2 Corinthians 1:7 says

Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

-Starve unwholesome talk

-Say what God says

Ephesians 4:29-30 (NIV)

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Romans 8:31-39 (NLT)

What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? 32 Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? 33 Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. 34 Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.

35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?

37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. 38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

PRAYER EMPHASIS: FAMILIES AND MARRIAGES

“It takes wisdom to have a good family, and it takes understanding to make it strong.” — Proverbs 24:3 (NCV)

Pray for lost family members to believe in Jesus Christ for salvation. Ask God to give you the fruits of the Spirit with your family. Pray for orphans and widows and those who are without a family.

2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1 (NIV)

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” 17 Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” 18 And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” 

7:1 Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

-Starve Distractions

-Think What God Thinks

Isaiah 26:3

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.

Colossians 3:15 (NIV)

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts…

PRAYER EMPHASIS: MY NEEDS

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” — 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)

Pray over your finances, health, family members and personal needs.

For more prayer resources and fasting ideas, visit RockBrook.org/Prayer

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 (NIV)

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. 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.

-Whatever I starve dies

-Whatever I feed thrives

Psalm 13:2 (NIV)

How long must I wrestle with my thoughts

and day after day have sorrow in my heart?

How long will my enemy triumph over me?

-Starve doubt

-Trust what God says

Proverbs 3:5 (NIV)

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.

PRAYER EMPHASIS: THE NEW YEAR

“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” Proverbs 16:3 (NIV)

Pray for a fresh desire in following Jesus and committing everything to Him. Reflect on the message “Living a Clockwise Life” and consider where your focus needs to be this year.

For more prayer resources and fasting ideas, visit rockbrook.org/prayer

The Benefits of Being Stuck | Week 1: Losing Control // Ryland Walter // We often feel stuck in our own lives. Stuck in our jobs, stressed by our schedule, trapped in situations that are beyond our control. But, what if there are some hidden benefits of being stuck?

Learn More at RockBrook.org or download our Rock Brook Church App in your app store.

For more prayer resources and fasting ideas, visit RockBrook.org/Prayer

Matthew 17:14-21 (NIV)

When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. "Lord, have mercy on my son," he said. "He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.”

"O unbelieving and perverse generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me." Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment.

Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, "Why couldn't we drive it out?" He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.

-Unbelieving: Not connected to God

-Perverse: Too connected to the world

-Prayer connects us to God

-Fasting disconnects us from the world

PRAYER EMPHASIS: LAST YEAR

“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 3:13-14 (NIV)

You can’t make the new year new if you don’t leave anything in the old year. Pray about what you need to put off and what you need to put on. (Ephesians 4:22-24) Ask God to make it clear what thoughts, words and actions need to stay in last year.

Stand Alone | Living a Clockwise Life // Ryland Walter // Just as the hands on a clock move in a specific direction, your life is never directionless. Based on the choices you make, you’re either living a clockwise life — moving toward God’s wisdom — or a counterclockwise life — refusing God’s wisdom. This weekend we’ll walk through the Bible’s instructions on intentionally moving in the right direction.

Get Connected at RockBrook.org or download the Rock Brook Church App.

Stand Alone | Next Time Will Be Different // Ryland Walter // The first time Jesus came to Earth, He was born in a manger, tucked away in the small village of Bethlehem. A single star shined in the night sky to guide the wisemen to the new Messiah. This weekend, we'll talk about how it will be when Jesus comes back and how the entire world will hear and be amazed!

Get Connected at RockBrook.org or download the Rock Brook Church App.

Stand Alone | The Weary World Rejoices // Ryland Walter // This month, in the midst of everything that is happening, the whole world will pause to focus on one event — Christmas. Everything will become secondary for the sake of this holiday. What is so special about Christmas? How is it that an event that happened 2,000 years ago still carries such weight? Join us this weekend to look at the greatest explanation in the Bible of who Jesus Christ is and what He came to do.

Get Connected at RockBrook.org or download the Rock Brook Church App

Philippians | Part 4: Joy For Life // Kelly Walter // God knew that our lives would be filled with opportunities to live in anxiety. Anxiousness is the result of the pull in our lives between hope and fear. How can we make decisions in order to experience joy for life?

Get Connected at RockBrook.org or download the Rock Brook Church App.

Philippians | Part 3: Joy’s Focus // Kelly Walter // We may find it easy to acknowledge that happiness is fleeting, but it can be just as easy to feel that joy can quickly be stolen from us. How are we to protect the treasure of joy when it seems to get taken before we can even fully embrace it?

Get Connected at RockBrook.org or download the Rock Brook Church App.