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 42
+ 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 59:1-9
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 1 Corinthians 11:17-30
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…
We are all probably familiar by now with the book of Job and all of the tragedy and trials Job went through, as well as how his friends responded to him and what was happening in his life. There are two things that God revealed to me as I was reading. First, no matter what has happened in our life, how we may have missed what God was doing, or even how we got it right - God is interested in the posture of our heart in and through the circumstances we are experiencing. In fact, even when we mess up and miss what God was saying or doing, He honors our humility and repentance. We can simply come back to the One who loves us the most and admit that we don’t know it all and that we recognize that His ways are higher than ours and better than ours. And in His kindness, mercy, and grace, we get to try again over and over and over. God honored Job for his humble heart and how, no matter what, Job did not let his environment or others sway his view of the Father in the end. He still held God in the highest place in his heart. Second, God continues to give opportunity after opportunity to return to Him when we’ve gotten it wrong like Job’s friends. He had anger against them, yet He invited them to repent and return. God gave them a second chance at honoring Him in their life - the same way He has called us to. (That means it’s not too late for you and I either!) If you have found yourself pondering thoughts or believing thoughts about God that are not true, repent! God is loving and merciful and so gracious. He’s inviting you back to Him so he can make your path straight again. Don’t let today go by without allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal where you need to repent and return to the Holy One. - Cecelia Thapa
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!
