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: Ezra 5:1-6:12
+ 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 33:1-5
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 28:17-30
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…
“Some were persuaded by what he said, but others did not believe.” These are the words of Acts 28:24 describing the reaction by many Roman Jews to Paul’s arguments claiming Jesus was the awaiting Messiah the Jewish people had been waiting for. In one specific room, on one specific day in history, a group of people wrestled with Jesus’ claims to be God and the outcome was mixed. From then till now, billions of people have wrestled with the same truth and the results have been mixed. Some are persuaded. Others don’t believe. As someone who has followed Jesus my entire life, it is hard for me to understand why people wouldn’t embrace the good news of Jesus. No other religion or worldview answers the big questions of life like ‘Who am I?’, ‘Where did I come from?’, and ‘Why am I here?’ in a way that makes as much sense and offers as much hope as Christianity. The strongest argument against belief in Jesus may be: “it sounds too good to be true.” But the reality is something has to be true. Why wouldn’t we choose to believe something good?! Especially when it is not just a good concept we are choosing to put our hope in, but an actual person who proved his claims of deity. Jesus’ death AND resurrection are historical events witnessed by thousands. Add to that the many miraculous signs done in Jesus name. Add to that ALL the stories of life-change throughout history, of people whose lives were dramatically altered when filled with God’s love through his Holy Spirit. With all this in play…why do some still not believe the truth? Let’s go back to that one day in that one room and see what Paul said. He actually quoted the prophet Isaiah who hundreds of years before Paul said: “For the hearts of these people have grown callous, their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears, understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.” Some hearts are calloused. Some eyes and ears are closed. If you are among the many who have been persuaded, trust in God, and feel his presence there are two things for you to do. 1) Thank him and rejoice! 2) Get busy sharing your testimony with the calloused! God used Paul that day with a room full of Roman Jews, and he can use you. God is desperate for their eyes to be open and for them to hear so that he may heal them. - Mike Nank
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!
