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: 2 Chronicles 11:1-12:12
+ 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 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 20:4-16
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…
How do you react when you think your grand plan is ready to go and God tells you it's not going to happen? I struggle with this sometimes - especially when I think I have it all figured out and the plan can’t fail. In 2 Chronicles 11, Rehoboam has assembled 180,000 soldiers to go attack Israel. Just as things are coming together, the prophet Shemaiah brings him a message from God saying, “You shall not go up or fight with your kindred. Let everyone go home.” Rehoboam received his message and sent everyone home.
Can you relate? I can remember the faces of the 20 people sitting in front of me when I told them our plan wasn’t going to happen, that God is telling me we need to set our plans aside and just go home. I can only imagine the reaction from Rehoboam ‘s 180,000 chosen troops. Unlike Rehoboam, I kept trying to ignore God’s message and trying to figure out how we could make our plan better so that God would change his mind and let us go ahead with it. Sometimes in walking the path God has called us to, we are called to NOT do things, which can test our faith to the limit. But if we’re sure it is God’s voice we are hearing and instruction we’re receiving, we have to set our plans aside and do what is right in the eyes of our Lord. What will you do when God calls you to scrap all your plans and just go home and forget it? God Loves You and So Do I - Scott Rose
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!
