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 Chronicles 25
+ 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 17:8-15
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 Acts 16:16-29
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…
Instead of having a “thought” provided, today the thought is yours! We’d love to encourage you to revisit today’s scripture and engage deeply with the questions above. Take time to reflect and let God’s Word speak to you personally.

Identify a Focus verse, phrase, or word. This should be one that presents a truth with special relevance or significance to you. Write it out word for word. Then, write your Feelings or insight: your own explanation of how you see the truth of your Focus relating or speaking to your life. Finally, identify an Invitation from God. If you believe the truth of your insight, what specific action will you take?

Let God guide you through this process, and see how His Word transforms your perspective!

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!

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 Chronicles 24
+ 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 17:1-7
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 Acts 16:4-15
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…
Today’s reading was music to my organizational-loving ears. (Actually, there’s more music in tomorrow’s Focus!) My wife calls me a “wordsmith.” I love when there are layers of intentionality and beauty in art - when I can tell that the author or artist has paid attention to detail. The work gets so much bigger and more beautiful when I take time to review and consider why each decision was made, why each word was spoken, and why each part was placed where it was. I love intentionality - it’s one of our family values. From the beginning, God has created and brought life through ordering chaos. As I read these passages, this theme of God’s intentionality and guidance jumped off these seemingly mundane pages. In 1 Chronicles 24, we see the careful organization of the priests into divisions for their specific duties, showing that God values order and purpose in how His people serve. Psalm 17 is David’s heartfelt prayer for God’s protection and guidance, trusting in His steadfast love and righteous path. Then, in Acts 16, Paul and his companions are guided by the Holy Spirit in their missionary journey, even redirecting their plans to bring the gospel to Macedonia, where they meet Lydia—a woman whose heart God had already prepared to receive His message.

These passages remind me that God’s plans are never random. Whether it’s in the roles we fill, the prayers we lift, or the paths we walk, He is always at work, leading us to where we need to be. Like Lydia, God is preparing our hearts—and the hearts of others—for encounters with Him. Are we listening for His guidance and trusting His timing? Today, let’s ask God to direct our steps, knowing that He has a purpose for each of us as we trust in Him, lean not on our own understanding, and acknowledge His ways in all of ours. He’ll make your path straight. (Proverbs 3) - Dave Kubiak

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!

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 Chronicles 23
+ 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 16:7-11
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 Acts 15:32-16:3
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…
Why does it matter what I do or how I do it if the end result is going to be the same? I think this is a frustrating question. God bestowed an identity upon you and I. He gifted each of us uniquely to play a part as His hands and feet for His kingdom work. In 1 Chronicles 23, David prepared for his death by organizing and delegating tens of thousands as workers, gatekeepers, judges and worship leaders to specific jobs according to their identity and giftings from God. All to ensure the kingdom would continue to worship God and sing His praises after David was gone. Sometimes, I learn truth from God intentionally… and sometimes by happy accident. Kind of like I guessed correctly on a math test but couldn’t show my work, let alone repeat it. This example reminds me that God is in control and will produce the same results whether I choose to actively participate or not. The difference is that I want to know the how and why. The difference is that I love Jesus and that alone produces a love for who and what He loves. I want to observe, learn, and replicate what He is showing me. Displaying His grace and loving kindness, getting to the end result He has while learning patience and compassion for others along the way. “I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.” ‭‭(Psalm‬ ‭16‬:‭7‬ ‭ESV)‬‬ Today, let’s praise Him through the lens and perspective we are gifted with. Let’s pray and ask God how we can actively participate in His results and how He would have us use His gifts - together, observing what He’s doing all around us, and loving each other where we are at. - Rachel Hood

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!

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 Chronicles 21:27-22:19
+ 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 16:1-6
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 Acts 15:19-31
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…
When I first read all of these verses, my mind was spinning. How do I find a theme with all of these different scenarios? But the Spirit is faithful, and there is joy in the waiting as He brings clarity to my confusion.There was a theme in all of these passages - Choosing. We read about how people chose to treat and defend each other, but more importantly, we read about choosing to love and honor God. David chose to set aside his great desire to build a temple for God and obey. We then read about his choice to bring his troubles to God with praise, to make God his portion, and to place Him at his right hand. David chose to make God his power—these choices of David led to gladness, courage and steadfastness, joy, pleasure, and refuge. In Acts, we read about choosing to obey God very specifically. This theme fits with the verse that stood out to me as I read. 1 Chronicles 22:13: “Then you will prosper if you are careful to observe the statutes and the rules that the Lord commanded Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Fear not; do not be dismayed.”

