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: Leviticus 4:32-35, 16:1-22
+ 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 141:1-4
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 1:29, Hebrews 10:1-10, & 2 Corinthians 5:21
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…
There’s something about being a Dad that makes your kids believe you can fix anything. There is no place where this is more clear than in the Christmas village we set up at home every year. Because my kids love playing with the little people and houses so much, most of them are broken in several places and held together by an impressive amount of super glue. (Yes, that’s my secret ingredient). I’ve even managed to convince my wife that I am “handy” and can fix most things. The truth is, I’m just stubborn and don’t give up! But of course, there are plenty of things that are, frustratingly, beyond my super glue abilities to fix. Have you ever tried to fix something on your own, only to realize it’s beyond your ability? Maybe you even end up making the problem worse (I know I can’t be the only one…) That’s what sin is like—it’s a mess we can’t clean up no matter how hard we try. The sacrifices in the Old Testament reminded people of this. Hebrews 10 tells us those sacrifices could never fully take away sin; they were just a shadow of the ultimate solution to come. Enter Jesus.
John 1:29 introduces us to that solution when John the Baptist declares, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” Jesus wasn’t just another lamb; He was the perfect, final sacrifice. In 2 Corinthians 5:21, Paul writes that Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin for us so that we could be made right with God. That’s the ultimate exchange—His perfection for our brokenness. It’s a reminder that we don’t have to carry the weight of our sin anymore. Jesus has already dealt with it, once and for all. All that’s left is for us to trust Him and live in the freedom and joy of being made new. Sin isn’t our problem to fix anymore. You’re at Peace with God. Live in that today. Bring the broken pieces of your life to your loving Father, and let Him begin to fix it. - Dave Kubiak
This week of Advent, we’re Focusing on Peace. Check out the Paradox Christmas Worship playlist to fill your season with the peace of Jesus amidst all the noise.
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!
