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: Proverbs 2:9-3:20
+ 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 60
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 12:12-26
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…
It's unquestionable that we live in a day and time where it is becoming increasingly more difficult not to compare ourselves to one another. Social media allows us to see other people's lives on display, and usually it’s the best parts that they show. But this is not just a social media issue, it's actually an issue that takes place in the body of Christ in the church. There are many people that have different gifts, different abilities, different talents… and if your focus isn't truly on Jesus, you too may end up in a place where you view your gifts and talents as useless in comparison to everyone else's. This is what makes 1st Corinthians 12 such a special chapter. How can the foot say to the hand that because it is not a hand it is not a part of the body? Or even worse - how can the ear feel that it is worthless because it is not an eye. Paul says in verse 17, if the whole body were an eye, what part would do the hearing? If the whole were an ear, what part would exercise the sense of smell? But as a matter of fact, God has placed each of the members in the body just as he has decided. It may not make sense to us why God has chosen us in the ways that He has chosen us. But we can take comfort in knowing that God has placed us where we are meant to be. That our gifts and talents, our very diverse nature, could be used and maximized to its fullest potential by trusting and submitting ourselves unto God for the good of the body of Christ. Comparison is the enemy of unity, and Paul is calling on the church to be unified. That we wouldn't think less of ourselves or greater of ourselves, but to care for one another. Since we all are a part of this body, we should live the way Paul describes in verse 26: If one member suffers, everyone suffers with it. If a member is honored, all rejoice with it. I believe comparison and pride are relatives and this continual focus on ourselves, on the way we look, on what we have, etc can become a slippery slope of narcissism that leads us away from God's intent. But instead, let us take the attention off of ourselves and place our energy and and our focus on the cares of others in our church, to look at the bigger picture, to truly see ourselves connected to the body - unified - despite our differences. "Not all for one, but one for all.” I believe it is by doing this that we as a church body will become an unstoppable force that will bless God and bless others. - Jewaun Glenn
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!