When I think “prosperity,” I don’t go to monetary goals and dreams but to Jesus’s words in John 10:10: “I have come to give you life and life more abundantly.” And then there is John 15:10-11 (my paraphrase): “If you obey me, you abide in Me, and your joy will be complete.” We each have a choice each day and throughout those days to obey God and the statutes we find in scripture. Sometimes, like David, these choices are hard and not in line with our heart’s earthly desires, but God is worth it! He is faithful and generously wants to bless us with His presence, joy, and love! So what will you choose today, your will and heart’s desire or God’s will and His desire for you? - Renee Richter

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!

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 Chronicles 21:1-26
+ 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 15
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 Acts 15:6-18
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…
We’ve all seen this movie scene:
Our hero is kneeling over an impressive looking explosive in an equally impressive case. She knows that she needs to do something to disarm this weapon or hundreds will die, but what wire should she cut? Snip the correct one and the day is saved, but severing the wrong one will trigger disaster. Oh, and of course, the timer is nearing “0:00”. What to do??? Fear not. For in her earpiece is the expert to talk her through. They have experience in this area and/or a manual that instructs them on the best course.
In today’s OT and NT readings we see leaders, Biblical heroes, with tough choices to make. In each case, counsel is sought, but very different results unfold depending on whether the advice is headed.
For King David, we read that he had Satan in one ear and Joab in the other. He set Joab’s wise counsel aside and the results were horrific for not just David, but the people he was leading.
The apostles and elders of the early church faced a tough question about whether Gentiles who come to faith in Jesus should be circumcised. They sought the counsel of Paul and Barnabas who had been the leaders in the evangelism efforts among the Gentiles. Thankfully in this case, God’s wisdom prevailed.
In Proverbs 1:7 Solomon writes: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (I wonder if some of David’s (his dad’s) bad decisions are what led Solomon to famously ask God for wisdom.) In this wise quote the first part is very important. A healthy fear (respect) for the Lord is the place to start in making our choices. A good simple question to ask before considering whatever dilemma we face is: What does God want? Not regarding our immediate issue, but in general. He wants as many people as possible to be in a loving relationship with him, trusting his leadership and provision. So as we ponder our question at hand, we should seek wise counsel to the end of finding the best solution that is in line with God’s purposes.
Not all our choices are a ticking bombs. Sometimes the stakes are smaller, but the process for all our choices can be the same. The Holy Spirit is willing to speak into all decisions, and he will do it through God’s Word, his still small voice, and the counsel of others. Practice the art of listening to the Holy Spirit in your earpiece through the lower stakes choices so that when you kneel over that metaphorical timebomb you will cut the right wire. - 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!

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 Chronicles 19-20
+ 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 14
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 AActs 14:21-15:5
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 like doing the right thing got you in a bad spot? I’m certain Martin Luther King, Jr did. That’s part of what makes his story and legacy so inspiring - He kept speaking out, kept standing up for what is right, kept marching on - even in the face of hardship, struggle, and persecution. Paul and Barnabas knew that feeling too. After sharing the gospel and encouraging new believers in Acts 14, they faced intense opposition. Just listen to these words - “refused to believe… stirred up against… poisoned their minds.” Yet, they didn’t give up—they kept strengthening others, reminding them that hardships were part of the journey into God’s kingdom. It almost sounds as if the resistance and persecution they experienced was the reason they stayed - “so they remained for a long time…” I tend to want to find a quick escape from hardship. But these men of God stayed in it. They kept going. The result? They saw God move in unbelievable ways - and yet people still didn’t believe. Their perseverance inspires me, but also begs the question: Am I willing to stay in uncomfortable (to say the least) places long enough to see God work - even when the outcome isn’t what I had hoped?
I don’t want to live like the fool of Psalm 14, living as though God isn’t real, chasing my own ways instead of His, making a quick escape back into comfort and control. Just like David experienced victories in 1 Chronicles 19-20, we can trust that God fights for those who rely on Him. So today, let’s keep seeking God, even when life feels hard. He’s faithful to strengthen us, use us, and lead us to victory. Let’s press on with courage, knowing the reward is worth it, even if we don’t see it or feel it this side of eternity. - Dave Kubiak

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!

