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: Ecclesiastes 6:1-7:14
+ 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 74:18-23
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 12:1-13
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…
Have you ever looked at someone’s life and all of the possessions they have? You look at their big house and fancy cars, thinking “Boy, they have it all!” You imagine that they must be really happy; that all those things will bring them great joy. You think to yourself what great blessings they have been granted. Then you look at what you have in comparison: your little house, your old car, your thrift store shirt, and feel less than satisfied with your life. You feel that somehow it’s not fair that you work just as hard but have so little. Or you look around and say to yourself, “Why do I have so much stuff? What am I going to do with all of this stuff?” All these possessions eventually come to possess us. I have found that these “things” are not what has given me joy, or peace, but quite the opposite - they have caused me stress. Yes, in the moment, they made me happy… but it was not lasting. Joy comes from the real blessings that the Lord grants.
In Ecclesiastes, King Solomon describes man’s vain attempt at controlling his future and all his possessions. Solomon states, “All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied.” (Ecclesiastes 6:7) He is telling us that we work hard to get a lot of stuff, but we are never satisfied with what we have. We always want more. For you see, things of this world are not the things that will truly satisfy us. Finding joy does not come from an increase in possessions. It is a gift granted to us by the Lord. So you may ask, “How do we get God’s blessing of joy?” Well, start by simply being thankful for all that we have, for He has provided all we have. Remember that, even in tough times, the Lord is in control and has a plan for us. Stay faithful and grateful.
Solomon tells us, “In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider; God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.” (Ecclesiastes 7:14) Life is full of unexpected ups and downs. And yet, God is in control. Even in the hardest times, He is still a loving God, and we can be grateful. - Dawn Marie Custer
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!
