Good Morning!
Let’s focus our day by spending some time with Jesus before it begins.
If you’re new to the Focus, take as long as you’d like or are able in each segment.
Further Focus is an optional, additional practice to help you go further with Jesus.

WORSHIP FOCUS | 5-15 Minutes
Worship can be as simple as thanking God for who He is & what He does. (Psalm 100:4)
1. Start by journaling or saying out loud 3-5 things you’re thankful for in the last 24 hours.
2. Play or sing some worship music you love, or choose from one of our Spotify Playlists.
Further Focus: Declare what God’s Word says is true about who you are in Christ back to Him.

SCRIPTURE FOCUS | 5-15 Minutes
Pray a simple prayer before reading, asking the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth. (John 14:26)
Today’s reading is from Judges 4-5
*Focusing as a Family? Find Paradox on the Parent Cue App
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?
Further Focus: One of the best ways to learn more about the Bible is by discussing it with others.
Work through this week’s Lifegroup Discussion Guide and meet up with a Paradox Lifegroup.

A THOUGHT FROM TODAY’S READING…
I have to confess that I struggled a little putting this together. I have always found the old testament a little harder to figure out. One of the things I did learn this time around is I need to have more faith that the words being put into my head are the words God wants me to share. So let's see how this goes.
I see this as one of those things where God doesn’t call the qualified, God qualifies the call. This story features two women and we don’t see many women being major players in biblical stories. During biblical times, women were not normally allowed leadership or influential roles in society. God selected Deborah, not because she had all the right experiences and education but because God knew that Deborah was the right person for the job. Not only was she called to be a prophetess (a woman who speaks by divine inspiration for God) but she was also one of the Judges of Israel. Deborah tells Barak, the jewish military commander, that God has said he is to gather an army to meet Sisera, the commander of the Canaanite army, in battle. At this point I wonder if Barak’s faith waivers as Barak will only go if Deborah goes with him.
We may have all been thinking some of the same things as Barak at this point. Sisera’s army was the local powerhouse with their 900 chariots of iron and by all accounts Barak wouldn’t be able to match Sisera on the field of battle. Deborah agrees to go but informs Barak that because she is going with Barak, the glory of the victory will go to a woman. God also selects Jael as the person to deal with Sisera. Jael was the wife of Heber the Kenite who was chief of one of the houses friendly with the Canaanite king, Jabin. Sisera had fled the battle when he realized that the battle was not going to go in his favor and came to Jael’s tent asking her to hide him. Jael had to be very secure in her faith as her part of this story was to do away with Sisera by driving a tent stake into his head. I have only driven tent stakes into the ground to hold up my tent but I can’t imagine the commitment it would take to drive a stake into someone, especially the commander of the most powerful army in the area.
I believe that this makes Jael the hero of this story as it was her stake that freed the people of Israel from the oppression of Sisera and King Jabin of Canaan. I guess what I am trying to get at is God calls who is best suited for the task at hand and sometimes it is not who we would call. They may not appear to us to be qualified for call but we have to rely on our faith and relationship with God to tell us if it is God’s calling. I think we also need to be ready when God calls us to step into situations that we may not think we are prepared for. God knows when we are ready, we just need to be listening for the call and be ready to step into it whatever it is.. - Scott Rose

PRAYER FOCUS | 5-15 Minutes
Prayer is a conversation that involves both talking and listening to God.
Pick a Psalm to pray using P.R.A.Y. Pause to be still, Reflect on the verses, Ask God for help, & say Yes to Jesus.
Here are a few recommendations to begin your day w/ God: Psalm 5, Psalm 19, Psalm 20, Psalm 23 & Psalm 25
Further Focus: Reading and praying scripture to hear God in this way is called Lectio Divina.
Learn more about Lectio Divina here and practice using one of these apps.

SHARE THE FOCUS | 1-5 Minutes
Text someone a prayer/encouragement, or share a thought/question with us in the Forum.
Further Focus: 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!