Good Morning!
Let’s focus our day by spending some time with Jesus before it begins.
Pick a song from one of our Spotify Playlists & let it play in the background.
THANK. Write down or say out loud 3-5 things you’re thankful for from the last 24 hours.
PRAY. Pray the Lord’s Prayer, a Ripple Prayer, or find more at paradoxchurch.com/pray.
FOCUS. Our memorization & meditation focus for this study is John 1:12-13.
READ. Today’s reading is from Luke 1:26-56, John 2:1-12, John 19:17-27 & Acts 1:12-14
ASK. After reading, ask the following SOS Questions & journal your thoughts.
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?
THINK. A Thought from Renee Richter
“Behold, I am a servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” - Luke 1:38
When this angel visited Mary, it is believed she was 12-14 years old. We read in Luke 1 of her surprise over this angelic visit, “she was greatly troubled.” After listening to this incredible bit of news, she has only one question, “How? I’m a virgin!” Gabriel explains the how, and Mary’s response is the verse above. I don’t know if, in my “advanced years, ”I would just have one question and then immediately jump to “let it be.” What an example of Mary’s faithfulness, love, and obedience in the passages we have read. When she said, “Let it be,” she had no idea of what would follow. If you aren’t familiar with the account of Jesus’s young life, take some time to read it and see how Joseph and Mary remain obedient to God’s call to raise His Son. The “let it be” was a wild ride of family/friends rejecting them, officials hunting them down to kill Jesus, moving from one city to the next, and even moving to Egypt. Each time, we read of the obedience and love of Mary towards Jesus and the Father. Then later, we read of her request to Jesus to take care of the wine. She knew of her Jesus’s divinity, the Son of God. She knew of His heart to help and serve. There was no hesitation in her, right to Jesus. Then we read of her continued faith AFTER witnessing the death of her Son and Lord. She remains faithful in serving God and Jesus's chosen disciples. From a very young age to an older age, we see a woman dedicated to God and to the service of God no matter the circumstances. She is a woman of God. Holy Spirit, help each of us to read of this woman and live by her example, a servant of God. Help us not to set her on a pedestal, a choice I don’t think she’d appreciate but as an encouragement to live a faithful life that easily says, “Let it be,” to God without hesitation.
TALK. That was our take - what’s yours? Share thoughts & ask questions in the forum.
SHARE. Stay focused with a friend! Invite them to text “FOCUS” to (586) 200-6277.

Stay focused on Jesus today!