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: Isaiah 8:1-9:7
+ 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 78:56-64
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 4:28-5:6
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…
Maybe today’s thought isn’t for you.
Maybe you love having a very specific set of rules to follow.
Maybe you have very little trouble following rules and can do it without fail…all the time.
Maybe you possess incredible focus, and you have trained your thoughts to never desire what others have.
Maybe you can easily, always love God with your whole heart, no matter the circumstances.
Maybe you never doubt God’s existence, motives, or his love for you.
If this is you, congratulations! You’re perfect and can stop reading here.

f you are still reading then I have good news for you (us): GRACE!!!

In today’s NT reading, Paul is addressing Gentiles (non-Jews) who are coming to faith in Jesus. The question was being hotly debated as to whether the new male believers should be circumcised and all should follow all the laws and customs of the Jewish people. Paul’s answer must have felt like beautiful relief to them, and can feel the same way for us today. Simply put Paul told them: It is grace that puts you right with God, not following a rule. “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.”

We CAN’T be perfect! We can not constantly and completely know God’s will for us in each moment and then execute that will flawlessly. The good news is we don’t have to. It is enough for us to acknowledge that Jesus did. His obedience, leading to death on a cross, becomes our righteousness when we accept his love freely given (grace). His resurrection broke the power of sin and death, and we no longer need to earn a place with God by perfect rule following. Instead we can strive to follow the rules in gratitude and joy, knowing that they are made to bring life, and a misstep from them won’t lead to death.

Thank you Jesus!!! - Mike Nank

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!