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: Job 1,2
+ 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 41
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 11:7-18
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…
Psalm 41 is about as raw and real as it gets — a cry from someone who’s been low. These are the places where things get real - painfully real. The places where faith isn’t just theory and Sunday school answers just won’t do. The writer talks about being sick, betrayed by close friends, and surrounded by enemies who just want to see him fall. Maybe you’ve been there. Maybe you’re there right now. It’s the place Job found himself in today’s reading. One moment, life was good; the next, everything fell apart. His health, his wealth, his family — gone. Even his friends questioned him. What do you do when life blindsides you? When the diagnosis comes, the relationship falls apart, or the betrayal cuts deep? Job shows us something radical: he worshiped. Not because he felt good, but because God is still good. It can be hard to say that when life gets real - but times like these show us that God’s faithfulness is the most real thing in life. We typically think of worship as something we do in the highs of life - being thankful, celebrating God’s goodness, or singing a feel-good Jesus song. But maybe our most powerful worship comes in the low places. And, as Garth would say, knowing you have friends there.
So, how do you worship in the low places? Don’t run from God in the pain — run to Him. Cry out. Be honest. Let His Word anchor you. And reach out to someone who can walk with you through the storm. Pain may be part of the journey, but with God, healing and restoration are always part of the story. He sees you. He’s with you. Even now. - 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!
