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!