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 Chronicles 18
+ 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 13
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 Acts 14:8-20
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…
Instead of having a “thought” provided, today the thought is yours! We’d love to encourage you to revisit today’s scripture and engage deeply with the questions above. Take time to reflect and let God’s Word speak to you personally.

Identify a Focus verse, phrase, or word. This should be one that presents a truth with special relevance or significance to you. Write it out word for word. Then, write your Feelings or insight: your own explanation of how you see the truth of your Focus relating or speaking to your life. Finally, identify an Invitation from God. If you believe the truth of your insight, what specific action will you take?

Let God guide you through this process, and see how His Word transforms your perspective!

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!

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 Chronicles 16:37-17:27
+ 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 12
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 Acts 13:48-14:7
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…
1 Chronicles 16 highlights constant praise and thanksgiving, and emphasizes the call to continually praise God, recounting his blessings and glorifying His name, showing us the importance of a life of worship not just on special occasions but every day as a way of life. The phrase "seek the Lord and His strength, seek His face continually" emphasizes the active pursuit of God's presence in our lives. The retelling of God's covenant with Israel serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness and the blessings that come with remaining faithful to Him. What does it mean to actively seek God's presence? I think it refers to the continuous praise and thanksgiving to God. David appointed Asaph and his brothers to minister regularly in the presence of the ark of the covenant. Obed-edom and his sixty-eight brothers were to be gatekeepers, and he left Zadok the priest and his brothers the priests before the tabernacle of the Lord. They all had a role in seeking God and worshiping him for his steadfast love. They were actively seeking God and being in his presence.

David's response to Nathan's prophecy about a lasting dynasty demonstrates a humble attitude, recognizing that all blessings come from God. The promise of a lasting dynasty through David is a representation of God's faithfulness and covenant commitment to His people. David's prayer highlights the importance of seeking God's guidance and relying on His provision in all aspects of life. How can we actively apply this in our daily lives? First, we can cultivate a habit of praise. Regularly express gratitude and praise to God in our lives, reflecting on His goodness and faithfulness. We can also seek God intentionally - actively pursuing a deeper relationship with God through prayer, studying scripture, and seeking His presence. We can acknowledge God's Sovereignty - recognizing that all blessings and achievements come from God and should be attributed to Him. And finally, we can live with humility. That means we approach God with a humble heart, acknowledging our dependence on Him. 

I am thankful for God's guidance. His word is trustworthy, and his timing will lead us through. I encourage you to actively seek God daily through scripture, worship, and prayer. The more time you spend with him, the more you get to know his character and the sound of his voice. You are so loved, praying blessing over you and your relationship with God, the Father. - Marci Burk

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!

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 Chronicles 16:1-36
+ 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 11
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 Acts 13:34-47
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…
Today’s reading is about the beginning of Paul and Barnabas' first missionary journey. Acts 13 takes place in Antioch, a city in modern-day Turkey that was an early center of Christianity. Antioch was a predominantly Gentile city, but it also had a Jewish presence. Paul and Barnabas went to the local synagogues, and were given an opportunity to share the good news of Jesus Christ to all those in attendance, including jews, gentiles and Jewish religious leaders.

There are two things to gather from Acts 13. Number one, that Jesus is a far better and more complete king than David was. King David lived to about 70 before he died. The Bible says that eventually, his body decayed, like all human bodies do. On the contrary, Jesus died, but his body never decayed because Paul explains how Jesus is the fulfillment of God's promise to David, and how Jesus' resurrection is prophesied all the way back in the Old Testament: God would not allow the Holy One, which is Jesus Christ, to experience decay.

