The Morning Focus Daily Devotional with Rick and McKenna

Fear sounds a lot like wisdom sometimes. It promises protection, safety, and control—but it leads to exhaustion and isolation. What if you didn't have to trust fear anymore? What if there's a better voice to follow? Join Rick & McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus and be reminded: you can trust God's voice. "For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline."  2 Timothy 1:7  Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give. 

When there's so much need all around, it's easy to get overwhelmed. How are you supposed to handle everything? How do you help everyone? When Jesus taught us to pray, He simplified things quite a bit. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus.  Give us today our daily bread. Matthew 6:11  Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give. 

Do you ever feel like God moves in slow motion? As frustrating as it can be, there's purpose behind it. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus. Link is in the comments.    But Jesus overheard them and said to Jairus, "Don't be afraid. Just have faith."  Mark 5:36  Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give. 

When life gets painful, we usually just want it fixed. But what if there's something better than a quick   solution? Jesus offers peace—not by removing the pain, but by being with us in it. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus.   "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you." John 14:27  Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give. 

What if the part of your life that feels too far gone… isn't? There is a name that carries resurrection power—and He brings hope to the places we've given up on. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus.    1 Corinthians 15:55:  "Where, O death, is your victory?  Where, O death, is your sting?"   Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give. 

Do you know what your purpose in life is? Maybe that question itself makes you cringe. It feels complicated yet vague all at the same time. But what if we're looking at purpose the wrong way? Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus.  Then Paul answered, "Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus."  Acts 21:13   Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give. 

Thrifting is great, but it only goes so far. There's just some items that don't work as well second hand. Faith is that way too. Living off of someone else's relationship with God isn't enough, He wants a personal relationship with you too. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus. So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.  Romans 14:12  Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give. 

We all carry titles—some we earned, some we didn't ask for. But what if the truest thing about you isn't your job, your relationships, or your past? What if your most important identity is simply this: You are the one Jesus loves. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus.  "Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, 'It is the Lord!'"  John 21:7   Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give. 

Your past may be part of your story, but it doesn't have to define your future. In this episode, Rick & McKenna look at a reminder from Paul's life about leaving regret behind and pressing on toward what God has ahead. Join Rick & McKenna for today's episode of the Morning Focus.  I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.  Philippians 3:13-14  Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give. 

Plans change. Doors close. Circumstances shift. If you are walking through a season of uncertainty, Rick and McKenna are sharing that God's faithfulness never does. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of the Morning Focus.  "If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself." 2 Timothy 2:13  Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give.     

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.  2 Corinthians 3:17  Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give. 

One of the enemy's favorite lies is convincing us that our failures disqualify us from God's purpose. In this episode, Rick and McKenna share why God isn't looking for perfection, He's looking for faithfulness. If you've been struggling with guilt, setbacks, or feeling like you've fallen too far, this conversation will remind you that God's grace is greater than your mistakes. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of the Morning Focus.   Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.  1 Corinthians 4:2  Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give. 

Do you ever just feel emptied out? Like you've given and given and you don't have much left. It's easy to feel like it's all on you, but God has another way. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus. Link is in the comments.   Psalm 73:26 says,   My heart and my strength my fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.   Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give.   

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 understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse."  Romans 1:20   Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give. 

You've probably done it—searched the house for your phone, only to realize it was in your hand the whole time. Funny how we do that with God too. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus Don't you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God?   1 Corinthians 6:19  Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give. 

Do you ever wish you were more drawn to God? Of course self discipline matters, but sometimes the way we see God can change how much we want to be with Him. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus. And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God  Exodus 34:6  Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give. 

What do you do when your life feels more like a mess than a masterpiece? When the struggles, doubts, and challenges seem too big to handle? Remember—God works in the mess, not in spite of it. If you're curious of how, join McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus. Without oxen a stable stays clean,      but you need a strong ox for a large harvest.  Proverbs 14:4  Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give. 

Why does temptation seem to show up at the worst possible times? Right after a spiritual high… or when you're worn out and stretched thin? Luke 4:13 gives us a clue, the enemy waits for an opportune time. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus and some encouragement on how to respond in these moments.  When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.  Luke 4:13  Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give.   

In case you're feeling a bit like you're getting scammed: yes the Christian life still has struggles with is, and YES it is still worth it. But that's easier said than lived. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus.   In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.  1 Peter 5:10  Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give. 

Do you ever wonder what it would be like if you stopped helping everyone? Can you be loved if you have nothing to offer? Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus. Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat!  Isaiah 55:1  Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give. 

Galatians 6:9:  Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Have you ever felt afraid to let go of something valuable? Maybe it's your time, your talents, or your resources—you want to do good with them, but giving up control feels risky. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus. Link is in the comments.  Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.  Matthew 6:33  Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give. 

