The Morning Focus Daily Devotional with Rick and McKenna

We spend so much time trying to clean up the outside—fixing our behavior, managing appearances, hoping we'll finally be "good enough." But God has never waited for us to get it together before loving us. Join Rick & McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus.  "But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners."   ‭‭Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭8     Faith Podc...

Troubleshooting anything can be hard, but when it's your relationship with God it can feel even more frustrating! Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus. Thus says the   Lord , your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the   Lord   your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go.   Isaiah 48:17   Faith Podcasts are   made possible by your supp...

We don't like to need other people, especially when those other people might not give us what we want. What happens when that "other person" is God? Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus.  Thus says the   Lord , your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the   Lord   your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go.   Isaiah 48:17   Faith Podca...

Lying isn't good for any relationship, so why would it help our relationship with God? We convince ourselves that the worship God wants from us has to look a certain way, but God what God wants is the real thing. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus. 1 Chronicles 29:17 says,   I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things I have...

You may not be preparing for a musical or a play, but you do rehearse a script everyday. And what that script is, matters. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus. But encourage one another daily,   as long as it is called "Today," so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.     Hebrews 3:13   Faith Podcasts are   made possible by your support. You can click...

How do you trust someone you don't know? The answer is that you don't, and God doesn't ask you to. That's why He's made His character known all through the world He created. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus. Every good and perfect gift is from above,   coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,   who does not change   like shifting shadows.   James 1:17   Fai...

Do you have that thing in your life that you think about it and just know "that's why I'll never belong." It could be something from your past, maybe a physical ailment. God doesn't see you "that thing" the way you think He does. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus. So Mephibosheth ate at David's table like one of the king's sons.   2 Samuel 9:11   Faith Podcasts are   m...

It's the season of busy  busy   busy ! Or maybe you feel like that's just been the theme of your life lately, season aside. Rest can feel like a waste of time, but it's in those pause moments that God meets with us. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus. "But Mary stood outside the tomb crying."   John 20:11   Faith Podcasts are   made possible by your support. You can cli...

No one wants to carry more weight than they have to, so why do we take on burdens in our relationship with God that we don't need? Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.   Matthew 11:30   Faith Podcasts are   made possible by your support. You can click here to give.  

"Peace is a person." Is that just a cheesy, overused phrase or is there some wisdom there? Dig into your prayers for peace with Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus. He said to his disciples,   "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"   Mark 4:40   Faith Podcasts are   made possible by your support. You can click here to give.  

Ever feel like you're moving from one chaotic moment to the other. Not really responding the way you want to, more just reacting to what's in front of you? When life gets that way it can be an indicator of a deeper need. Joi Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus. There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her....

There's so much we can learn from Jesus and how He spent His time on earth. When we see that He was not above being interrupted, it's an invitation for us to change our perspective as well. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33  

Anyone else get a little too annoyed when they're interrupted? As justified as we feel about our annoyance, it's such good news that God does not feel the same way. He welcomes your "interruptions." Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus.  When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. Matthew 14:14

God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? Numbers 23:19

Life is busy. That's not new information for anyone. But in the midst of all the rush and hustle, we can forget that we're not alone. The Bible paints us a great picture to remind us of the truth. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus. Yet I still belong to you;        you hold my right hand.   Psalm 73:23     Faith Podcasts are   made possible by your support. You can cli...

But when the kindness   and love of God our Savior   appeared,    he saved us,not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit Titus 3:4-5

What do you do when doing the right thing seems to cost you more than you expected? Daniel stayed completely devoted to God and still found himself spending a long night in a den of lions. But the Bible points to the real reason he survived: his trust. Today's episode is a reminder that you may not avoid every dark place, but you will never walk through it alone. Join Rick & McKenna for today's ep...

How often do you think God says, "Alright, I'm tired of this."? I mean there is so much injustice in the world. Honestly, you could probably find enough in your own life to point out that would give Him reason to say that. Maybe you've felt that before, not necessarily that God is fed up with the world, but that He is fed up with you. You've messed up so many times. You've gone back on your word s...

You know that Sesame Street game where you sing "One of these things is not like the other"? When you play, there's normally an assortment of objects in front of you. Maybe a banana, an apple, an orange, and a basketball. The point of the game is to point out which of the items doesn't belong. It's one thing to see how the basketball is different than the fruits, but do you ever feel like you're t...

Ever feel like if you weren't there to hold it all together everything would fall apart? That's a lot of weight to put on yourself. God offers us another option for placing that weight. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus.  The eternal God is your refuge,        and his everlasting arms are under you.   Deuteronomy 33:27   Faith Podcasts are   made possible by your suppo...

What do you do when you don't feel the way you're "supposed to"? Does God even put an expectation on us that we feel a certain way about our circumstances? If the way you feel has ever felt in conflict with God's word, join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus.    Give  thanks in all circumstances;   for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.   1 Thessalonians 5:18   Fait...

Do you ever use positive affirmations? Reminding yourself of who you are is so key, but what your pulling that identify from matters. Your identity is based on something much more concrete than just a smile and convincing tone. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus.    We are confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ.   It is not that we think...

Not knowing, can be one of the scariest things. And that fear can stop you from finding out; finding out who God is, what He's really like, or what He's calling you to. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus.  The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works. Psalm 145:9 Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give.

Does it ever feel like all you do when it comes to God is sit and wait? While God doesn't always answer our prayers or fulfill His promises right away, it's not always because He wants us to just sit and wait.  Sometimes, faith takes action. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus.  When he saw them, he said,   "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And  as they went , they w...

The message is normally to learn how to be content. But what if we're settling for so much less than what God has for us. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus. If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!   Luke 11:13   Faith Podcasts are   made possible by your s...