Good Morning!
Let’s focus our day by spending some time with Jesus before it begins.
Play or sing some worship music you love, or use a playlist from Paradox on Spotify.
If you’re new to the Daily Focus, read this first.

WEEKLY 40 FOR 40 FOCUS | Remembering God’s Faithfulness & Responding in Faith
Over the 40 Days of Lent, add 40 minutes of prayer to your week - either 1x/week or 7 minutes/day.
This week, reflect on where you have experienced God’s goodness. Write all the ways you’re thankful for God’s faithfulness in your life. What area of your life or situation do you need God to increase your faith?

DAILY PRAYER FOCUS | Use the PRAY acronym each morning. 
P = Pause. As you start your time of prayer, begin by pausing and being still before the Lord.
R = Read. Read the Scripture Focus slowly and focus on words/phrases the Holy Spirit highlights as you read.
A = Ask. Ask God to come and speak to you. Open up your heart to Him as your heavenly Father.
Y = Yield. We want to yield our lives to the words we have prayed and commit to follow Jesus’s way.
Begin your prayer with “Father, I remember your faithfulness to…” and respond with, “Give me faith to…”

SCRIPTURE FOCUS | Today’s reading is from Genesis 17:1-19 & Romans 4:20-21
Highlight verses that capture your attention, and ask three simple questions as you read…
S = Say. What is the main point? What does it teach about God (Jesus) & yourself?
O = Obey. What can you apply (practice) from this passage today?
S = Share. Who can you share what you’re learning with today?

A THOUGHT FROM TODAY’S READING…
’Zakar’ is the main Hebrew verb used in the Old Testament for concepts related to remembrance and memory. While the word doers mean to recall the past, it also carries a greater weight - zakar involves doing something with our memories, using the past to inform our present thoughts, feelings, and actions. The New Testament uses the Greek word ‘mimmneskomai’ to communicate the similar idea of allowing a past truth or reality to inform present action. Most of us have a chronic case of spiritual amnesia - we all too easily forget who God is and what He has done. But what exactly is at stake if we forget? As we will see in our readings throughout the book of Deuteronomy (which is a review or remembrance), God knows how our forgetfulness takes away from the abundant life that He alone can give. When we forget, we can more easily drift away from His Word and ways, stumbling headlong into disobedience. We settle for what the world offers instead of a life of flourishing with God. There is a discipline to remembering, though. It is a daily choice to let God’s past faithfulness shape and steer our thoughts, prayer, habits, affections, decisions, and relationships. And when our reality feels unstable and uncertain, there is a solid, steadying weight in remembering that helps us see Him more clearly in the present. Father God, we look back and remember your faithfulness this Lent. Give us faith to move forward. - from He Reads Truth

REMEMBERING PRACTICE | (Optional) Practice remembering with a Daily Examen each evening.
The Examen prayer was made popular by Ignatius of Loyola (1491 – 1556). It has helped Christians for centuries to re-center themselves on Jesus as they come to the end of long days. We are using a variation creat-ed by Pete Greig from his book, How to Pray, to help us remember Jesus at the close of our days.
Replay = Replay your day. What made you happy or joyful? What made you 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.
Reboot = Commit to walk with Jesus tomorrow. Ask for grace to see His presence more clearly.
*For help or an audio prayer version, use the Lectio 365 app.

SHARE THE FOCUS | 1-5 Minutes
1. Text someone a prayer/encouragement, or share a thought/question with us in the Forum.
2. Invite someone to read the Focus with you. Text “FOCUS” to (586) 200-6277.

That’s all for today.
Stay focused on Jesus, and make it a great one!