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 20
+ 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 50:1-6
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 1 Corinth 1:21-2:2
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 am not a good cook. I have no passion for it, very little experience, and no sense of smell. My daughter Charity on the other hand is great! You can give me all the benefits of a professional kitchen (best equipment, fresh foods, endless seasonings) and give Charity simple ingredients and an air fryer and she will cook circles around me. The point is, when someone is really good at something, they can demonstrate their mastery by excelling with inferior tools/supplies. This is what God does!
In today’s reading from Corinithians, Paul says (v27): 'But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong”. God has a track record of using people that the world would view as inferior and using them for amazing things: Moses, David, Esther, and Jesus’ disciples to name a few. Even Jesus himself was born from very unimpressive stock from the world’s eyes. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” (John 1:46)
So why does God do this? I can think of two reasons…
1) It shows his power and presence more clearly! If a golfer drives a ball 250 yards with a “big bertha” driver no one is too shocked, but if they can do it with a sand wedge, there is something extraordinary about that person! God wants there to be no mistake that what is being done through “weaker vessels” is happening with his power. Is this because God is a show-off? Quite the opposite…
2) It demonstrates God’s humility! I recently worked with some kids in the Upward basketball program. One day at practice when we were all scrimmaging together I was doing my best to distribute the ball on offense to all the kids, getting them open looks at a shot and making sure they were all involved. I could have obviously scored at will myself, but the goal wasn’t to score points, it was to build up the team and show them how to share the ball well. God doesn’t need us, but he loves to involve us in accomplishing his purposes, especially those who will be grateful for God’s presence with them. Remember, Jesus himself demonstrated servant leadership while he was here and told us that the greatest amongst us were those who chose to serve others.
“For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” (v25) In God’s wisdom he shows his strength by empowering the week. Maybe he could even use me to outcook my daughter??? Maybe. With him ALL things are possible. - 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!
