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 31
+ 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 73:21-28
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 11:1-11
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’ve scrolled through social media, seen someone else's wins, and felt that quiet ache of envy. “Why do they have it so easy while I’m struggling just to keep going?” That’s the tension Psalm 73 names so honestly. The writer admits, “I envied the arrogant… they have no struggles… always free of burdens…” (vv. 3–5). It’s the age-old trap of comparison—believing that comfort equals favor and struggle equals failure. But then in verse 17, everything shifts: “until I entered the sanctuary of God.” Being near to God didn’t erase the struggle—it reframed it. He realized that chasing what looks good on the outside can leave you empty on the inside.
Paul echoes this in 2 Corinthians 11. Instead of bragging about blessings, he lays out a résumé of suffering—beatings, shipwrecks, hunger, sleepless nights—not as a pity party, but as proof of his faithfulness. His life shows us that following Jesus isn’t about escaping hardship; it’s about embracing purpose. And Psalm 73 gives us the response: “Whom have I in heaven but you? Earth has nothing I desire besides you” (v. 25). Feeling worn down or left out today? Get alone with God. Write down the “but I have God” moments in your life—the ones that remind you you’re held, seen, and sustained. Let that perspective reset your soul. Jesus is better. Always. Once you remember that, you’ll be able to trade performance for presence. Instead of curating your life for approval, show up for someone who needs real love—not filters, not hype, just the kind of grace that quietly stays. The world may look for shooting stars, but God’s loving, faithful presence is more like the moon... it may not be as spectacular or celebrated, but it’s the brightest of them all. Reflect His love today.- Dave Kubiak
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!
