Good Morning!
Let’s focus our day by spending some time with Jesus before it begins.
If you’re new to the Daily Focus, read this first, & use as much or little as you’d like.
GET FOCUSED | Start by simply thanking God for who He is & what He’s done.
+ Practice gratitude while singing/playing some worship music from Paradox on Spotify.
+ Spend a few moments meditating on today’s Old Testament Scripture: 1 Chronicles 12
+ From your reading, finish the sentence “God, you are ___.”
Take time to thank & worship God for the ways you’ve seen Him be/do that in your life.
MORNING PRAYER FOCUS | Prayer involves both talking and listening to God.
+ Pray the Lord’s Prayer, or slow down to pray it using this Lord’s Prayer guide.
+ Use “Lectio Divina” to listen to God in this morning’s Psalm: Psalm 9:11-20
Reading 1 = Focus. What is one word or phrase that Holy Spirit puts on your heart?
Reading 2 = Feelings. Focus on that word or phrase while you read. What do you feel? What specific situation in your life today relates? Reflect and talk with God about it.
Reading 3 = Invitation. What is God’s personal invitation to you from the Scripture?
Take time to journal anything you feel the Lord might be saying to you.
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE FOCUS | Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth.
Today’s New Testament reading is from Acts 12:20-13:7
Highlight verses that capture your attention, and ask three simple questions as you read…
Observe. Pay attention to what the text says. Ask who, what, when, where, & why.
Interpret. What’s the main point or meaning? What does it teach about God? Yourself?
Apply. Apply this truth to your own life. What can you put into practice today?
A THOUGHT FROM TODAY’S READING…
It happens every year around this time… I look back at all my plans from the past year and the reality of everything I want to accomplish not only in the next year, but the next week or even the next day. I spend so much of my life feeling pulled in a million directions - and this year in particular has me thinking how so much of my energy gets spent on things that don’t really matter in the long run. Ever feel like that? Like you’re fighting battles that won’t leave a mark? I always resonate with David, and his story in 1 Chronicles 12 grabbed my attention today. People from every tribe showed up, aligning themselves with him because they believed in something bigger than themselves—God’s kingdom. It wasn’t about David. They weren’t even chasing their own agendas; they wanted to be part of what God was doing.
Contrast that with another king in Acts 12. Herod is building his own kingdom, seeking his own glory, and holding on tightly to power and control. It doesn’t end well for him (it never does when we do either.) I love how the way of Jesus - the way of the kingdom - isn’t the way of the world. We’re invited to pledge our allegiance to God’s kingdom and seek it first - just like the early church. As they trusted Jesus and prayed boldly, they watched God work in miraculous ways. Here’s my takeaway: where we place our allegiance matters. Meditate on Psalm 9 today - especially if you’re feeling pulled in a million directions. God is the one who’s trustworthy. When we align our hearts with Him, we’re stepping into something bigger and more meaningful than anything in this world. So today, instead of chasing what won’t last, let’s look to Him for help and align ourselves with His plans. That’s where real impact and peace are found. - Dave Kubiak
EVENING PRAYER FOCUS | Re-Focus on Jesus by returning to prayer each evening.
Replay = Replay your day. What made you happy, joyful, anxious, or burdened?
Rejoice = Give thanks to God for the small and the significant things from the day.
Repent = Ask God for forgiveness where you need. Receive His forgiveness afresh.
Refocus = Ask to see God’s presence more clearly & walk w/ Him more closely tomorrow.
+ Practice hearing from God by asking questions like, “Father, what do you want me to know about you?” or “Father, what do you want to say about your love for me?” Simply be still and listen, or journal anything that comes to mind. Learn more about hearing from God using the Tending Your Heart guide.
SHARE THE FOCUS |
+ Pray a Ripple Prayer or use Nations Prayer to pray for the nations & those serving them.
+ Text someone an encouragement, or share a thought/question with us in the Forum.
+ Invite someone to read the Focus with you. Text “FOCUS” to (586) 200-6277.
+ Who can you share what you’re learning with today personally?
That’s all for today.
Stay focused on Jesus, and make it a great one!
