This week I was struck by a line in the song “Praise Before My Breakthrough” by Bryan & Katie Torwalt. They combine these lyrics: “I will bring my heart, I will lift my song.” Those are different actions. To me, one is about availability and dedication, coming into God’s presence. The other is about putting in the effort of singing praise—and that’s a beautiful act of worship that isn’t always easy. I put this playlist together especially wanting to call you to worship and encourage your heart to lift your song of praise to the Lord.

Song Title	Artist	Year
6AM
Clean Heart	Bryan & Katie Torwalt	2024
Sing Of Your Love	ELEVATION RHYTHM & Joe L Barnes	2025
Sing, Sing, Sing	Chris Tomlin	2008
Praise	Elevation Worship	2024
Abandoned (ft. Brandon Lake)	Benjamin William Hastings	2025
Praises (Be Lifted Up)	Bethel Music & Josh Baldwin	2016
Turn It To Praise	Seph Schlueter	2025
Music To My Ears	Tiffany Hudson	2023
Heart of Worship (ft. Matt Redman) [Live]	Michael W. Smith	2021
Remember	Bryan & Katie Torwalt	2019
Monday Morning Faith	SEU Worship	2023
Make Room	Meredith Andrews	2022
7AM
Sing His Praise Again (Oh My Soul) [Live]	Bethel Music & Jenn Johnson	2020
Gratitude	Brandon Lake	2020
Owe You Praise (ft. Chandler Moore)	Elevation Worship	2024
Made To Worship	Aodh√°n King	2024
Center (Live)	Bethel Music & Abbie Gamboa	2025
Simple Song	Elle Limebear	2025
Holy Forever (ft. CAIN)	Chris Tomlin	2024
Reason I Sing	Phil Wickham	2021
Who Else (ft. Abbie Gamboa)	Gateway Worship	2024
My Soul Sings	Delirious	2008
Praise Before My Breakthrough	Bryan & Katie Torwalt	2018
8AM
Raise a Hallelujah	Jonathan & Melissa Helser	2019
Might Get Loud	Elevation Worship	2021
This Beating Heart	Matt Redman	2013
Great Are You Lord	All Sons & Daughters	2014
How Great Is Our God	Chris Tomlin	2005
Bless God	Brooke Ligertwood	2023
I Believe (Live)	Jonathan & Melissa Helser	2021
Good Grace	Hillsong United	2019
Made For More (Live)	Josh Baldwin & Jenn Johnson	2024
All Praise (Sing Praise)	Matt Redman	2020
I Will Sing (Live)	Elevation Worship	2014
Just Jesus (Live)	David Leonard & Seacoast	2025
9AM
Worthy Of It All (Live)	CeCe Winans	2021
I Choose To Worship	Rend Collective	2020
If The Lord (Live)	Bethel Music & Zahriya Zachary	2024
I Will Exalt You ‚àû	Brooke Ligertwood	2024
O Praise The Name	Hillsong Worship	2016
Holy Hands (Live)	Paul McClure, Hannah McClure	2025
O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing (ft. Shane & Shane)	The Worship Initiative	2024
We Praise You	Brandon Lake	2020
Christ Be Magnified	Cody Carnes	2020
A Thousand Hallelujahs (Live)	Brooke Ligertwood	2022
Endless Alleluia (Live)	Bethel Music & Cory Asbury	2019

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus is found in Psalm 113, verses 1 to 3.

“Praise the LORD, you his servants: praise the name of the LORD. Let the name of the LORD be praised, both now and forevermore. From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised.”

Wherever we are in this world, wherever we are in human history, the LORD is worthy of our praise.  He is enthroned as the Holy One. As we focus on His glory and grace, we are drawn to a place of worship that fills our heart with gratitude and joy.

The worthiness of God is a reason to praise God in the Year of Focus.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Focus, we take a look at the prayer of David in Psalm 86:11.

“Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.”

In response to the faithfulness of God, David prayed for a heart that was faithful and loyal to Him. David did not want other priorities to interfere with his relationship with God. So, he spoke this prayer of dedication to honor God with his heart.

In the New Testament, God remembered David and spoke about him this way: “I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.”

The prayer of David, seeking God’s way, is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus is found in Psalm 66:16.

“Come and hear, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me.”

What has God done for you? In whatever way He has moved in your life, that becomes your testimony of praise. It could be deliverance from an addiction or the restoration of a strained relationship. Sometimes, God works in very personal ways to reveal His goodness and the power of His love.

The death and resurrection of Jesus was a display of God’s love for the whole world. It was a demonstration of how we can be saved from our sins and enjoy a bright future in the presence of God. This is good news for God’s people to share with others, so that they too may taste and see the Lord is good.

The goodness and graciousness of God are reasons to praise God in the Year of Focus.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Focus, we take a look at the prayer of Paul in Ephesians 1:17.

“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.”

This is a good prayer to set the tone for spiritual growth in the coming year. It is also a good prayer to be praying for our friends, family members, and loved ones. This reflects an open heart that is willing to seek God’s favor, listen to God’s Word, and follow God’s will. The purpose of hearing from God is to know Him better, and be a light for the Gospel.

The prayer of Paul, asking for wisdom and revelation, is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus is found in Colossians 1:18.

Speaking of Jesus, “He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.”

Our sin separated us from God, but in His love for the human race, God pursued us by sending Jesus into the world. His death on the cross paved the way for us to be restored to a peaceful relationship with God. This happens when we receive the precious gift of grace that Jesus offers us through that sacrifice. Jesus did not stay in the tomb. He rose from the dead, and is the head of the body that unites His church.

The supremacy of Jesus is a reason to praise God in the Year of Focus.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Focus, we take a look at a prayer of thanks from Psalm 118:21.

“I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation.”

Prayer involves more than simply offering our requests to God. In prayer, we have the opportunity to give Him thanks for answered prayer, His abundant blessings, and His unfailing love. Psalm 118 ends exactly as it begins with these words, “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.”

This prayer of thanks is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – 2026 is the Year of Focus at WJTL. Be listening for devotionals focused on Jesus, along with insights for growing in our relationship with Him in prayer and praise.

Today’s Praise Focus comes from Psalm 40, verse 3.

“He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him.”

When God changes our heart, He also changes our tune. We start to identify with songs that stir our soul to praise. The lyrics that move us are different.

David was the man who wrote this Psalm. He was a man after God’s own heart. As he used music as an instrument of praise, it would become a form of ministry to encourage others to trust in God.

The new song that God places in our mouth is a reason to praise God in the Year of Focus.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – 2026 is the Year of Focus at WJTL. Be listening for devotionals focused on Jesus, along with insights for growing in our relationship with Him in prayer and praise.

In our Prayer Focus today, we take a look at the prayer taught by Jesus in Matthew 6:12.

“Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”

There is freedom in confession as there is freedom in forgiveness. The power of God’s forgiveness is available to us when we sin against Him. He invites us to come into the light, to acknowledge what we have done, and ask for His grace to forgive and restore a right heart.

Knowing God’s forgiveness also gives us the power to forgive others who have done something wrong against us. It is the path forward to keep bitterness and hatred from taking root in our hearts.

The Prayer taught by Jesus, seeking forgiveness, is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com