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: Job 31
+ 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 54
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 1 Corinthians 7:1-16
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 looked at someone else’s tough situation and thought, “Wow, I’m glad that’s not me”? Maybe you’ve passed a homeless person and caught yourself thinking, “What happened to him?” Or maybe even, “He probably made some bad choices to end up there.” But then I’m reminded of this passage from Job 31:13–15: “If I have denied justice to any of my servants… what will I do when God confronts me? What will I answer when called to account? Did not he who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same one form us both within our mothers?” That hits hard. We were all made by the same God. Every single person—rich, poor, struggling, thriving, easy to love, hard to love—God formed each of us in the womb. That means we all matter to Him. That includes the beggar on the street, the widow who's grieving, the orphan without a home. But it also includes the guy who cut you off in traffic. The boss who keeps piling work on your plate. Even your spouse who just can’t seem to hit the laundry basket no matter how close it is. And then there’s this verse in Matthew 25:40: “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” That’s a huge reminder. When we choose kindness, grace, and compassion—especially when it’s hard—it’s like we’re doing it for Jesus Himself. So here’s a little challenge for you and for me: let’s try to see people the way God sees them. Not as annoyances or problems or mistakes—but as His kids. Loved, valued, and worth showing up for. - Liz Holland

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: Job 30
+ 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 53
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 1 Corinthians 6:9-20
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 passages encourage me to always keep my stance in life as one that always goes back to God. Whether I am doing well, struggling, whether I have sinned and walked away… God is always inviting us to turn back to him. Every moment. Sometimes we buy into the lie that we can save and help ourselves, that we can do enough of the right things and that we are all we need. (Or that we can be that for others). Part of what we read today in Psalm 53 says that “God looks down from heaven on the children of man to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.” It doesn’t say that he is looking for us to be perfect and always do what’s right- he is looking for those who seek after Him! Perhaps you notice that you have a tendency to turn away from God. Before you start to allow shame to creep in- know that recognizing that is a grace! It’s an opportunity to ask Jesus (& others in your church family) for help. Even just praying “Jesus- I WANT to want to seek after you instead of running away. Help me!” I’m reminded of the example of David in scripture - though he sinned and walked away at times- he always kept seeking after God. He is even referred to as a man after God’s own heart! We can be that too- people after God’s own heart, who seek him, even when we’ve messed up, fallen short, or run away. It’s never too late, and he’s always glad to be with you. :) - Gwyn 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: Job 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 52
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 1 Corinthians 5:9-6:8
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…
Is it fair to have different standards for people who have different backgrounds? Of course!
Let me give you an example…
April and I hosted foster kids years ago. These were elementary age kids and it was when our girls were also that same age. We had rules in the house about obvious things like cleaning up your toys, doing your school work, and respecting/obeying adults. If a foster child who just arrived at our house wouldn’t clean up their mess, refused to do schoolwork, or called me a crude name when I ask him to do these things; should I have treated their disregard for the rules and my authority the same as I treated my own daughters? Of course not! My daughters had the benefit of learning the rules over time, seeing the fruit that comes from following them, and most importantly, feeling the love and care from the parents who made the rules and are enforcing them. The child that was outside of that relationship base COULDN’T be expected to “fall in line” instantly. On the flip side…my daughters knew that there would be loving discipline and careful correction that would come if they strayed outside of the rules designed for their good.
This is, I believe, the gist of what Paul was saying to the church in Corinth in today’s reading. He is clarifying a previous statement in which he said: do not associate with rule breakers. He specifies that he is talking about brothers and sisters WITHIN the body of Christ, aka those who know better. Those who know the love of the Father and have seen the fruit from following the life giving rules that he has given. It is incumbent upon us, as good siblings, to remind the rule-breaking brothers and sisters among us of the Father’s love and encourage them to return to following His plan. But, we are not to accept their sinful behavior.
Those outside the family, however…we are called to meet them where they are and invite them to come and meet Jesus. Browbeating them for breaking rules that they can’t yet understand to be life giving or scolding them for disrespecting a Father whose love they have not yet felt is not helpful, and can in fact be counter productive.
Above all, let’s strive to be very attuned to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Let’s invite him to do three things:
1) Help us to know where/when/how to best speak truth in love to our siblings who are struggling.
2) Embolden us to invite those outside God’s family to meet Jesus.
3) Convict us if it is WE who are breaking God’s life giving rules and pulling away from the love of the Father.
- 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: Job 28
+ 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 51:13-19
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 1 Corinthians 4:16-5:8
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…
About a decade into professional ministry, I was having a conversation with some other pastors when I recognized a sobering reality - I could fake it on the outside and still be far from God on the inside. I was doing all the “right” things—serving, showing up, saying the right words—but my heart wasn’t in it. That’s what David talks about in Psalm 51. He says God isn’t impressed with sacrifices and outward religion. What He really wants is a broken and contrite heart—a heart that’s real. In Job 28, we read that true wisdom—life-giving, God-honoring wisdom—isn’t found in the deep mines of the earth, but in the fear of the Lord. Paul echoes this in 1 Corinthians, calling the church to stop boasting and instead live with sincerity and truth. Being “real,” or AUTHENTIC - is something that is near and dear to my heart. It’s part of the culture at Paradox. It’s what we mean when we say “Come as you are, no perfect people allowed.” Thankfully, it’s exactly what God wants us to be too. Because God loves you just as you are, not as you should be. He just loves you too much to let you stay that way. The good news is, we don’t have to pretend, fake it, or clean ourselves up. We get honest with ourselves, God, and maybe even a few others. That’s where healing and freedom begin.

