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.
Use the PRAY acronym to guide your prayer this morning. 
P = Pause. As you start your time of prayer, begin by pausing and being still before the Lord.
R = Read. Read the Scripture Focus slowly and focus on words/phrases the Holy Spirit highlights as you read.
A = Ask. Ask God to come and speak to you. Open up your heart to Him as your heavenly Father.
Y = Yield. We want to yield our lives to the words we have prayed and commit to follow Jesus’s way.

SCRIPTURE FOCUS | Today’s reading is from John 15:18-21 & Romans 8:31-39
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…
Today’s reading is from some of the most powerful and personally meaningful verses in all of Scripture. On Friday, we talked about this promise that in our life and in this world we WILL face difficulty and suffering. (For more on that, just read Romans 8:18-30, which give today’s reading more context.) Every time I read these verses, I’m reminded of both my grandpa and my father-in-law, who clung to THIS promise even in the midst of the most painful one: sickness, suffering, and death. Here’s that powerful promise again: there is nothing, absolutely nothing, that can ever separate you from God’s love. Not what you did. Not what was done to you. Not your current circumstance or consequence. Not even sin and the forces of evil themselves. It’s been said that love can give power to do impossible things - from a parent who finds physical power s/he doesn’t possess to lift a car and save her/his child to the mental strength to keep going for the sake of another, to the emotional power of knowing that someone loves and believes in you that helps you take the next step. Huey Lewis had it right, that’s the power of love. So today, know this. I mean really, KNOW it. You. Are. Loved. Just as you are, not as you should be. There is NOTHING you have done, will do, or could do to change that. Stop and think about that… feel it. God could not possibly love you and more or less than He does right now, at this very moment. Receive your Father’s love for you in Jesus today. Return to it throughout your day, and let it carry you through. Jesus conquered so you could conquer. Jesus overcame so you could overcome. - Dave Kubiak

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!