The second interesting thing to take from this passage is the fact that the message of the resurrection of Jesus Christ is not isolated to the Jewish people only, but this good news is for everyone, Jew and gentile. In verse 38, Paul explains that Jesus' death and resurrection provide forgiveness of sins and justification by his righteousness. Paul quotes the end of Isaiah 49:6, which says that God wants more than just the Jews, but the world. Paul applies this verse to his ministry, which involves telling the Jews about Jesus and building churches with the Gentiles who accept his message. The Bible says after Paul and Barnabas explain this good news, the gentiles rejoiced because the plan of God was not just for the Jewish people, but for any and every person who would be willing to receive and believe in Christ. The Gentile was no longer excluded from relationship with God, but can now be engrafted into the family of God. Not as a second-class citizen, but as true sons and daughters of the King. And this was not something new, but something that was always a part of God’s original plan for humanity. The gentiles (people who are not Jewish) are not an afterthought, but part of the prophesied plan of God the Father - to make one new man (Jew and gentile) in Christ Jesus. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever you are, whatever your nationality, you have an opportunity to be a part of something bigger than yourself - something eternal. - Jewaun Glenn

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!

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 Chronicles 14:8-15:29
+ 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 10:12-18
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 Acts 13:20-33
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…
Do you have someone who always gives you the best advice, someone who never steers you wrong? I was giving this a good hard thought as I was reading the verses. I mean, my parents always tried to guide us with advice on how to live our lives. But in reality, let's face it - people are people and have their own perspectives on things. It hit me that God is the only one who, when He tells you something, you can completely believe Him. In the 1 Chronicles passage, we see David getting ready to fight the Philistines. In verses 9 and 10, we see what David had in mind; “Now the Philistines had come and raided the Valley of Rephaim; so David inquired of God: “Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands?” The Lord answered him, “Go, I will deliver them into your hands.”   And that is exactly what happened - not just once, but twice. God told David exactly what to do, and each time He guided David to beat the Philistines. David was smart to ask the only one he knew who would give him expert advice. For you see, everything the Lord says He will do, He does. You can’t go wrong believing every word from the Lord is exactly true and trustworthy. Now, His answers might not be exactly how or what we want them to be, but His ways are always better. His timing is not necessarily what we expect, but He has a reason for when and how He is working things out.
These passages really hit home for me - my word for the year last year was to relax, basically to stop worrying about everything and trying to “fix” everything. He reminded me numerous times throughout the year that He had me covered. This year He told me to surrender - to lay it all at His feet, to remember HE HAS ME! As I said, His word is true, His advice and guidance are solid. In Acts 13: 20-33, Paul is speaking in the Synagogue in Antioch, where he is reciting the history of the people leading up to Jesus and His resurrection. Paul is reminding them all that God foretold every one of these events through the prophets. That is a reminder even for us, that every word of the Lord will come to pass and everything He says is true. So this year, surrender your will unto Him, and trust that He will make straight your paths and care for you, because He told you He would. - Dawn Custer

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!

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 Chronicles 13:1-14:7
+ 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 10:1-11
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 Acts 13:8-20
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…
Today’s readings can be tough to understand. In our NT reading we see a confrontation between Paul and a false prophet in which “filled with the Holy Spirit” Paul temporarily blinds his adversary. In the OT reading it’s even more egregious as a man touched the ark of the covenant (fancy box that contained the 10 commandments tablets) and God “struck him dead”.  Wait a minute…I thought God was good and loving? How can he help Paul blind a man? Didn’t Jesus restore sight to blind people?  And how could a patient and merciful God allow his “anger to burn” against a man to the point of striking him dead for a seemingly minor infraction?  What gives???
Two things to remember as we sort this out…
1) Losing one’s sight, or even physical life itself, is not of consequence when compared to one’s eternity. We see throughout scripture that God is “not wanting any to perish, but all to come to eternal life.” The reality is that not all will. We do not know all the circumstances surrounding these incidents. It is possible that God did indeed spare the souls of these men, and that they are now glad that God allowed their lives to be a cautionary tale for others about proper fear of the Lord. It is also very possible that these men had hardened hearts, and the God being outside time, knew that redemption would not be coming accepted by them at any point in their lives, and that he would use that tragedy to help others.
2) God, and God alone, is holy. He is the alpha and omega. He is the all powerful being who created all we know. As such, he is above challenge. This can be hard for us to accept, but God can do whatever he wants, even strike someone dead for disobeying a command. The good news, is that we see time and time again how God uses his power to bring life and relationship to all those who call on his name. He himself, Jesus, died for our sins so that the ending of our story wouldn’t be “struck dead” by God’s anger. As tough as it is for us to understand from our limited vantage point, the events of today’s lessons are no less GOOD then any story of healing we read about in other passages. - 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!

