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: Nehemiah 9:1-10:27
+ 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 37:7-15
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 Romans 5:12-6:4
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…
I don’t know about you, but patience is not always my strong suit. A while back, when Gwyn and I attended our first World Mandate Conference in Texas, we received prayer from someone who shared that, while we were running the same race, I was often running ahead of Gwyn. That’s been true throughout our marriage and, if I’m honest, can even be true of my relationship with God. I often run ahead. Waiting on God’s timing, trusting His plan—it’s easy to say but hard to live out. Nehemiah 9 reminds us how God has been faithful throughout history, even when His people have fallen short. The Israelites took time to confess their sins (yeah, even the right thing at the wrong time can be that) and remember how God had delivered them again and again. For me, running ahead can be a trust issue. It can come from a place of believing, “If I don’t, it won’t.” Psalm 37 reminds me again to "be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him.”
It’s funny - sometimes my drive to be free, go fast and get far can actually enslave me, slow things down, and hold me back. When we surrender our impatience and trust in God’s faithfulness, we experience the freedom Paul talks about in Romans 6—we are no longer slaves to sin, but alive in Christ! Just like Nehemiah and the Israelites committed themselves again to walk with God, we are invited to do the same. Today, let’s choose to trust Him, wait on His perfect timing, and walk (usually not run) with Him into new life. - 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!
