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: Isaiah 43:1-7
+ 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 141:1-4
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 Luke 4:16-30 & Luke 19:1-10
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…
Have you ever felt overlooked or underestimated? Unrecognized? Or perhaps, unseen? In Luke 4, Jesus stands in the synagogue and declares that He is the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy—the One sent to bring good news to the poor, freedom to the captives, and sight to the blind. But instead of celebrating, the crowd rejects Him. They can’t reconcile the idea of a hometown carpenter being their Messiah. Similarly, in Luke 19, we meet Zacchaeus, a man despised by his community as a tax collector. God recently spoke to my heart through this story. We often hear this story and see nothing but a “short guy” who climbed a tree to see Jesus. But what if there’s something more going on here? Something all of us can relate to - even the vertically “un-challenged.” What if, instead of only trying to see Jesus, Zaccheus’ efforts had more to do with Jesus seeing HIM? I know I’ve thought this - if I could do more, stand out, be better, climb higher… then I’d be seen, noticed, cared for. Amidst the very crowds that look on the outside and look over, down on, and past Zaccheus… Jesus sees him. And Jesus sees you. He calls him down from the tree, and dines with him. Zacchaeus’s life is transformed in that moment.
Jesus came for the broken, the outcast, and the overlooked. He doesn’t measure us by our past or by what others think of us. Instead, He sees our potential and offers us freedom, hope, and transformation. Just like Zacchaeus, when we respond to Jesus’ invitation, everything changes. His love has the power to rewrite our stories and bring us into the fullness of life He promises. No matter where you feel stuck or unseen today, know that Jesus is calling you by name, offering grace and a fresh start. Will you come down and meet Him? - Dave Kubiak
This Christmas season, we want to share a little extra joy with you! Here are a few handpicked links from Paradox Church—consider them a small gift to brighten your day and remind you of the hope we have in Jesus.
A Joyful Christmas Party Playlist from Paradox on Spotify
A Recipe for Hot Chocolate Bombs from Parent Cue
A Joy-Filled Family Advent Calendar from Paradox
A Replay of the Joy of the Journey Kids Christmas Program from Paradox
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!