Are you a nervous talker? It can be hard to trust that God hears your prayers and will answer you, when He rarely does so audibly and immediately, but that doesn't mean He isn't answering you. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus.  As you enter the house of God, keep your ears open and your mouth shut. It is evil to make mindless offerings to God.  Ecclesiastes 5:1  Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give. 

Do you ever start to wonder if God changed His mind about you? Waiting gets hard, and shame and doubt creep in and make the whole thing murky. But the Bible reminds us of the truth, even in the hardest season of waiting join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus.   All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.   Acts 2:5-6  Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give. 

In today's world you've gotta be tough, right? As much sense as that might make, it's not the way God directs us. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus. And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.  Ezekiel 36:26  Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give. 

When chaos, uncertainty, and disappointment surround us, life can start to feel overwhelming. At a recent broadcasting conference, Rick heard a message that sparked a powerful conversation: What if you're in the middle of a miracle and don't even realize it? Looking at stories throughout Scripture, from the Israelites crossing the Red Sea to the woman who touched Jesus' garment, Rick and McKenna explore how God's greatest work often happens in the middle of messy, confusing circumstances. If you've ever felt trapped by fear or shame, frustrated by waiting, or unsure of what God is doing in your life, this Full Focus episode is for you. Join Rick and McKenna as they discuss pursuing Jesus by diving into the unknown, learning to trust God when the outcome isn't clear, and recognizing that the miracle may not look the way you expected.  Full Focus episodes are extended conversations from The Morning Focus, where Rick and McKenna go deeper into the truths explored in their daily devotionals. Sometimes they're joined by special guests, and other times they share personal stories from their own faith journeys, but every episode is designed to encourage, challenge, and remind you of what's true.  

Trying to carry tomorrow's problems today is exhausting.  If you've been worrying about what's next, searching for answers, or feeling the pressure to have everything figured out, this conversation is for you. Join Rick and McKenna for this episode of The Morning Focus and discover the freedom that comes from trusting the One who already knows the way forward.  "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will direct your paths"  Proverbs 3:5-6  Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give. 

Waiting may be one of the hardest things God asks us to do.  When you're praying for direction, hoping for a breakthrough, or wondering what comes next, it's tempting to take matters into your own hands. But what if God is still working, even when it feels like nothing is happening?  Join Rick and McKenna for this episode of the podcast as they talk about trusting God's timing and why waiting on Him is never wasted.  The Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for him to help them.  Isaiah 30:18   Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give.   

What do you do when life doesn't go according to plan?  Maybe you're facing something completely different than what you expected and wondering what God is doing. Rick shares how losing his job led him down a path he never would have chosen for himself—and how God used it to bring him somewhere better than he could have imagined.  Join Rick and McKenna for this episode of the podcast and discover why sometimes the plan you can't see yet is better than the one you're trying to hold onto.  For my thoughts are not your thoughts,     neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth,     so are my ways higher than your ways     and my thoughts than your thoughts.  Isaiah 55:8-9  Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give. 

Sometimes anxiety sneaks up on us so gradually that we don't even realize how much it's affecting us. An experience bring work stress home helped me recognize I was carrying around more worry than I thought. The good news? God gives us a better place to take our anxiety. Discover how one simple verse from Philippians 4 can help shift your focus from the size of your problems to the greatness of your God. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus for a reminder of powerful truth about worry and anxiety.   Don't be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  Philippians 4:6   Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give. 

Waiting can feel frustrating—especially when you're praying, hoping, and wondering when God is going to move. In those seasons, it's easy to believe the lie that He's forgotten you. But what if the waiting isn't evidence of His absence? What if He's still working in ways you can't yet see?  Join Rick and McKenna on The Morning Focus to explore why God sometimes allows us to wait, and how those waiting seasons can grow our faith and deepen our trust in Him. Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."  John 13:7  Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give. 

Have you ever wondered if God is finished with you? If you best days are behind you? The good news is that the Bible has a clear answer to those questions, and a response to the lies. Join McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus. Link is in the comments. I will praise the Lord as long as I live. I will sing praises to my God with my dying breath. Psalm 146:2 Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give.

Have you ever been in a pitch-black room and fumbled around for a light switch? It's disorienting! That's what life can feel like when you're struggling. But God promises not to leave the hope-finding up to us. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus for a reminder of the hope we have in the midst of our darkest moments.  You light a lamp for me.      The Lord, my God, lights up my darkness.  Psalm 18:28   Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give. 

