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!
