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 | Developing Leaders (Genesis 12:1-3 & 2 Kings 13)
Over the 40 Days of Lent, add 40 minutes of prayer to your week - either 1x/week or 7 minutes/day.
Pray that we would raise up the next generation to impact the nations and expand God's kingdom. Pray for 40+ "Missional Arrows" from Paradox in 2024 and an additional $40,000 in our budget to fund them.
How have I been blessed to “be a blessing” and build God’s kingdom through serving & giving?

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 26
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…
Sometimes the smallest thing can make a big difference. Like taking one step that changes your perspective, or adding a single word that changes a meaning entirely. Today’s reading was about giving… but what if we added just a single word and made it, “giving back” instead? In Deuteronomy 26, as the Israelites are entering the promised land - this place overflowing with all of God’s goodness, provision, and blessing - God gives the them a friendly reminder: He's the reason they're living the good life in this land. So, in response, they were asked to gather some of the first fruits - literally, the first portion of what they had - and take them to the priest at the special spot God chosen where His presence was felt and work was done. It wasn’t so much “giving” as it was “giving back” - like a big thank-you ceremony. Thank God for what? Giving back was a response to God’s provision, it helped them remember God brought them out of Egypt where they were slaves (now they could freely receive and give!), and it was a way they worshipped God by rejoicing in His many blessings. Giving back was a recognition that God is God and they are not, and that God had given them everything they needed. It was a return of these physical goods to God to do His work for His purposes (feeding others, providing for the poor, supporting the work of the priests, etc). Most of all, it was how the Israelites, God’s treasured possession, re-ascribed value and worth to God. By giving up some of their “treasure,” they showed God He was what they valued the most - their true treasure. Imagine if you took a moment to count all the ways God's been awesome in your life before pitching in at church or hitting the “give” button. Start a little gratitude list – maybe stick it on your dashboard or closet door – and see how it changes your perspective. When we remember all the good things, giving back to God feels like the most natural thing in the world. - Dave 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!