Here’s the challenge: Don’t just look the part. Live it. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal anything in your life that’s more performance than transformation. Then confess it, and turn back to God with a clean heart. One practical step? Start your day with this prayer: “God, more than I want to be impressive, I want to be authentic. Search me, shape me, and lead me.” When we walk in humility, God meets us with grace—and that’s where real change begins. You don’t have to “look” the part. Play it instead. - 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: Job 25-27
+ 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 51:7-12
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 1 Corinthians 4:1-15
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…
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: Job 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 51:1-6
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 1 Corinth 3:12-23
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…
Good Friday shows us that surrender isn’t weakness—it’s the way of Jesus. On the cross, with nails in His hands and the weight of the world on His shoulders, Jesus didn’t cling to control. Instead, He breathed out the most powerful words a person can say in the middle of pain: “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” That wasn’t giving up. That was giving over—His very life—into the hands of a loving Father who sees the whole story. It was the ultimate act of trust and surrender, and it’s the invitation He gives to us. In Psalm 51:6, David says, “You desire truth in the inmost being.” That’s not polished. That’s not perfect. That’s real, raw surrender—inviting God into the parts of us that are broken, weak, or weary.

What if today was the day you let go? Maybe you’re holding on tight to outcomes you can’t predict, people you can’t fix, or pain you can’t explain. What if today, like Jesus, you breathed out surrender? “Father… into Your hands I commit….” You can even pray it on repeat. Commit your fear. Your pain. Your questions. Your plans. All of it. Good Friday is an invitation to walk with Jesus toward the cross—and to learn how to let go along the way. Join us today for Stations of the Cross from 12–3pm and our Good Friday service at 7pm. - 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: Job 22,23
+ 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 50:16-23
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 1 Corinth 3:1-11
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…
Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water. This is a strange phrase, but I think it helps  describe the point that God is always doing something good, even when things look bleak. Job didn’t know what God’s plan was when he lost everything. He felt bitterness, grief, and anger through all of the loss… but never once turning his back on God or denouncing His ways. I think it can be easy to adopt a negative mindset when things aren’t going well. It’s even easier when it feels like everyone is against you.

This is what Job’s experience was. Nothing was going well. In Job 22, Eliphaz was accusing him of secret sin. Making baseless assumptions because, to him, there was no other reason bad things would happen to such a good person. Instead of reacting to him from an angry place, Job points out something I think is so important. In chapter 23 v13-14, Job said that God is unchanging and He has a plan and purpose. This includes everything Job would endure. Job also reiterates his commitment to obedience to God and righteous living. Job regularly worshiped, offered sacrifices and lived his life in thankfulness. I think if it weren’t for Job’s posture, consistently fixing his eyes on God, that he would not have been able to respond to his friends as well as he did. He didn’t take up offense against them. He endured the worst days of his life and continued to proclaim God’s sovereignty. Today, let’s do the same. God has a plan and a purpose for you. Whether things are going well or poorly, let’s look to Jesus and thank Him for what He’s doing. Thank Him for what He did for us on what could only be described as the worst possible day ever. Take comfort in His sacrifice, and offer one of your own. “The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!” Psalm‬ ‭50‬:‭23‬ - 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: Job 21
+ 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 50:7-15
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 1 Corinth 2:3-16
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 had a day when you had many things at one time and didn’t know how to devote the needed time to each? So you focused on what you could then and left the rest for another time? This is where I found myself as I read all the passages today. But what did strike me was the character of God. Ohhh how He loves us!