Have you lowered your expectations when it comes to God? Faith is hard, and it's easy to settle for the bare minimum when it comes to what we ask of God. But God is big enough to warrant our highest expectations! Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus.   Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk."   Acts 3:6  Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give. 

When you find out that someone isn't like what you thought they were, it's normally a bad thing. But when it comes to God, Job shows us how it's actually great news! Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus. Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways, and how small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?  Job 26:14  Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give. 

How could pain and joy mix? Sure, maybe you could see being joyful after a hard season, but not during. Nonetheless the Bible is filled with examples of joy in the midst of sorrow.  So how do you get there without trying to force it? Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus. "For you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me."  Psalm 63:7-8  Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give. 

Some things in our lives are just... dead. Dreams, relationships, seasons we wish we could get back. But instead of letting go, we hang on. Afraid to call them what they are. But what if the thing you're holding on to is the very thing keeping you from the new life He's offering? Join McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus.  "Then he said to me, 'Prophesy to these bones and say to them, 'Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!'" – Ezekiel 37:4 Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give.

Some lies are obvious, but others sound so close to the truth it's hard to tell the difference. The enemy wants to twist what's good and steal your peace, but you weren't made to follow his voice. You were made to follow your Shepherd. Join McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus.  "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10 Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give.

You might not realize it in the moment, but hindsight has a way of revealing the faithfulness of God. Maybe you've walked through a tough season only to look back and realize that God had been going before you the entire time. Join McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus.  "The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8 Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give.

T There are some days when you read a verse and it's soothing and sweet. And others when you wonder how it could possibly be true. When the state of your life feels like the evidence against God's word, what do you do with that tension? Join McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus.  And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give.

And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.  Genesis 1:31  Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give.

Pain has a way of making us feel forgotten. In the midst of heartbreak, waiting, and uncertainty, it can be hard to believe that God is still working. For Jeremy Rosado, life brought deep challenges at a young age, walking through his sister's battle with addiction, helping raise and eventually adopt his niece, and setting aside his dreams so he could care for his family. Through these hard seasons, Jeremy learned what it meant to rely fully on God, even when the path ahead didn't look clear. If you've ever felt stuck in a waiting season, questioned God's timing, or felt the weight of shame, this Full Focus episode is for you. Join Rick, McKenna, and Jeremy as they talk honestly about faith in challenging seasons, learning to recognize God's voice amid the enemy's lies, and finding healing through full surrender. Jeremy shares the powerful stories behind his songs like "Come and See," "Hero in the Room," and "Keep Holding On," as well as the different moments that shaped both his career and his faith. Full Focus episodes are extended conversations from The Morning Focus, where Rick and McKenna go deeper into the truths explored in their daily devotionals. Sometimes they're joined by special guests, and other times they share personal stories from their own faith journeys, but every episode is designed to encourage, challenge, and remind you of what's true.

Jesus as our savior is an idea we don't have much trouble accepting, but Jesus as our king? That's a bit more complicated. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus.   In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.  Judges 21:25   Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give. 

The problem with drifting is that it happens so slowly and gradually that it's hardly noticeable. That's how even the most respected people find themselves in the midst of moral failure, steady. Small compromise. So what do we do to avoid drifting, and what do you do if you can see that you already have started? Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus. In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king's men and the whole Israelite army.  2 Samuel 11:1   Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give. 

The problem with drifting is that it happens so slowly and gradually that it's hardly noticeable. That's how even the most respected people find themselves in the midst of moral failure, steady. Small compromise. So what do we do to avoid drifting, and what do you do if you can see that you already have started? Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus.  In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king's men and the whole Israelite army.  2 Samuel 11:1    Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give. 

For that thing that's been worrying you, what is the worst case scenario? For real, what would that look like? And if it really happened, would God still be God? Would He still be with you? Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,  Psalm 46:1-2  Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give. 

Sometimes it takes getting stung by a stinging nettle plant to see how much God really cares. And He does care. A LOT. Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus. In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.  Job 12:10  Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give. 

How has your week been? Whether it's been one win after another, or a string of losses, Rick and McKenna want to pray over you today. Join them for today's episode of The Morning Focus.  I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God's power for us who believe him.  Ephesians 1:16-19  Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give. 

Are you a giver, or a taker? Well, we all know what the "right" answer is. "It is better to give than to receive" and all that…But even if you are someone who gives and gives and gives…there's an over used quote for that too: "You can't pour from an empty cup." So what about finding a way to mix the two? Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus.  He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 2 Corinthians 1:4 Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give.

Have you ever thought about how BIG God is? It's almost overwhelming if you think about it too much. It can also be a reason we use to not take the real things on our heart to God. "He's too big for that." Join Rick and McKenna for today's episode of The Morning Focus. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?  Matthew 6:30  Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give.