way. It is a means of God’s grace and blessing that should not be neglected any longer.” Richard Foster

Scripture Reading
Malachi 3:10
•    What does God ask us to bring into his storehouse so his house (work) will prosper?
•    Have you put God to the test in this regard? (Notice he invites you to test him!)
•    What does God promise to do for those who test him in this way?

Prayer: Ask God to fulfill this promise in your life as you obey him in your giving. Speak to him about any obstacles in your heart or fears you may have about tithing.

“If we would pray with power, we should pray with fasting. This, of course, does not mean that we should fast every time we pray; but there are times of emergency or special crisis in our individual lives [when we should fast and pray]. There is a peculiar power in such prayer.” R. A. Torrey

Scripture Reading
2 Corinthians 9:6-11
•    List the insights on generous giving you gleaned from this passage.
•    What does God promise to do in response to our giving (vv.10-11)?
•    Why does God promise to make you rich in every way (v.11)? Do you see that the purpose of his blessing is to enable your generosity?

Prayer: Ask God to make you a generous, cheerful giver and to release these promises in your life.

“Every Christian, I think, should occasionally fast and pray, waiting before God until he/she gets the victory that he/she needs.” John R. Rice

Scripture Reading
Philippians 4:19
•    What is God’s great promise in this verse?
•    Do you ever fail to give generously because you fear God won’t meet your needs?
(Explain.)
•    How do you need God to fulfill this promise in your life right now?

Prayer: Present your needs to the Lord asking him to release this promise over your life. Give God thanks for how he is going to answer.

“There’s nothing magical about fasting. It’s just one way of telling God that your priority at that moment is to be alone with him, sorting out whatever is necessary, and you have cancelled the meal, party, concert, or whatever else you had planned to do in order to fulfill that priority.” J.I. Packer

Scripture Reading
Luke 6:38
•    What promise is made in this verse to those who give?
•    What will happen to that which you give?
•    Does this indicate an increase or decrease in return?

Prayer: Thank God for this tremendous prayer promise, and ask him for the courage to take him at his word in your giving.

“There are multitudes of diseases which have their origin in fullness, and might have their end in fasting.” James Morrison

Scripture Reading
1 Timothy 6:17-19
•    From vv.17-18, write down the 7 commands God gives to those who are wealthy (and assume for the moment that you are).
•    Which of these do you most regularly need to be reminded of?
•    According to v.19, what will happen if you do these things?

Prayer: Thank God for all that he has given you to enjoy and let him know that you’re willing to use it as he directs.

Wise Up and Reassess Your Priorities

What matters most?

1.    Read Matthew 6:19-34.
2.    What does scripture teach us about the things that we spend our money on? Will the things we buy and value so much today have eternal value?
3.    What are some of the promises God gives us that relate to our needs? (see vv.25-30)
4.    Make a list of all of the ways God has provided for your family.
5.    Pray that we will give generously out of grateful hearts.

“Fasting confirms our utter dependence upon God by finding in him a source of sustenance beyond food.” Dallas Willard

Scripture Reading
Matthew 26:36-41
•    According to vv.36-38, what did Jesus do when his soul was sorrowful and troubled?
•    According to vv.39 and 42, how should we pray when God has asked us to endure something that may be difficult to endure?
•     According to v.41, why should we watch and pray?

Prayer: Surrender to the Lord any concerns over which your soul is troubled. Invite God to be glorified in your life regardless of how those concerns turn out.