I see God’s patience in Job as He watches the events unfold. He knows the heart of Job. He knows the benefit of this painful and sorrowful event in Job’s life and how it will encourage people for millennia later. And in the moment He knows the pain of Job, the same pain He feels when each of those He has hand knit chooses to reject Him and dies physically and eternally. He listens to the discourse back and forth between Job and his visitors. He listens patiently as they wrestle with these tragic events. In Psalm, we read that God sees the sins of Israel - “ I will testify against you, Israel: I am God, your God,” v 7. He is testifying against Israel, yet He declares Himself “your God.” He goes on to say He doesn’t need the sacrifices for Himself. He doesn’t eat them or drink the blood. He owns it all. Yet He welcomes the sacrifices for their sake, and tells them to call on Him, and He will deliver them. They are sinning and rejecting Him, and He is their God and deliverer.

Then, we read in Corinthians that His gift of the Holy Spirit is that we who are sinners and destined to eternal death were allowed to receive Jesus’s gift of salvation through faith, believing He is the Son of God and His death was the final payment for our sins. We repent of our sins and declare this to God, and we are saved for all eternity from spiritual death. BUT that isn’t all. It should be enough, but it isn’t all He provides. He gives us the Spirit to live in us. The Spirit who is God knows God to His very depth and knows us because He lives in us. Why is this significant? Through this Spirit, we KNOW God, and He knows us to our very depth, a depth we don’t even know ourselves, and He loves us still.

Just like we read in the Psalm, He could testify against each of us. Oh, how could I tell you the sins I confessed this week? He knew these sins of mine. Yet He declares Himself my God, your God. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. When we receive Jesus’s gift of salvation, we are sealed by the Holy Spirit until Jesus returns. We are His, and He is ours. He has everything. He needs nothing from us to complete Himself. Our triune God has perfect harmony and love between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He doesn’t need us. He wants us! He pursues each of us as a lover would pursue the one he loves. He hand-knit us in our mother’s womb to be in relationship with us. Friend, walk away knowing He hears you, He sees you, and He loves 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: Job 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 50:1-6
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 1 Corinth 1:21-2:2
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…
I am not a good cook. I have no passion for it, very little experience, and no sense of smell. My daughter Charity on the other hand is great! You can give me all the benefits of a professional kitchen (best equipment, fresh foods, endless seasonings) and give Charity simple ingredients and an air fryer and she will cook circles around me. The point is, when someone is really good at something, they can demonstrate their mastery by excelling with inferior tools/supplies. This is what God does!
In today’s reading from Corinithians, Paul says (v27): 'But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong”. God has a track record of using people that the world would view as inferior and using them for amazing things: Moses, David, Esther, and Jesus’ disciples to name a few. Even Jesus himself was born from very unimpressive stock from the world’s eyes. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” (John 1:46)
So why does God do this? I can think of two reasons…
1) It shows his power and presence more clearly! If a golfer drives a ball 250 yards with a “big bertha” driver no one is too shocked, but if they can do it with a sand wedge, there is something extraordinary about that person! God wants there to be no mistake that what is being done through “weaker vessels” is happening with his power. Is this because God is a show-off? Quite the opposite…
2) It demonstrates God’s humility! I recently worked with some kids in the Upward basketball program. One day at practice when we were all scrimmaging together I was doing my best to distribute the ball on offense to all the kids, getting them open looks at a shot and making sure they were all involved. I could have obviously scored at will myself, but the goal wasn’t to score points, it was to build up the team and show them how to share the ball well. God doesn’t need us, but he loves to involve us in accomplishing his purposes, especially those who will be grateful for God’s presence with them. Remember, Jesus himself demonstrated servant leadership while he was here and told us that the greatest amongst us were those who chose to serve others.
“For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” (v25) In God’s wisdom he shows his strength by empowering the week. Maybe he could even use me to outcook my daughter??? Maybe. With him ALL things are possible. - 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: Job 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 49:13-20
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 1 Corinthians 1:10-20
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…
The longer you’ve followed Jesus, the more likely you’ve hit a moment when God felt silent. Distant. Uncaring. Maybe you’re there right now. I’ve been there—when the prayers felt empty, the silence was deafening, and nothing made sense. Times when, if I’m honest, it felt like God was gone. But it’s in those moments that a phrase from Job 19 hits different: “I know that my Redeemer lives.” That’s not just a lyric from an old hymn—it’s an anchor when everything else is sinking. I remember hearing that hymn as a kid, not really understanding the weight of those words. But now, having a little life under my belt? Now they’re everything. Job spoke them while sitting in the ashes of his former life. He had lost everything—his family, his health, his status—and yet, he looked past the pain and clung to hope. That kind of faith doesn’t ignore reality; it looks it straight in the face and still declares, “I know my Redeemer lives.” Try speaking each one slowly. Pause in between. Emphasize and pray each one before you move on.