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 Chronicles 12
+ 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 9:11-20
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 Acts 12:20-13:7
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…
It happens every year around this time… I look back at all my plans from the past year and the reality of everything I want to accomplish not only in the next year, but the next week or even the next day. I spend so much of my life feeling pulled in a million directions - and this year in particular has me thinking how so much of my energy gets spent on things that don’t really matter in the long run. Ever feel like that? Like you’re fighting battles that won’t leave a mark? I always resonate with David, and his story in 1 Chronicles 12 grabbed my attention today. People from every tribe showed up, aligning themselves with him because they believed in something bigger than themselves—God’s kingdom. It wasn’t about David. They weren’t even chasing their own agendas; they wanted to be part of what God was doing.

Contrast that with another king in Acts 12. Herod is building his own kingdom, seeking his own glory, and holding on tightly to power and control. It doesn’t end well for him (it never does when we do either.) I love how the way of Jesus - the way of the kingdom - isn’t the way of the world. We’re invited to pledge our allegiance to God’s kingdom and seek it first - just like the early church. As they trusted Jesus and prayed boldly, they watched God work in miraculous ways. Here’s my takeaway: where we place our allegiance matters. Meditate on Psalm 9 today - especially if you’re feeling pulled in a million directions. God is the one who’s trustworthy. When we align our hearts with Him, we’re stepping into something bigger and more meaningful than anything in this world. So today, instead of chasing what won’t last, let’s look to Him for help and align ourselves with His plans. That’s where real impact and peace are found. - Dave Kubiak

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!

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 Chronicles 11:4-47
+ 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 9:1-10
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 Acts 12:6-19
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…
Instead of having a “thought” provided, today the thought is yours! We’d love to encourage you to revisit today’s scripture and engage deeply with the questions above. Take time to reflect and let God’s Word speak to you personally.

Identify a Focus verse, phrase, or word. This should be one that presents a truth with special relevance or significance to you. Write it out word for word. Then, write your Feelings or insight: your own explanation of how you see the truth of your Focus relating or speaking to your life. Finally, identify an Invitation from God. If you believe the truth of your insight, what specific action will you take?

Let God guide you through this process, and see how His Word transforms your perspective!

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!

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 Chronicles 9:35-11:3
+ 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 8
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 Acts 11:25-12:5
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…
One of my favorite things to do in the winter is to look up at the night sky and simply take in the vastness of the stars and the sky. There is something so big and majestic about it… I feel like I can even hear the quiet. It all makes me feel a little… small. I think along with the psalmist, “Who am I that you, God, are mindful of me?”
Have you ever felt like your life is too ordinary to matter in the grand story God is writing? As I was reading today’s scriptures, what stood out to me most was how God often works through the ordinary to accomplish the extraordinary… even in the verses themselves! In 1 Chronicles, we see the family history of Saul—names most of us might skim over. Yet from these seemingly ordinary people, God raised up a king. Psalm 8 takes this further, reminding us how small we are compared to the vastness of creation—yet God cares for us. In Acts, we see Barnabas and Saul, two ordinary men, being sent out from the church in Antioch to spread the gospel, and Peter experiencing God’s miraculous deliverance from prison. These passages remind us that God doesn’t choose people because of their greatness—He chooses them (and us) because of His great plans. No matter how ordinary or insignificant you might feel, God has a purpose for your life. Just like He used Saul, Barnabas, and Peter, He can use “little” you to work His “big” plans in the world. How? Trust Him with the small, everyday moments of your life—they might just be the very place where He begins His extraordinary work through you. - Dave Kubiak

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!

