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 4,5
+ 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 39:1-6
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 9:8-21
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…
Today’s reading in Esther is such an example to me of God using us exactly where he has us. Esther becoming queen allowed God to use her to help save the Jewish people. God used Mordecai to encourage her to talk to the king about it. She was afraid to take that step and didn’t know how that would go (if anyone, even the Queen, asked to speak to the King when they weren’t summoned, he could have them put to death.) God is very present in the book of Esther, despite the fact that he isn’t mentioned. I can picture her asking God for guidance and help, and him showing her what to do step by step and giving her what she needed in order to do it. Even the way she asked the king to have a banquet with her twice before discussing it with him. She likely asked God for wisdom and he gave her each step to take at just the right time. Her patience in taking each step as God showed it to her, though she was uncertain and likely afraid, is what paved the way for the Jewish people to have freedom. When Esther became queen, she had no idea that God would use her in this way. This is just like all of us. When God puts us in the places he has us, we have no idea what he is doing and how he might involve us. If we pay attention to wisdom from the godly people he puts in our lives and take the steps that he shows us, we get to be a part of what he is doing. When we feel afraid or lost, or when we don’t know what step to take, we can cry out to him (similar to today’s Psalm). God sees us, knows us and wants us to know him more, and he is faithful to guide us when we seek him. - Gwyn 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!
