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 | Developing Leaders (Genesis 12:1-3 & 2 Kings 13)
Over the 40 Days of Lent, add 40 minutes of prayer to your week - either 1x/week or 7 minutes/day.
Pray that we would raise up the next generation to impact the nations and expand God's kingdom. Pray for 40+ "Missional Arrows" from Paradox in 2024 and an additional $40,000 in our budget to fund them.
How have I been blessed to “be a blessing” and build God’s kingdom through serving & giving?

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 Deuteronomy 16:18-22 & 17
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…
There is a very clear and overarching theme as I read through these passages: leadership. They are establishing judges, rulers, kings, priests, etc to rule and to care for the people of Israel. It had me thinking about the gift that God has given all of us in the people that he has appointed as leaders over us. Whether that be in the workplace, or the home, or the church. God has given each one of us a leader or elder or person of superiority in our lives. That can bring up a lot of uneasy feelings for some people, especially if you’ve been hurt by someone who was in a place where they were actually supposed to care for you. But I also felt the kindness, the hope, and the intent of God’s heart when I read these passages about leaders and who he appoints over each of us. We are invited to respect, honor, and humbly come under those above us trusting that God is leading them to lead well. People aren’t perfect, they will always screw up, but Jesus is perfect. He is the perfect leader for all of us and we can trust Him when he has invited us to come under someone else’s authority. There community, life, and love that we experience when we do so which all point back to the kingdom of God. If there is someone in your life that God has appointed over you whether it be a boss, a pastor, a leader, etc. let’s thank God for them and pray for them this morning as we humbly and obediently come under their leadership trusting Jesus through it all. - Cecelia Thapa

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!