Psalm 49 reminds us that money, power, and popularity won’t save us. And in 1 Corinthians 1, Paul calls us back to where our true identity lies—not in what people say, not in who we follow, not in the highs or lows of life, but in Christ alone. So today, if life feels like it’s falling apart—if people have let you down, if you feel unseen or forgotten—remember this: your identity is not rooted in your circumstances or people’s opinions. It’s rooted in the unshakable truth of who God says you are.

What truth are you standing on today? Don’t let the noise around you define your worth. Let the Word of God do that. No matter how things look, no matter how you feel, one thing remains unshaken: your Redeemer lives. And He has the final word. - 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: Job 17-18
+ 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 49:1-12
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 Romans 16:21-1 Corinthians 1:1-9
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: Job 15-16
+ 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 48
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 16:8-20
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…
There’s a whole lot of greeting and welcoming going on in the beginning of this passage, but verse 17 caught my attention. “Avoid drama.” Sounds like something a caring parent or teacher would say, right? It takes me back to school days, immaturity, and different personalities… just a melting pot of people in one place. You were bound to see and hear some drama! Someone always had something over the top to share, or a philosophical idea they wanted to spout as truth, even when it wasn’t. I think these are the type of people Paul is warning the early Christians about. He told them to avoid drama. Avoid those who are false prophets, people that cause division and are going against what you have learned of the Gospel. God gives us a sense of right and wrong through Scripture and His Spirit, and we have all witnessed people choosing sin, or choosing more wrong than right. I remember my mom saying things like, “misery loves company,” or “If your friend jumps off a bridge are you going to jump off the bridge too?” (The correct answer here is “No!”). This stuff isn’t just for kids. It still applies today, and hopefully we are wise enough to know better. Here’s the thing, no one is perfect (except Jesus). God has given all of us a freewill to choose: good or bad, right or wrong, holiness or sin. God has also given us his Book of wisdom, telling us to study it and  live by it. It has answers that still apply in today’s world. The Living Word, the Bible. God breathed His loving words to help us avoid drama and choose His holy path. God also gives us grace and mercy as we learn, grow and mature in our walk of faith. I am thankful to have a loving Father in heaven who guides us on our journey, and the faithful community He surrounds us with to help along the way. - 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: Job 13:20-14:22
+ 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 47
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 15:30-16:7
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…
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!

There are so many incredible reasons to give God praise. Every day, we are showered with blessings that are truly wonderful, yet we often overlook them. I can’t say it enough: gratitude is the most beautiful expression we can show as believers. In Psalm 47, we hear a joyful song sung by the sons of Korah—a group of Levitical singers who served in the temple. Their song calls out to everyone, to all nations, inviting us to clap, shout, and sing praises to our mighty King! He reigns over the earth and has so richly blessed the city of Israel. Just think about it: God has subdued the nations and claims sovereignty over them. Isn’t that amazing? Out of all the nations, He chose Israel—not the mightiest or the wealthiest, but a humble people. This is a reason to lift our voices in glorifying Him!

