JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is to put on the full armor of God.

The Christian life is a spiritual battlefield, not with the weapons of the world, and not against flesh and blood.  Our battle is against spiritual forces in the heavenly realms. The weapons available to us consist of truth, faith, prayer, salvation, righteousness, and God’s Word.

Ephesians 6:11 tells us to put on the full armor of God, so that we can take our stand against the devil’s schemes.

Satan tries to influence us through temptation, accusation, condemnation, and confusion. But the weapons that God provides for us are strong enough to resist the devil’s influence, so that we can follow Jesus with a fully devoted heart.

Second Peter 1:3 tells us that God’s “divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” The armor of God equips us to stand firm in the faith.

Putting on the full armor of God is a vital step to a radiant faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is Meditation on God’s Word.

Studying the Bible has great value for our faith. The truth of Scripture has a refreshing impact on our soul much like raindrops on dry ground.

That is what we find in Psalm 1, verses 1 through 3: “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither-whatever they do prospers.”

Meditating on God’s Word is not a quick process. It is compared to a cow chewing its cud.  We slow down, take time to enjoy the experience, and find nourishment for our soul as we taste and see that the Lord is good.

Meditation on God’s Word is a vital step to a radiant faith that makes a difference in the world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Light Reflection is from Psalm 119:45.

I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.

America recently celebrated birthday number 247. We have enjoyed many freedoms in this nation through the years not experienced by other nations.

Those freedoms did not come easily, but came at a huge price for many.

The spiritual freedoms that we enjoy are even more precious, and came to us at the price of blood shed by Jesus at the cross.

God’s Word shows the way to true and lasting freedom, by following Jesus and obeying His commands. Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Jesus is able to set our heart free, so that we are not bound by the control of sin, but liberated to serve others by His love.

This Light Reflection inspires us to enjoy the freedom of living out God’s Word in the Year to Shine.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is to delight in God’s Word.

Psalm 119 is considered the longest chapter of the Bible. It is filled with references to God’s Word in almost every one of the 176 verses.

In verses 127 and 128, the writer says, “Because I love your commands more than gold, more than pure gold, and because I consider all your precepts right, I hate every wrong path.”

Our attitude toward God’s Word has a strong impact on the direction of our lives. If God’s Word is a treasure to our heart that outweighs the value of gold, then we are going to heed God’s Word carefully to live it out. God’s Word has value for guiding us in the pathway that leads to a thriving faith and true freedom.

Jesus said that if we hold to the teachings of Jesus, we are really His disciples. Then we will know the truth, and the truth will set us free.

Delighting in God’s Word is a Vital Step to a Radiant Faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year to Shine, today’s Vital Step to a Radiant Faith is Godly Training in God’s Word.

One of the resources that God has provided for our spiritual growth is the Bible.

Second Timothy 3:16 says that “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Filling up on God’s Word prepares us to do God’s will, not just because of what we learn in the Bible, but also, how the content changes us by the transforming love of Jesus. We learn to love Jesus and grow in His grace. God’s will becomes the desire of our heart.

Godly Training in God’s Word is a vital step to a Radiant Faith that makes a difference in our world.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verses are Psalm 19:7 and 8.

“The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.”

God’s Word is a precious gift to us. Some people have described the Bible as God’s love letter to the world. The wisdom of His words teaches us and guides us in the path of God’s will. The encouragement of His words reveals to us that our lives matter to God, and that He dearly loves us. The plan of salvation is revealed in the good news of His Word, which directs us to faith in Jesus Christ. That is where we find forgiveness, true love, certain hope, and eternal life.

These faith-building verses inspire us to spend quality time with God by reading His Word in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Endurance, today’s Daily Challenge motivates us to grow in God’s Word.

When Jesus taught a parable in Luke chapter 8, He spoke of seeds scattered on four different kinds of soil. There were three different soils where the seed did not produce a crop. They represent people who either don’t embrace God’s word, or are distracted from God’s word to pursue something else, like wealth or pleasure.

But there was one type of soil that did produce a thriving crop.  That soil represents the person with a noble and good heart, who hears the word, retains it, and by persevering, they produce a crop.

This is a description of someone whose heart is receptive to God’s Word, believes Gods Word, obeys God’s Word, and continues in God’s Word. By God’s grace, this is how we can live out a productive Christian life and stand tall as a witness for Christ.

Take the daily challenge to grow in God’s Word on the journey of faith.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Vision, today’s 20/20 Insight focuses on the nourishment of spring rains and the word of God.

In Isaiah 55:10, the LORD compares the rain cycle with the nourishment of His Word to feed our soul.

From the New Living Translation, “The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.”

Just as the soil needs rain for the crops to grow, so we need God’s Word for our faith to grow. That is one dependable place where we can turn to taste and see that the Lord is good.

Focusing on God’s Word daily gives us greater clarity for living out the Christian life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Eye on Integrity is based on Luke 8:15.

Jesus said, “The seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.”

This statement was the end of a parable where Jesus talked about seed being planted on different kinds of soil. It’s a story about a farmer, but it is also a story about God’s Kingdom. The seed in the story is the word of God. Some seed fell on the path, but never became rooted. The devil came and took away the word from the hearts of those who represented the path. Other kinds of soil are more receptive at first, but along the way, influences such as wealth, pleasure, or worry keep certain people from growing in maturity. Still others believe for a while, but fall away in times of testing.

Jesus shows us how we can be the good soil, by being receptive to God’s Word, growing in it, and being fruitful in how we live out God’s word.

Walking in the way of God’s word is a virtue to embrace for our lives in the Year of Integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Eye On Integrity is based on Psalm 1, verses 1 through 3.

“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither-whatever they do prospers.”

We hear many different voices in a given day. The ones who influence us are the ones we believe. If we walk with the wise, we will grow wise. This Psalm is speaking to us about the productive blessing of delighting in God’s Word.

Meditation is the process by which the words of God leap off the pages of the Bible and find a place in our heart. If we feed on God’s Word today and consider it as a precious treasure, it will teach us the way of wisdom and lead us to a thriving faith in the Lord.

Walking in the delight of God’s Word is a virtue to embrace for our lives in the Year of Integrity.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Moment Of Celebration reflects on God’s guidance.

In Exodus 13:21, we learn how God guided and provided for the Israelites after they were released from slavery in Egypt.

“By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.”

The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire at night was an indication that God was present with the Israelites. God was making a way for them to move forward in His plan. Without the pillar of cloud in the day, the people would have baked in the desert sun. Without the fire by night, the people would have stumbled in the darkness. God has not left His people without tools to go forward in His plan. God’s Word is described as a lamp for our feet and a light for our path. God’s Presence serves as our shade to refresh us in the midst of circumstances that drain the soul. Psalm 121, verse 5 says, “The LORD watches over you-the LORD is your shade at your right hand.” With a teachable spirit, we can enjoy the journey of moving forward in God’s plan, under His presence, in light of His Word.

God’s guidance is a reason to be glad in the Year of Celebration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com