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: Esther 2:19-3:15
+ 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 38:17-22
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 Romans 8:34-9:7
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…
There is a certain story arch that most every movie follows. The scene is set. Characters are introduced and we become emotionally attached to them. Trouble comes, usually at least partly due to the characters’ poor choices. Things get really bad and the characters’ world is falling apart. Then some bold act happens, salvation comes, and they are redeemed. Something about this arch really captures our attention and draws us in.
I don’t know about you, but I found myself riveted as I was reading today’s OT scripture. Assassination plots foiled. A queen with a secret identity. A terrifying cliffhanger with the Jewish people on the brink of extermination. Those are high stakes worthy of an epic story. We LOVE these stories.
Why? Because they are our story!
We often feel like David as he wrote in today’s Psalm: “my pain is constant”, “I am anxious because of my sin”, “my enemies are vigorous and powerful”. And yet we do not have to feel this way. The ending of our story has already been written due to the bold act of Jesus. In Romans today we read: “Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.” We have been saved from death and redeemed by his sacrifice. We are now right with God and NOTHING can separate us from him.
Unlike the character in an epic tale who does not know the conclusion, we do, and that can actually change our “script”. We can act out of ridiculous confidence in the face of our trials since we know how the story ends. And the coolest part, we can be part of other people’s redemption story by introducing them to Jesus. We can be agents/ambassadors for the greatest hero in history! - 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!
