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.

GET FOCUSED | Worship can be as simple as thanking God for who He is & what He does. (Psalm 100:4)
Spend a few moments in silence, meditating on scripture, or writing/saying 3-5 things you’re thankful for.
Play or sing some worship music you love, or use a playlist from Paradox on Spotify.

MORNING PRAYER FOCUS | Prayer is a conversation that involves both talking and listening to God.
Pray through a Ripple Prayer or use Nations Prayer to pray for the nations and those serving them.
Submit a Prayer Request or pray with others at the House of Prayer at Paradox every Sunday at 9:00am.

SCRIPTURE FOCUS | Today’s reading is from John 4:1-42
Pray a simple prayer before reading, asking the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth. (John 14:26)
Highlight verses that capture your attention, and ask three simple questions as you read…
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?

A THOUGHT FROM TODAY’S READING…
In this passage we read about Jesus’ conversation with a lone Samaritan woman who had come to get water from a well (known as Jacob’s well) located about a half mile from the city of Sychar in Samaria. This was a highly unusual encounter, as the Samaritans were a race of people that the Jews completely despised. The Jews claimed that the Samaritan’s had no right to worship their God. On top of that the woman was an outcast among her own people. For, you see, it was customary for the women of the town to all go to the well together - this woman was alone. She was scorned because she was openly living with a man who was not her husband. In fact, she had lived with five other men before him.

This encounter teaches us so many valuable lessons about Jesus and His incredible love for us. First we learn that Jesus will go to great lengths to pursue us. He went out of His way to go through Samaria, just to meet this outcast from her own community. He knew that if anyone would appreciate grace, it was her. Second, we learn that Jesus is the only way we can receive eternal life, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:13-14). Next we learn that God values all of us, that Jesus showed compassion and love to those who were considered the enemies of Jews. He desires us to love one another, even our enemies (John 4:7-9). We are also reminded that Jesus is the Messiah, for He tells the woman all about her past and then proceeds to tell her that He is the one who they are waiting for, (John 4:16-18 & 25-26) Finally we learn that our testimony is what brings others to seek out the grace Jesus has to offer, “Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, ‘He told me everything I ever did.’ So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. And because of his words many more became believers. They said to the woman, ‘We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world”, (John 4:39-42).

Remember no matter how unworthy you may feel, we are God’s precious children, through Jesus, confession and repentance we can be forgiven and given the gift of “Living Water”, and eternal life. Oh to spend eternity with Jesus, praising God around the throne! - Dawn Custer

EVENING PRAYER FOCUS | Re-Focus on Jesus by praying a Daily Examen each evening.
Replay = Replay your day. What made you happy or joyful? What made you 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 = Commit to walk with Jesus tomorrow. Ask for grace to see His presence more clearly.
*For help or an audio prayer version, use the Lectio 365 app.

SHARE THE FOCUS |
1. Text someone a prayer/encouragement, or share a thought/question with us in the Forum.
2. Invite someone to read the Focus with you. Text “FOCUS” to (586) 200-6277.

That’s all for today.
Stay focused on Jesus, and make it a great one!