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 22,23
+ 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 50:16-23
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 3:1-11
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…
Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water. This is a strange phrase, but I think it helps  describe the point that God is always doing something good, even when things look bleak. Job didn’t know what God’s plan was when he lost everything. He felt bitterness, grief, and anger through all of the loss… but never once turning his back on God or denouncing His ways. I think it can be easy to adopt a negative mindset when things aren’t going well. It’s even easier when it feels like everyone is against you.

This is what Job’s experience was. Nothing was going well. In Job 22, Eliphaz was accusing him of secret sin. Making baseless assumptions because, to him, there was no other reason bad things would happen to such a good person. Instead of reacting to him from an angry place, Job points out something I think is so important. In chapter 23 v13-14, Job said that God is unchanging and He has a plan and purpose. This includes everything Job would endure. Job also reiterates his commitment to obedience to God and righteous living. Job regularly worshiped, offered sacrifices and lived his life in thankfulness. I think if it weren’t for Job’s posture, consistently fixing his eyes on God, that he would not have been able to respond to his friends as well as he did. He didn’t take up offense against them. He endured the worst days of his life and continued to proclaim God’s sovereignty. Today, let’s do the same. God has a plan and a purpose for you. Whether things are going well or poorly, let’s look to Jesus and thank Him for what He’s doing. Thank Him for what He did for us on what could only be described as the worst possible day ever. Take comfort in His sacrifice, and offer one of your own. “The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!” Psalm‬ ‭50‬:‭23‬ - Rachel Hood

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!