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 21
+ 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 119:113-120
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 10:34-42
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…
It’s that time of the year when our culture focuses on fear. We’ve created movies and shows with disturbing plots and terrifying images. We’ve created haunted houses and orchards. (Even as I type this my adult children are leaving for a haunted car wash. What?!) We even decorate our homes with skeletons, spiders, etc. While this is all in fun, most of the images and premises are based on evil; supernatural dark forces or our twisted human sinful nature. This is not an anti-Halloween take…I’m leading to a different thought. Bear with me.
There is plenty in this world that we could be afraid of: demons, sick-minded people, natural disasters, mental and physical illness, etc. But it struck me as I was reading today’s scriptures that we need only fear one thing in this life.
In Psalm 119 the psalmist, speaking to God says: “My flesh trembles for fear of you, and I am afraid of your judgments.”
The truth is this world is a troublesome, scary place. There are plenty of things that can hurt us. But as we know, this existence is temporary. We are spiritual beings, and there is an eternity available to us outside these bodies. Our fate is in the hands of the one, and only one, who will decide that fate…God. Jesus once said “Don’t fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28)
What does it mean that we should FEAR God? Should we run from him like he’s a chainsaw wielding killer? By no means! This type of fear is more like deep, heavy, healthy respect. An acknowledgment that since God is the creator and sustainer of the entire universe, including us, he has ultimate authority, and he could end us just as easily as he began us. However, here’s the beautiful twist: he won’t. Speaking through the prophet Jeremiah, God said: “ I know the plans I have for you…plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jesus echoed this heart of God many times through his words and actions.
We give God plenty of reasons to give up on us, judge us guilty of disobedience, and condemn us. But he IS love. His mercies are new each day and he is always ready to receive us with open arms.
During this spooky season, fear God and God alone. Approach him with respectful humility and he will meet you with love and peace and power to face the far less scary things of this world. - 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!
