Good Morning!
Let’s focus our day by spending some time with Jesus before it begins.
Play or sing some worship music you love, or use a playlist from Paradox on Spotify.
If you’re new to the Daily Focus, read this first.

WEEKLY 40 FOR 40 FOCUS | Demonstrating Love (Malachi 4:4-6, Psalm 103:17-18)
Over the 40 Days of Lent, add 40 minutes of prayer to your week - either 1x/week or 7 minutes/day.
This week, pray that hearts would be restored to the Father, families would be healed, and generations would be united in love. We’re praying God would allow us to be part of 40+ Baptisms at Paradox in 2024.
Ask, Who am I praying for healing/reconciliation with? Who am I praying would start or restart a relationship with their Father God in 2024?

DAILY PRAYER FOCUS | Use the PRAY acronym each morning. 
P = Pause. As you start your time of prayer, begin by pausing and being still before the Lord.
R = Read. Read the Scripture Focus slowly and focus on words/phrases the Holy Spirit highlights as you read.
A = Ask. Ask God to come and speak to you. Open up your heart to Him as your heavenly Father.
Y = Yield. We want to yield our lives to the words we have prayed and commit to follow Jesus’s way.
Begin your prayer with “Father, I remember your faithfulness to…” and respond with, “Give me faith to…”

SCRIPTURE FOCUS | Today’s reading is from Deuteronomy 4:15-49
Highlight verses that capture your attention, and ask three simple questions as you read…
S = Say. What is the main point? What does it teach about God (Jesus) & yourself?
O = Obey. What can you apply (practice) from this passage today?
S = Share. Who can you share what you’re learning with today?

A THOUGHT FROM TODAY’S READING…
It’s clear in reading this passage that God really takes idolatry seriously. What is idolatry? Simply stated it’s putting something (or someone) above God in your life. I think it’s really easy to read the scriptures, including this passage, and inwardly laugh at the notion of making an idol for ourselves. Let’s take a step back and look at our culture and everyday lives. We too, have done this, but in different ways. Sure, maybe we wouldn’t build a tower or image to worship. But let’s stop and think about the things we value most, the things we get really uncomfortable if we feel like are threatened. Maybe it’s simply comfort. A certain lifestyle. Financial security. Our job. Our homes and possessions. Maybe it’s food, or alcohol, or relationships. Maybe it’s an addiction. Maybe it’s even something that we’d consider a good thing- like our kids or family. Are you squirming yet? Sometimes we have to be reminded that it is so easy to look to other things for comfort and satisfaction before we look to God. If you find yourself here, remember that Holy Spirit speaks through scripture to help us stay with him- because He loves us! That’s why God used Moses in this passage to warn us not to worship other things. Take a minute to reflect and ask Holy Spirit to show you if there is anyone or anything you’re putting above Him. As he shows you, confess and cry out to him for help! Share it with another person who loves you and Jesus. When it’s brought into the light, it loses its power over you! Remember the promise in verse 29- “But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.“ What hope we have in Jesus, even when we’ve put other things ahead of him. It’s never too late to seek Him again. - Gwyn Kubiak

REMEMBERING PRACTICE | (Optional) Practice remembering with a Daily Examen each evening.
The Examen prayer was made popular by Ignatius of Loyola (1491 – 1556). It has helped Christians for centuries to re-center themselves on Jesus as they come to the end of long days. We are using a variation creat-ed by Pete Greig from his book, How to Pray, to help us remember Jesus at the close of our days.
Replay = Replay your day. What made you happy or joyful? What made you 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.
Reboot = Commit to walk with Jesus tomorrow. Ask for grace to see His presence more clearly.
*For help or an audio prayer version, use the Lectio 365 app.

SHARE THE FOCUS | 1-5 Minutes
1. Text someone a prayer/encouragement, or share a thought/question with us in the Forum.
2. Invite someone to read the Focus with you. Text “FOCUS” to (586) 200-6277.

That’s all for today.
Stay focused on Jesus, and make it a great one!