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 16
+ 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 68:7-18
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 2 Corinthians 1:1-11
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…
I remember so many times as a kid questioning the decisions my parents made. Especially when I started driver's training, I would ask my mom why she took certain routes instead of others. Like most teenagers, I thought she was wrong or just wasting time. What I didn’t realize then was that she had years of experience guiding her decisions — while I had only a small amount of knowledge.
Now that I’m a mom of teenagers, I’m experiencing the other side of that dynamic. My boys often question why I enforce certain rules or hold different expectations for them. Our answer is always the same: we are trying to guide you into becoming the strong, godly men that God designed you to be. Their focus is often on immediate gratification, but ours is on their long-term growth.
Proverbs 16 says: “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” Just as my kids sometimes have plans that don’t align with my hopes for them, I too have plans that don’t always align with God’s hope for me. I might think my plans are good — even great — but God has infinitely more wisdom, and His plans are far better than mine. Verses 2–3 go on to say: “All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord. Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”
My challenge for us today is to seek the Lord and His wisdom before trusting in our own understanding. I had a friend who once told me he asked God for guidance in everything — even which pants to wear in the morning. At the time, I thought that was a bit much. But now, I admire that level of trust. I want to have the kind of faith that says, “I won’t move unless God tells me to.” - Liz Holland

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!