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.

GET FOCUSED | Worship can be as simple as thanking God for who He is & what He does. (Psalm 100:4)
Spend a few moments in silence, meditating on scripture, or writing/saying 3-5 things you’re thankful for.
Play or sing some worship music you love, or use a playlist from Paradox on Spotify.

MORNING PRAYER FOCUS | Prayer is a conversation that involves both talking and listening to God.
Use the PRAY acronym to guide your prayer this 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.

SCRIPTURE FOCUS | Today’s reading is from John 17
Pray a simple prayer before reading, asking the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth. (John 14:26)
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…
It’s April, and you know what they say… “April showers bring May flowers.” But showers also bring something else - the opportunity to see rainbows. Every time I see one, I try to stop, if only for a moment, to appreciate its beauty and remember the God who put it there. But have you ever stopped to think about what is happening scientifically when we see a rainbow? In a way, water in the air “separates” and allows us to see all the different light waves (and colors) that are unified and present in the light. That’s the kind of unity Jesus prayed that His followers, the Church, would have in verse 21. Jesus prays, “...that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.” Jesus’ prayer is that we would reflect something of God - something that could be reflected not in ANY of us alone, but only in ALL of us, together. That we, like the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, would be different - and see the beauty in the different ways God made us , indeed, the difference actually makes the whole more beautiful when each is highlighted - and yet so unified that those differences would barely be visible. Here’s the beautiful, powerful part: Jesus prays that God’s light would actually shine through that kind of unity to show the entire world, like a rainbow, the beauty of God’s promised, coming kingdom. In a culture that celebrates only the individual and tends to separate, may we see the beauty and the power in the whole today. The identity that brings us, the Church, together is “In Christ.” As Jesus prayed, we are united to God and the Church when we know Him (v 3). Today, pray that difference and division wouldn’t cause anyone to walk away. Pray that as followers of Jesus we would not stay away from “the world,” but lovingly bring people who are different than we are in - from our neighbors to the nations to the next generation - together as a multi-generational family on mission. May your kingdom come in every thought, attitude, belief, word and action today. Amen. - Dave Kubiak

EVENING PRAYER FOCUS | Re-Focus on Jesus by praying a Daily Examen each evening.
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.
Refocus = 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. 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!