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 Chronicles 9:1-34
+ 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 7:10-17
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 Acts 11:11-24
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…
Acts chapter 11 is one of my favorites from the New Testament. I think the actions discussed here are some of the most pivotal moments in the Bible. In Antioch, the church was intentionally preaching the gospel to the gentiles directly - something that hadn’t happened until now. Yep - the Antioch that was at this time known for luxurious immorality was on the leading edge of Christianity becoming the religion it is today. I find it interesting though, that we do not know the names of most of the people on this leading edge of spreading the gospel. Up to this point almost anyone playing a part is called out in the Bible. I wonder if this was the point where the movement just started growing so fast it was getting hard knowing everyone and every little detail of what they were doing. This may also be a lesson to those that follow - that it isn't important who was doing what, but that something important was getting done. Too many people worry more about getting acknowledged for what they have done rather than celebrating the importance of what has been accomplished. Antioch was also where the followers of Jesus were first called “Christians.” The people of Antioch were well known for finding jesting nicknames for people. Christian means “those Christ folk” and was more likely meant as an insult than a compliment. But Christians took on this nickname, spreading it around the world wearing it as a badge of honor. The lesson is we need to get out of our safe place and spread the gospel to whoever will listen regardless of what they call us. It's our turn to start the next big push for christianity. GO JESUS!!
God Loves You And So Do I - Scott Rose

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!

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 Chronicles 8
+ 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 7:1-9
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 Acts 10:44-11:10
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…
In today's reading in Acts, we continue to Peter's story of sharing the truth of the death, burial, & resurrection of Jesus with Gentiles and their eager acceptance and visible evidence of the Holy Spirit's indwelling in their lives. A few things stuck out to me today. Peter starts his explanation to the apostles in Jerusalem with the phrase, 'I was in Joppa praying.' Peter walked with the Lord daily and had an active relationship where he sought the face of God daily. And it was during one of these probably normal daily prayer times of just talking with Jesus that God spoke to him in a powerful way. And what God shared with him seemed contrary to his tradition and way of following Jesus as a Jew. Yet, Peter shows that his heart and will were submitted to Jesus. He was humble and teachable and even when what God said was culturally out of the box for Peter, He remembered the words that Jesus had spoken to them earlier and only through revelation of the Holy Spirit, immediately knew the truth that the Gospel was not just for the Jews but for the Gentiles as well. Peter didn't have all the books of the NT written out like we do to go and compare and even read Paul’s writings which say, 'there is no Jew nor Gentile but we are all one in Christ Jesus.' So I was challenged in these ways. Do I actively walk with the Lord and talk with Him as a friend so if there are things He has to speak to me, I have put myself in a position to hear from Him? I want to be teachable and humble, open for Him to correct or shift my ways of thinking or doing things so that I am in line with His thoughts, character, will and heart. I need a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of who Jesus is and that only comes from the Holy Spirit. Praying Ephesians 1:17 for myself and our church family today, "I keep praying that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, will give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in knowing Christ fully." - Jessica Glenn

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!

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 Chronicles 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 6
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 Acts 10:34-43
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…
Martin Luther King Jr famously said: “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” These iconic words helped to spark change through the civil rights movement in our country. They meant that a person should be accepted based not on their DNA, but rather their choices. This same sentiment is at the heart of what Peter says in our reading from Acts today: “Now I truly understand that God doesn’t show favoritism, but in every nation the person who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.” Peter understood that God looks past the skin to a person’s heart, and is eager to have a relationship with those who choose him.
Now we should be careful. Out of context we could read this scripture to mean that ‘all who acknowledge that a god exists and do good things are right with him’. However, Peter goes on to remind his listeners that God sent Jesus, anointed with the Holy Spirit, to teach on God’s behalf and ultimately die for our sins. Peter believed, and would spend his life sharing, that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Righteousness, being in right standing with God, comes from turning from our sins and acknowledging Jesus as Lord of our lives. This gospel (good news) is for EVERYONE, regardless of their ancestry, address, or appearance. MLK’s dream for our country is a reality with God.  - 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!

