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 28
+ 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 72:12-20
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 8:22-9:9
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…
When our family served full-time in missions, we depended entirely on God’s provision. All the stories I had once only read about—those miraculous, last-minute answers to prayer—became our daily reality. We weren’t just reading about God’s faithfulness anymore; we were living it.
In 2nd Corinthians 8:22 - 9:9, Paul reminds the early church about the importance of generous giving, not out of obligation, but as a joyful response to God's grace. This passage isn’t only for missionaries or those in full-time ministry. It’s for all of us who call ourselves children of God. Giving generously and cheerfully is one of the clearest ways we mirror Christ’s love and reflect our trust in His provision. If we truly believe that everything we have comes from God, and that He is good and sovereign, then our response should naturally be one of open-handed generosity. We give not just to meet needs, but to testify to the grace we’ve received.
As we let this passage from 2nd Corinthians settle in our hearts today, let’s ask ourselves a few simple but powerful questions:
· What do I have that I can be generous with?
· Is there something I have in excess—time, encouragement, resources, even a listening ear—that someone else might need?
· Who might God be putting on my heart today?
· What is He inviting me to give, and where or when might He want me to do it?
Take a moment to ask God specifically: “Lord, how can I reflect Your generosity today?” And then, when He answers, choose to obey. It might be small. It might feel inconvenient. But it could be the beginning of someone else’s answered prayer. We get to be part of God’s bigger story—not only as recipients of His grace and provision but also as messengers of it. Just like we’ve experienced His timely generosity, we now get to create stories of faithfulness and provision for others. Let’s live lives that others can point to and say, “That was God’s kindness at just the right time.” - Angie Armstrong
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!
