The Morning Focus Daily Devotional with Rick and McKenna

We all want to be known as trustworthy people, but have you ever thought about being trustworthy to  God ? Friendship with Him starts with salvation, but it grows through obedience and trust. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of  The Morning Focus.   "You are my friends if you do what I command." John 15:14     Faith Podcasts are   made possible by your support. You can click here to give....

It's easy to feel like you're falling behind when everyone else seems to be moving ahead. But God doesn't measure your life by how quickly you hit milestones. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus. Link is in the comments.   "To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven."   Ecclesiastes 3:1   Faith Podcasts are   made possible by your suppo...

We all love those little moments when someone surprises us with kindness. But God doesn't just do good things, He is good. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of   The Morning Focus.   No one is good—except God alone   Mark 10:18   Faith Podcasts are   made possible by your support. You can click here to give.    

It's easy to get distracted by the things right in front of us. But those things never fully satisfy. The enemy wants to pull the wool over our eyes, but God invites us into something better. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus. "For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. Th...

It's easy to brush off the little things we say to ourselves, but those words add up—and they can shape how we see ourselves. The good news? We can choose words that align with truth instead of lies. Proverbs 12:18 reminds us that our words carry the power to wound or to heal. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus. "The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the ton...

Mondays can feel heavy with everything waiting for you—projects, conversations, and obstacles that seem bigger than your strength. But the truth is, it's not all on you. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of  The Morning Focus. He raised Christ from the dead   and seated him at his right hand   in the heavenly realms,   21   far above all rule and authority, power and dominion,   and every...

Spiritual growth can feel like it's all on our shoulders, but only God makes things grow. That means our role is to posture ourselves for growth—opening our hearts, showing up, and trusting God with the rest. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 1 Corinthians 3:6

Being kind to everyone sounds like a kindergarten lesson, doesn't it? But choosing encouragement and kindness every day actually protects our hearts from becoming hardened and judgmental. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus.   "But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called 'today,' that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin." Hebrews 3:13

We don't need laughter, flavor, or even that rush of endorphins after a good workout to survive, yet God built those joys into us on purpose. That tells us something about His heart. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus. And the Lord God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; Genesis 2:16

Have you ever wondered if you've finally messed up too much for God to forgive you? No mistake, no failure, no regret can separate you from His love. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus.  "All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away." John 6:37

Ever tried to count grains of sand? It's impossible. Yet Psalm 139 says God's thoughts about you outnumber them. That's a new way to look at God's love. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus.    How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can't even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me! Psal...

Headlines shape how we see a story—and sometimes it feels like our past or our pain is the headline over our lives. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus. "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you."   Romans 16:20    

Forgiving people is messy. And because that's our experience, it can feel impossible to believe God has truly forgiven us. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus. I—yes, I alone—will blot out your sins for my own sake   and will never think of them again.   Isaiah 43:25  

It's easy to confuse conviction with condemnation. The enemy attacks us with shame and accusation, but that's not how God works. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of  The Morning Focus . "For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down."   Revelation 12:10  

It's easy to start something with excitement, but staying committed when exhaustion, fear, or doubt creeps in can feel impossible. God is committed to you, and with His help, you can stay committed too. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of  The Morning Focus .  The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs awa...

When life feels unbearable, it can be tempting to give up on trusting God. But sometimes, the moment we're closest to breakthrough is the moment the enemy fights hardest to make us quit. Today's episode is a powerful reminder from Hebrews 10:35–36.  Join Rick & McKenna for  T he Morning Focus.   Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36  For you have need of enduran...

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16  

Some days feel unbearably heavy. New headlines and even historic ones can leave us feeling broken and undone. But Jesus gives us promise after promise in Matthew 5 that our current brokenness isn't the end of the story. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus. Link is in the comments. Blessed are the poor in spirit,     for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those...

Sometimes our view of God gets smaller than it should be—like He's less powerful, less capable, or less loving than He really is. But it's easier than you might think to get a better view of who God is. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus. "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being unde...

September 9th is the most common birthday in the U.S. If today's your birthday, happy birthday! Even if it's not your special day, you might know someone who is celebrating today. Birthdays are about recognizing that a person matters. But did you know God celebrates you too? Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus.  "Long ago the Lord said to Israel: 'I have loved you, my pe...

What does being taken care of look like to you? The picture Jesus gives us for how Gid takes care of us has much more to do with our everyday needs than first meets the eye. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus. Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Matth...

Sometimes life feels like one big "before picture"—broken, heavy, and unfinished. But God doesn't leave us there.  Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of  The Morning Focus .  You turned my wailing   into dancing; you removed my sackcloth   and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. Lord   my God, I will praise   you forever.   Psalm 30:11-12  

Hope can feel risky—because when it's placed in people or plans, there's no guarantee it won't fall apart. And maybe that's why it feels safer at times not to hope at all. But God offers us something different. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of  The Morning Focus . He will swallow up death forever! The Sovereign Lord will wipe away all tears. He will remove forever all insults and mocke...

When you're staring down a problem that feels bigger than you, it's easy to let fear take over. But just like King Hezekiah, we can shift our perspective by reminding ourselves who God really is. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus. "And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord: 'Lord, the God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the e...

When problems come, what's your first move? Maybe it's to go inward—planning, worrying, or feeling the weight of it all. But the story of King Hezekiah shows us another way. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus. "Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord."   2 Kings 19:14