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 as little of this guide as you’d like.

GET FOCUSED | Worship can be as simple as thanking God for who He is & what He does.
+ Practice gratitude while playing or sing some worship music, or use a playlist from Paradox on Spotify.
+ Spend a few moments in silence, meditating on today’s Old Testament scripture: 2 Samuel 15:1-29

+ From your reading, finish the sentence “God, you are ___.” Take time to Thank God for the ways you’ve seen Him be/do that in the past, Worship Him for it, and Intercede (pray for) that truth for yourself and others.

MORNING PRAYER FOCUS | Prayer is a conversation that involves both talking and listening to God.
+ Pray the prayer Jesus taught his followers: the Lord’s Prayer, or pray it using this Lord’s Prayer guide.
+ Use the PRAY acronym to guide your prayer through this morning’s Psalm:  Psalm 119:65-72

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.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE FOCUS | Pray a simple prayer asking the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth.
Today’s New Testament reading is from John 9:1-12
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? (see Focus on Others)

A THOUGHT FROM TODAY’S READING…
Why do bad things happen to people? It is an age old question and one that Jesus’ disciples asked him about when they saw a man born blind. They asked Jesus whether the man had sinned or his parents that he might be born with this affliction. It is interesting that they assumed his blindness was a punishment by God of some kind. It is not surprising though. We live in a world of cause and effect…a transactional existence in which we assume: “you get what you pay for”, “there is no such thing as a free lunch”, “tit for tat”.  That’s the economy of our world.
But, God’s economy is different. He’s less concerned about paybacks and more focused on purpose. Just look at Jesus’ reply: “It is not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.” Jesus is saying that God had a plan to heal this man, and that his story would be able to teach the disciples on that day, and countless others including us today. And what do we learn? That God is in control, and that he is working toward the end game of bringing the good news of his grace to the world. 
And how should we respond to this reality?
Well look at what David said in our OT reading from today when he was being forced out of the city by the coming coop from his son Absalom. The priests loyal to him were trying to bring the ark of the covenant out of the city with David but he ordered them to take it back. He said that if God willed for him to return some day and see it again, then so be it. And he added: “...if God says ‘I have no pleasure in you’ behold, here I am, let him do to me what seems good to him.” Essentially David is accepting that God is in control, and that while David has his desires about how things should happen next, he accepts God’s plans as “good”.
I pray that when we face tough challenges in life we will trust that God is working all things together for good, for us and for his purposes on the Earth. - Mike Nank

EVENING PRAYER FOCUS | Re-Focus on Jesus by praying an Examen & Tending Your Heart 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.
+ 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.

FOCUS ON OTHERS |
+ Pray through a Ripple Prayer or use Nations Prayer to pray for the nations and those serving them.
+ Text someone a prayer/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.

That’s all for today.
Stay focused on Jesus, and make it a great one!