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: Song of Sol 1:1-2:7
+ 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 77:1-9
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 Galatians 1:1-12
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…
Sometimes we feel like God is distant - silent even. Psalm 77 opens with a raw cry: “Has His steadfast love forever ceased?” (v.8). That kind of honesty is something we don’t always feel permission to voice, but it’s a holy ache many of us carry. Meanwhile, Paul writes to the Galatians with urgency: Don’t trade the real Gospel for a counterfeit. It’s easy to do that when we feel abandoned or unseen. We chase affirmation from people, or we start believing that God’s love is conditional - based on our performance, our feelings, or our ability to “get it right.” But Paul’s message is clear: the true Gospel isn’t about what we do. It’s about what Jesus has already done.
Then there’s the Song of Solomon. It might seem like it doesn’t fit, but zoom out and you’ll see a deeper thread: longing. A passionate, pursuit-filled love that mirrors how God longs for us. Even when we doubt Him, even when we feel like He’s gone silent, He’s still near - still pursuing. Here’s one way to act on that today: when you feel the weight of distance or discouragement, don’t fake it. Tell God the truth. Pray Psalm 77 word for word if you need to. (Sometimes that helps when you feel like you don’t have the words to pray.) And then remind your soul of what’s true: You are loved. You are chosen. You are pursued. Not by a distant deity, but by a God who came close - so close He gave everything to call you His. - 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!