God made a covenant with Abraham and the people of Israel, and it’s not just a contract that can be broken. No, this covenant is grounded in God’s unwavering faithfulness and goodness. In Isaiah 54:10, He promises us that even if the mountains shake and the hills are removed, His unfailing love and covenant of peace will remain. Wow! That’s good news worth celebrating - and it gets even better! This covenant isn’t exclusive to Israel; it’s been extended to all of us who are in Christ Jesus! Hebrews 10 tells us that Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, granting us the promised eternal inheritance. Those who believe are transformed into a new creation, heirs to the Kingdom of Heaven! Yes, even the Gentiles have been grafted into the vine and welcomed into God’s family. So let all the nations rejoice! The goodness of God is not just for Israel but for everyone who puts their faith in His Son. Let's come together and celebrate this magnificent truth - that the King of heaven and earth is worthy of adoration! - 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: Job 12:13-13:19
+ 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 46
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 15:17-29
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…
We have all heard the old adage “No good deed goes unpunished.” I am sure that is what Job was thinking when he was pleading with God for an explanation as to why God was letting all this misery and trouble come into his life. Job had been a faithful servant of the Lord, but when the evil one made a wager with the Lord that Job would turn on the Lord if his life wasn’t going smoothly, things took an ugly turn. Job proved the evil one wrong. But…. Job was pleading with God as to why? And he wanted to be able to defend himself. Job knew that the Lord was good and had good plans for him, but what was all this tragedy going on in his life about? When life is not going smoothly and one thing after another seems to strike, we can be a lot like Job - asking the Lord why? How many of us have been angry or turned our backs on the Lord when He didn’t come to our rescue after we prayed for release from what was going on in our lives? It’s something to honestly ask ourselves. I know I have been there. When God did not heal my mother in law’s cancer and she died, I was angry. I refused to speak to Him for a year. Thankfully He never left me - He waited patiently for me to come home to Him. He knew my heart and worked to heal the pain of losing mom. He then went on to bless me tenfold in the following years.

Now, if you read further into the book of Job, God blesses him abundantly and more than restores everything Job lost. Here’s the thing: He told us His ways are not our ways. We may think we understand this and try to live with this mindset, but, just like Job, we demand an explanation and reason as to why these things are happening to us. Job goes on to say, “Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble.” (Job 14:1). He realizes that our life here is brief in the grand scheme of things, and that trouble will come our way. He also goes on to say that he trusts that the Lord has a plan for all of us, even if we are confused and unsure of why things happen. This verse calls us to live with an eternal perspective, to recognize our time here is limited, but that we have the promise of God’s presence to be with us through all of our suffering. 

We need to remember this verse when life seems to be against us, (Psalm 34:18) “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”  Because our life here is brief, we can see it as an invitation from a God who loves us, to seek Him with all our heart, and  live for a future in His presence for eternity. His love for us is revealed through His patience and grace, giving us time to turn to Him in this broken world. I pray you remember that you are never walking through this life alone, He is with you always.  - Dawn Marie

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: Job 11:1-12:12
+ 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 45:10-17
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 Romans 15:3-16
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…
I don’t remember a ton about my childhood, but one thing that I do recall is how my parents involved us kids in chores. I remember “helping” my mom push the vacuum around the house and “assisting” her in washing dishes. I remember pushing the lower bar of the lawnmower across the lawn with my dad behind me pushing the actual handle and firmly in control. Of course, I now understand that I was no real help at all, but at the time I felt an important part of the task and I felt close to my parents as we worked together. A good parent provides the power and direction for a task, but creates a way for the children to learn and grow by being an active part of the process.
This is the tactic we see from God toward us when we examine our reading from Romans today.
Paul points out that “through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (15:4). I read that to mean that if we exercise endurance in seeking God through reading scripture, we can find hope. Sounds like we have some work to do! But here’s the cool thing…look at how the next verse starts: “May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you…”.  Do you see it? We are called to endure and find encouragement…by the God OF endurance and encouragement! He is my dad encouraging and instructing me as I cut the grass, but he is doing all the heavy pushing and actual steering.
Later in verse 13 Paul says: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Again, we see that the fruit (joy, peace, hope) comes from God through the power of the Holy Spirit, but notice that it comes in believing. We have a part to play! We need to say yes and desire to follow Jesus. A stubborn toddler can’t “help” with the dishes if they are having a tantrum off in some corner. God provides all the power, but we need to do our part and put our chubby little hand on the vacuum and push with him. It’s a great way to spend time with our dad and enjoy together his fruits of our labors. - 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: Job 10
+ 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 45:1-9
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 Romans 14:13-15:2
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…
Lately, I’ve had We Are Messengers on repeat. One song that hit me hard while reading today’s scripture? A Thousand Times. If you haven’t heard it, go listen—especially the lyrics. It’s for those “you don’t know what this feels like” days. Job had one of those. He wasn’t just suffering—he was wrestling with God, questioning His purpose, His justice, even His care. Maybe you’ve been there, too. When life feels unfair. When prayers seem unanswered. When faith feels more like a fight than a source of strength. So what do you do when everything in you wants to give up? You trust anyway. You anchor yourself in who God is—not just in what’s happening or what you feel. When the future is uncertain and God feels distant, look back.

