The Morning Focus Daily Devotional with Rick and McKenna

Have you ever fallen down before? The whole ordeal is so painful; it's the fear as you fall, the pain as you hit the ground, the dismay as you take stock of your injury, the panic if you aren't able to get yourself upright. Maybe you haven't literally fallen, but you can see the same series of events taking place in your life. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus as they...

What are you successful in? What is the accomplishment you are most proud of? Growth, success, and achievements are all great things that are worthy of being excited about! But have you ever felt fully filled, completely content, by an accomplishment? When we make success our end goal we end up disappointed. Before the enemy can tell you that that is because you just need to do more, join Rick and...

Do you ever struggle to roll back into your routine on a Monday morning? Reminding ourselves of who God is- especially the parts of His character that we often look over- can be huge in getting us started on the right foot. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is n...

if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself. 2 Timothy 2:13  

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.   Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,   and give no opportunity to the devil. Ephesians 4:25-27 

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. James 1:5

But he was pierced for our transgressions;      he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,      and with his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 5:35  

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.   John 8:36  

Do you ever feel like God is more of a distant figure than a close friend and father? It can feel like the strength or hope or love he gives is like a package shipped in the mail. Our God is not far from you today, in fact He is close enough for you to see His face. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus. Look to the Lord and his strength;   seek his face always.   Psalm 10...

  Have you ever watched an adventure movie where almost every thing that can go wrong, goes wrong and the characters have to risk life and limb to reach their goal? After all that struggling you can almost wonder "is it even worth it?" At our core, we want to feel valuable. We want to feel like we are worth it. If today you are struggling to feel like you are valuable, or that God thinks you are w...

What is your name? No, not your birth name or last name- we're asking about the name that hangs over you. Is it Failure, Addict, or Mistake? Maybe it is Dumb, Trickster, or Angry. These names are not yours to keep, because our God transforms  us. He will give you a new name. Join us for today's episode of The Morning Focus to dive into what that transformation looks like. God said to him, "Your na...

Ever heard of "stinking' thinking'" before? It's when you get into a headspace that echoes with "I can't" "I don't have" and "I'm not able". It can be a miserable place to be. When the enemy wraps degrees of truth into these discouraging thoughts it can be hard to shake them. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus for a reminder of the truth and our hope beyond the "stinkin...

"I just can't do this." Have you said that today? Maybe you've thought it as you faced up against the battle artound you. I've been there too. How terrible if we were alone. If that defeat was the end of the story for us. We have so much more hope than that though, friend! Join me for today's episode fo The Morning Focus as we are reminded of what if true. - McKenna

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." John 1:5 Darkness is total and encompassing. It can feel suffocating. Do you feel suffocated by your life in this season? Fear of the "what if" is natural when there is so much darkness around us. But the Light of our God is undeniable and unquenchable. Join McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus for some encourage...

"In the place of justice-wickedness was there"...sound familiar? Blood boils when we  see just blatantly wrong things happening without recompense. If you are seeing red this morning join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus. I said to myself, "God will bring into judgment both the righteous and the wicked, for there will be a time for every activity, a time to judge every dee...

If you feel alone, then you're not alone. Ironic, right? We live in a weird time where it is possible for us to communicate with a stranger across the world in seconds, yet loneliness is a universal problem. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus for some encouragement and a reminder that you are not alone.

Why take a break when I feel like it's only going to put me more behind? Have you ever thought that before? I've been there. I'll feel like a failure if I don't get the to-do list done. God's got more for us than this productivity based identity. Join Rick and I for today's episode of The Morning Focus. So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God,     for whoever has entered God's...

Life is full of stop signs, road blocks and obstacles. If the enemy had his way, those are the only things we'd focus on. We'd develop tunnel vision for only the things that hurt. This morning, let's turn our eyes to where our hope comes from. Join Rick and McKenna for a dose of encouragement on today's episode of The Morning Focus. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.    Genesi...

Singing that He is an "On Time God"during worship on Sunday is one thing. Believing it when you're begging Him to show up in an impossible situation is another. It can feel like He's late or not going to show up at all. Did He send an RSVP? If you are feeling that panic today, know that you are not alone. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus. For still the vision awaits i...

As much as this verse is meant to encourage you to be bold about your faith, has it ever left you feeling insecure about your relationship with God? For me, I can feel that I need to have a perfect relationship with God and also be equipped with the answer to every possible theological question. If you're carrying the same burden today, join Rick and I for today's episode of The Morning Focus. But...

The Oxford Dictionary defines shame as "a painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior." When shame is beating me down, I wish that I could get away from myself. Do you know that feeling? It can seep in like poison and convince you that God feels the same repulsion towards you. Join Rick and McKenna for a reminder of the truth, and some encour...

What is covering your this morning? Is it fear, or anger? Maybe you feel draped in anxiety. Sounds like it's time for a wardrobe change. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus as they'll be digging into what God offers us to wear. I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For He has clothed me with  garments of salvation  and  arrayed me in a robe of his ri...

I heard a story about a girl in fourth grade who got her first ever "B" on a report card and was absolutely destroyed by it. She felt she had totally and completely failed. Do you resonate with that? Are you achievement driven? That can be such a great, effective trait! But what happens when we don't hit our goals with our relationship with God? Do you feel like a failure of a Christian? Join Rick...

Have you ever been caught outside in a storm? All that rain and wind and lightening is much nicer to watch through a window than it is to feel beating down on your body. Life can feel like getting caught in a storm, and the enemy would tell you that you have no where to go. That you are all alone. If you've felt that hopelessness, then Rick and McKenna have a reminder for you on the truth. Join th...

The average American values their time as being worth $240/hour. Time is money and we know it! That's why we hate interruptions soooo much. Have you ever felt like an interruption to God? Like an inconvenient blip stealing His attention away from the larger, much more important things He manages? If you've got two minutes today, join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus, they'...