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 as little of this guide as you’d like.
GET FOCUSED | Worship can be as simple as thanking God for who He is & what He does.
+ Practice gratitude while playing or sing some worship music, or use a playlist from Paradox on Spotify.
+ Spend a few moments in silence, meditating on today’s Old Testament scripture: 1 Kings 4:1-28
+ From your reading, finish the sentence “God, you are ___.” Take time to Thank God for the ways you’ve seen Him be/do that in the past, Worship Him for it, and Intercede (pray for) that truth for yourself and others.
MORNING PRAYER FOCUS | Prayer is a conversation that involves both talking and listening to God.
+ Pray the prayer Jesus taught his followers: the Lord’s Prayer, or pray it using this Lord’s Prayer guide.
+ Use the PRAY acronym to guide your prayer through this morning’s Psalm: Psalm 126.
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.
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE FOCUS | Pray a simple prayer asking the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth.
Today’s New Testament reading is from John 14:25-15:8
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? (see Focus on Others)
A THOUGHT FROM TODAY’S READING…
John 14 Jesus makes it extremely clear - if you love him you will follow his commandments. I don't think what Jesus is asking for is unreasonable. Anyone can say they love you, but it's only through demonstration - action and intentionality - that the declaration of love can be tested. In Matthew 15, Jesus quotes Isaiah by saying "These people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” God Requires his children to live fully surrendered lives to him - not in word only, but in deed. This is only possible if the followers of God are truly connected and submitted to Christ.
In John 15:8 Jesus says the Father is honored when those who claim to be His followers bear much fruit. Which means the sign that an individual has been transformed by the gospel and brought from darkness into light, is that a person will outwardly demonstrate the characteristics of Christ, which are the fruit of the spirit. The fruit of the Spirit are as follows; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Jesus makes it clear earlier in John 13 that the world will know we are his disciples by the love we show for one another. But this can only be done by being fully connected to the source of love, which is Christ. Jesus is the Source. He is the vine, and we are his branches. As we abide in him, our lives will demonstrate the incredible supernatural characteristics of love, and this will be able to be observed by all those around us. They will see the good works we do and glorify God in heaven. This cannot be accomplished by our own power or ability. This cannot be conjured up through hard work or preparation. It is the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit in us. As the branches of Christ, we merely mirror the incredible love, grace and sacrifice that was shown to us on calvary to everyone around us. Yes, we have been given mercy. So the only proper response is to show that same love and mercy to everyone God puts in our path. That may seem like an impossible task, but it's not by power, not by might, but by the Spirit says the Lord. I encourage you to stay as close to Jesus as humanly possible, and may you be blessed to live long enough to look back on your life and see the incredible garden God has planted from it. - Jewaun Glenn
EVENING PRAYER FOCUS | Re-Focus on Jesus by praying an Examen & Tending Your Heart 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.
+ 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.
FOCUS ON OTHERS |
+ Pray through a Ripple Prayer or use Nations Prayer to pray for the nations and those serving them.
+ Text someone a prayer/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.
That’s all for today.
Stay focused on Jesus, and make it a great one!
