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: 1 Kings 14:21-15:8
+ 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 132
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 John 17:20-26
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…
“The power of prayer.” I’ve heard this phrase used many times, but it’s one of those phrases that I think gets lost on people. I know at times it has for me - almost feeling redundant. Jesus’ prayer in John 17 speaks of belonging. Over and over He solidifies who He is and that those that love Him belong to Him. He prays for His disciples, who He knew beforehand would fail Him and falter in their obedience at the time of His arrest and death. As imperfect as these disciples were, He prayed in faith for them. He prayed boldly of how they were given to Him by the Father. Knowing all of this before His sacrifice, He also prayed for us. Jesus showed His disciples how much he loved and believed in them through these last moments in prayer. He believed that even though their faith faltered momentarily that His message would continue throughout the ages, and that they would continue to follow after him - gifted with the Holy Spirit after His resurrection. “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in me through their word;” (John‬ ‭17‬:‭20‬) Jesus loves His disciples and prayed in full loving faithfulness for them. Not only for them, but for us AND those who will come to know Jesus through our words and works! 

Jesus’ prayer for each of our lives is to further His message of salvation to the ends of the earth until the end of time. Your prayers and the message you carry have real power! Let’s speak and pray boldly today. Pray for yourself, for those that look to you for guidance, and all those that will be drawn close to Jesus because of what you say. The natural outpouring of loving works starts here, and I’m praying today that you would receive the message Jesus was speaking in His prayer over you. That you would pray boldly and rejoice in this call - because it glorifies our God and brings Him joy! - 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!