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.

GET FOCUSED | Worship can be as simple as thanking God for who He is & what He does. (Psalm 100:4)
Spend a few moments in silence, meditating on scripture, or writing/saying 3-5 things you’re thankful for.
Play or sing some worship music you love, or use a playlist from Paradox on Spotify.

MORNING PRAYER FOCUS | Prayer is a conversation that involves both talking and listening to God.
Choose one of the Names of God using this guide. Take time to Thank God for the ways you’ve seen Him be/do that in the past, Worship Him for it today, and Intercede (pray for) that truth for yourself and others.

SCRIPTURE FOCUS | Today’s reading is from Acts 10; Isaiah 52:7–10; Galatians 4:4–5
Pray a simple prayer before reading, asking the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth. (John 14:26)
Highlight verses that capture your attention, and ask three simple questions as you read…
S = Say. What is the main point? What does it teach about God (Jesus) & yourself?
O = Obey. What can you apply (practice) from this passage today?
S = Share. Who can you share what you’re learning with today?

A THOUGHT FROM TODAY’S READING…
Have you ever looked at someone and thought to yourself, “They don’t belong here”? To be completely honest, I have in the past. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit has taught me a completely different truth. Let’s take a look at the story of Peter and Cornelius in the book of Acts chapter 10. Cornelius was a Roman Centurion, but he was a devout man. A man whose whole household feared and worshiped God and along with Him. Cornelius was generous with offering alms for the poor and doing good. But being a gentile and uncircumcised, he was not accepted by the Jews or (at least as he feared) worthy of salvation. He needed to hear the gospel - and God chose Peter to be the one to share the Good News with this gentile! Peter, who was a Jew, knew all about God and, up until this moment, believed only Jews were entitled to hear the Good News and to be saved by the grace of Jesus and filled with the Holy Spirit. Well, God had other plans! While Cornelius was praying, the Lord sent an angel who told him that the Lord had heard his prayers, and to send some men to the town of Joppa to bring Peter back to his house. While Cornelius’s servants were on their way to Peter’s house the next day, Peter was praying and had a vision from the Lord. In this vision, Peter saw a huge sheet that had all kinds of animals, reptiles and birds in it. Peter heard a voice telling him to get up, kill, and eat. But Peter resisted this message. Instead of telling the Lord okay, he refused to do so because he never had, nor was he going to eat anything unclean. The voice told him that what God has made clean is not to be called unclean. Apparently Peter was not about to comply - this happened three times before the whole thing was taken up to heaven.
Peter was very perplexed by this vision, next Peter hears the Spirit tell him that “Behold, three men are looking for you, Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.” (Acts 10:19-20) This time Peter obeys the Spirit and gets some others to join him. The entourage then left for Cornelius’ house. While Cornelius was waiting, he gathered together some of his relatives and close friends. When Cornelius first sees Peter, he bowed down at Peter’s feet in worship. In Verse 26, Peter lifts Cornelius up and says, “Stand up; I too am a man.” Next Peter shared with all those who gathered what God had shown him in the vision. Peter has a change of heart when he says, “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears Him and does what is right is acceptable to Him.” (Acts 10:34-35) This is the first time a group of gentiles hear the good news of receiving forgiveness through faith in Jesus the Christ. Peter and his friends are amazed as they watch God pouring out the Holy Spirit on the new gentile believers, the exact same way it was poured out on them on the Day of Pentecost. These new believers are commanded to be baptized in water in the name of Jesus Christ. As in Isaiah 52:7-10 this forgiveness is not just for the people of Israel and Judah, but also for all the people of the Earth. For all of us that believe and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, the Son of God sent, so that we may be redeemed and able to spend eternity with our Heavenly Father. From today on, look at every human being you encounter as a child of God with whom the Good News of salvation and redemption should be shared. - Dawn Custer

EVENING PRAYER FOCUS | Re-Focus on Jesus by praying a Daily Examen each evening.
Replay = Replay your day. What made you happy or joyful? What made you 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 = Commit to walk with Jesus tomorrow. Ask for grace to see His presence more clearly.
*For help or an audio prayer version, use the Lectio 365 app.

SHARE THE FOCUS |
1. Text someone a prayer/encouragement, or share a thought/question with us in the Forum.
2. Invite someone to read the Focus with you. Text “FOCUS” to (586) 200-6277.

That’s all for today.
Stay focused on Jesus, and make it a great one!