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 Chronicles 6:31-38
+ 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 5
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 Acts 10:23-33
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…
We rarely see walls and barriers until we find ourselves on the outside of them. I never thought much about food allergies until my son had them. I didn’t have them, so it wasn’t really something I needed to think about. But when you walk with someone through life… you start to notice their barriers. The places they need to stop, and how it affects them. And when you care about that person, those barriers have a way of becoming yours. My son takes most of his barriers like a champ. But there are times when I’ll see a look of disappointment in his eye. Or the caution he approaches most things with that I take for granted. There are many times when we’ll bring a snack he loves when we’re going out, or we all choose to go without. I also get to see the times when he is considered and included - and the joy that comes with simply being able to participate without barriers. It’s deeply moving. It’s a reminder of how beautiful things can be when barriers come down and inclusion takes root. In Acts 10:23-33, Peter experiences something similar—but on a spiritual level. God gave him a vision that shattered his preconceived notions about who could belong to His family. When Peter stepped into Cornelius’s home—a Gentile’s —he embraced a radical truth: God’s salvation is available to everyone, no exceptions. Peter’s obedience opened the door to transformation, not just for himself, but for the church. This isn’t simply a truth to believe, though. Inclusion is a call. It’s a radical transformation of our perspective because we walk with and care for people who may have barriers to faith that we don’t have or realize. Like Peter, we’re called to examine the walls we build—whether intentionally or unknowingly. Are there people or situations we view as outside the reach of God’s love? Are there practices within our church, language that we use, or ways people might even experience us that create barriers to faith for people God cares deeply about? Today, God is inviting us to embrace His bigger plan and build bridges where barriers once stood. Who might God be asking you to welcome today? What barrier might God be asking you to make yours in love and, in doing so, tear it down for someone else? - Dave Kubiak

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!

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 Chronicles 5:1-22
+ 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 3
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 Romans 8:18-30, 2 Corinthians 5:16-17 & Revelation 21:1-2, 5-7
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…
So, how’s your resolution and the “new you” coming along? My year usually starts with such great intentions. It’s a new year, after all. Time to turn over a new leaf - time for the new me! And yet with every new year, it seems like it’s the same old Dave. I want the journey toward newness to constantly point up and to the left. But the reality of life is that our life is full of ups and downs, setbacks, letdowns, and temptations to give up. I want my life to be clean cut and consistent, with each being a complete success (and if it’s not, it’s a complete failure.) But most days are a mix of beauty and brokenness, aren’t they? Some days are filled with joy and purpose, while others seem marked by struggle, pain, or longing. In Romans 8, Paul reminds us that even in the midst of suffering, God is working for our good, shaping us into His image and pointing us toward a hope that will not disappoint. He speaks of the glory that will one day be revealed—a world where pain and brokenness will be replaced by wholeness and joy. Revelation 21 gives us a glimpse of that promise: a new heaven and a new earth where God dwells with His people, wiping away every tear and making all things new.

The best part is, we don’t have to wait for the future to experience that renewal. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, Paul declares that in Christ, we are already a new creation. The old is gone, and the new has come! This means that, even now, God is at work in our lives, restoring what’s broken and bringing new life. So, as we walk through the challenges and joys of today, let’s hold tightly to this truth: the story isn’t over. God is redeeming, restoring, and preparing us for a future more beautiful than we can imagine. Let’s trust Him to make all things new—starting with us— even in the broken, messy middle. Take heart, and keep on. God’s not finished yet. - Dave Kubiak

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!

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 Chronicles 4:24-43
+ 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 2
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 14:18-26, 15:25-27, 16:1-15 & Acts 1:1-11
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…
Did you watch a lot of Christmas movies the past few weeks? If you did, you likely heard many of them talking about the “spirit of Christmas” living in peoples’ hearts. Maybe you’re a sports fan, and you know the joy of living out your “team spirit”. And we’ve all had relatives pass away, and for some of us we’ve heard that they are not truly gone because a part of them lives on through us. The point being, the concept of some other “spirit” present inside us is not a foreign concept to us as humans. But, for many people the concept of the Holy Spirit, that is the spirit of God himself active inside our minds (hearts) is something we wrestle to grasp.
It is one thing to believe that Jesus came in the flesh (God with us) to teach us about God, show God’s power through miracles, and then rise from the dead to demonstrate God’s love. For some reason it can be for some more difficult to believe that God’s spirit can connect with ours (God with us) today. But that is exactly what Jesus said would happen: "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, to be with you forever. He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive him because it doesn’t see him or know him. But you do know him, because he remains with you and will be in you.” When we open our hearts to Jesus, the Holy Spirit is able to “teach you all things”, “remind you of everything I have told you”, “testify about me”, “comfort you”, “guide you into all the truth”, “receive power”, etc.
As we enter this new year, let’s remember the power, comfort, and wisdom available to us at all times through our connection to God through his Spirit. With him, we can weather the storms of our lives and venture out into the waters God is asking us to sail into. - 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!