"He'll never let go, you know that it's true
He's still that good and He's still got you
You can count on that, you know what He's like
You've seen Him do it a thousand times."

Maybe today, you need a reminder of who God is. Romans 15:1-2 caught my attention: "We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves." When your strength is gone and your faith feels shaky, who in your life can stand in the gap for you? Who can you turn to, to help build you up in Jesus? And on the flip side—who is God calling you to encourage? Who needs grace instead of judgment, support instead of silence? Maybe it’s a text, a prayer, or just being present. Because even when you don’t see it, even when it doesn’t feel like it—God is still that good, and He’s still got 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: Job 9
+ 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 44:17-26
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 14:1-12
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: Job 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 44:9-16
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 13
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: Job 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 44:1-8
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 Romans 12:9-21
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…
I think we’ve all felt like Job did in Job 7 at one time or another. You know, when life feels unbearable. We feel like we are being driven to our limits. And to top it off, when we lay down to rest, our mind is going a million miles an hour - still frustrated with what today gave us and not looking forward to what tomorrow might bring.

It’s times like these we find ourselves venting to God - letting God know exactly how we’re feeling. Did you know that is actually part of our relationship with God? Sure, God already knows how we feel - but He wants to hear from us. Admitting there is a problem is often the start to finding the solution - but other times it doesn’t seem we find one at all. Things still don’t seem to turn out the way we want, and we’re reminded of just how little we understand. God’s ways are not our ways, His thoughts are not our thoughts. We don’t see things the way God does. It’s here that we’re left, like Job, not with solutions or comfort, but only with reality. I sometimes struggle with the “why” in my relationship with God. Especially in these moments, it amazes me that God still pursues people and wants us to be in relationship with us. Why would God want to be in relationship with me when I don’t even want to be in a relationship with me!?

And yet, thank God He does still seek us even in the depths of our anxieties and struggles. For providing grace and protection even in the midst of lashing out at God in frustration for what is going on in our life. Maybe our sin here is pride - thinking we see it all, know it all, or can fix it all. When we can’t, do we keep trying? Or will we turn to God in it, to find that God loves you just the way you are, not the way you’re supposed to be. He just loves us too much to let us stay there. GLYASDI - 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: Job 5,6
+ 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 43
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 11:3-12:8
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…
I honestly had to read today's passage in Romans several times to begin to understand what Paul is saying to the Gentiles. The phrase that kept coming to mind is, "None are Done.” It was a phrase coined by the church planting team I was a part of that kept us filled with vision and hope for what God could do in even the darkest circumstances or in peoples' lives who seemed so far from God. Paul carries this same passionate hope for his people, the Israelites, as he writes to the Gentiles about their new found faith in Jesus Christ. He had experienced this same hardening of heart that his fellow people were in - not being able to truly 'see' who Jesus was and what His death, burial, and resurrection meant for them. Paul is excited to see the Gospel go to the Gentiles - but there's this longing, desire and fire in him that hopes, knows, and believes that one day the people of Israel will turn back to God and He will have mercy on them. Maybe there is someone in your life close to you that is coming to mind. Maybe a parent, sibling, close friend, son or daughter who isn't following Jesus right now. You are sharing Him with others but deep in your heart, you desire for that person to know Jesus and find the great mercy He extends to each of us so much. God sees you. He knows that you still carry hope and a desire for them and it drives you and motivates you. Or maybe you need hope renewed in you for someone close to you to come back to fullness of who God is and life in Him, rooted in Him. I pray today for you - that 'the God of all hope would fill you with all joy and peace in believing so that by the power of the Holy Spirit, you would abound in hope.' - 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!