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: 1 Kings 12:25-13:22
+ 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 130
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 John 16:17-33
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…
In life, the more familiar we are with something, the easier it is for us to take it for granted and not fully appreciate it. I hop in my truck every day to drive places, but how often do I pause and think about how amazing it is that I have this machine at the ready that can take me anywhere I choose? I go to my job every day, but do I understand how fortunate I am to be able to work? I go about my weekly routines with my wife and daughters, but how often do I ponder just how blessed I am to have them in my life? It is extremely healthy to pause in life and let the weight of your blessings sink in.
As I was reading today’s scripture I kinda blew through Psalm 130. To be honest, it sounded like a lot of the other psalms and I wanted to get to the “good stuff” in the NT. But something (Holy Spirit) made me stop and reread it. And when I did, the weight of the blessing of God’s forgiveness fell heavy on my heart. “...if you kept an account of iniquities, Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness…” “...with him there is redemption in abundance.”
We talk a lot about God’s unconditional love and forgiveness in our Christian churches. As we should. It is the basis of our entire faith. It IS the gospel (good news). Jesus, God in flesh, sacrificed himself for us that our sins would be forgiven and we could be right with God for eternity. This is a REALLY big deal. My hope for us is that we never become so familiar with this truth that is loses its gravity. I pray that each time we read in God’s word about his love and forgiveness, or anytime we hear of it, or any time it comes to mind…that we would be blown away like it was the first time we were hearing and accepting this truth. That we would be like, “Wow! God did that for me. I am deeply loved and wanted. He is so worthy to be praised!”
Please take a few minutes right now and meditate on this transformational truth. - 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!