Good Morning!
Let’s focus our day by spending some time with Jesus before it begins.
Pick a song from one of our Spotify Playlists & let it play in the background.
FOCUS. Breathe in & out slowly. Pray, Jesus, you gave yourself for me. I give myself to you.
THANK. Write down or say out loud 3-5 things you’re thankful for from the last 24 hours.
WORSHIP. Read Ezekiel 34:4-5. Focus on one truth about who God is & thank Him for it.
PRAY. Pray the Lord’s Prayer, a Ripple Prayer, or find more at paradoxchurch.com/pray.
READ. Today’s reading is from Mark 6
ASK. After reading, ask the following SOS Questions & journal your thoughts.
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?
THINK. A Thought from Pastor Dave
There are two phrases in today’s reading that haunt me. Mark 6:5 says that Jesus was “not able to do a miracle there…” and verse 6 says that he was “amazed at their unbelief.” (Of all the things I would love to amaze God with, my unbelief isn’t one of them.) Both of these reveal the same, sobering truth: our expectation can increase or limit our experience of God. In order to increase his disciples’ experience of God’s power, first Jesus removed their limits to increase their expectations (v7-13). Are there any ways you’ve limited what God can do? Are you remaining in the familiar or relying on your own strength? Remove your limits and raise your expectations to experience God’s power. Later, the disciples lack of experience of God’s goodness limited their expectation of what God could do. (v37-38). Do you feel like you have nothing left to give? No energy or faith? Jesus invites you to give Him whatever you have - to experience His goodness - before others will. Jesus is saying, “when you can’t give anything to THEM, give what you have to ME. I will give you what others need by giving it to you first.” Finally, limited expectations can also keep us from experiencing the power of God (v49-50). As verses 54-56 show us, our expectation has a lot to do with our experience of God. So, how might God be inviting you to experience Him today? By removing your limits? Receiving from Him? Or raising your expectations? May you live expectantly, recognize Jesus’ presence, and experience His power today.
TALK. That was our take - what’s yours? Share thoughts & ask questions in the forum.
SHARE. Stay focused with a friend! Invite them to text “FOCUS” to (586) 200-6277.

Stay focused on Jesus today, and make it a great one!