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!
