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 24
+ 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 17:1-7
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 16:4-15
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…
Today’s reading was music to my organizational-loving ears. (Actually, there’s more music in tomorrow’s Focus!) My wife calls me a “wordsmith.” I love when there are layers of intentionality and beauty in art - when I can tell that the author or artist has paid attention to detail. The work gets so much bigger and more beautiful when I take time to review and consider why each decision was made, why each word was spoken, and why each part was placed where it was. I love intentionality - it’s one of our family values. From the beginning, God has created and brought life through ordering chaos. As I read these passages, this theme of God’s intentionality and guidance jumped off these seemingly mundane pages. In 1 Chronicles 24, we see the careful organization of the priests into divisions for their specific duties, showing that God values order and purpose in how His people serve. Psalm 17 is David’s heartfelt prayer for God’s protection and guidance, trusting in His steadfast love and righteous path. Then, in Acts 16, Paul and his companions are guided by the Holy Spirit in their missionary journey, even redirecting their plans to bring the gospel to Macedonia, where they meet Lydia—a woman whose heart God had already prepared to receive His message.
These passages remind me that God’s plans are never random. Whether it’s in the roles we fill, the prayers we lift, or the paths we walk, He is always at work, leading us to where we need to be. Like Lydia, God is preparing our hearts—and the hearts of others—for encounters with Him. Are we listening for His guidance and trusting His timing? Today, let’s ask God to direct our steps, knowing that He has a purpose for each of us as we trust in Him, lean not on our own understanding, and acknowledge His ways in all of ours. He’ll make your path straight. (Proverbs 3) - 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!
