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 25:5-26:15
+ 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 25:8-22
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 21:5-16
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…
Trusting God isn’t just about the big moments - it’s about the everyday decisions that shape our lives. In 2 Chronicles 25 and 26, we see two kings who started well by trusting God but got tripped up when they relied on their own strength instead. Amaziah did what was right, but “not with a whole heart.” Even though King Amaziah initially obeyed God, half-hearted trust and obedience will always lead to unnecessary battles. His son Uzziah followed a similar path: God blessed him with incredible success, but when he became powerful, he forgot where that success came from. He became proud, and it destroyed him. Can you relate? It’s so easy for me to shift from trust and dependence on God to relying on my own strength when things are going well.
That’s where the encouragement of Psalm 25 to stay humble and teachable comes in. (It’s also the inspiration for one of my favorite songs by Third Day, “My Hope is You”). It says, "O my God in you I trust.” Trust and humility go hand in hand. When I humble myself, I admit I have a need. And trust is where you turn to meet it. When we humble ourselves and trust God’s guidance - even when our plans fall apart or we feel surrounded by challenges like Paul in Acts 23, who trusted God's presence despite opposition - we find that we’ll never be “put to shame.” Wherever you find yourself today, remember this: God is good and trustworthy. He makes known His ways, teaches His paths, leads in truth, instructs in the way, and leads the humble. Keep trusting God today - He never fails. - 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!
