JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Focus, we take a look at the focus of the Lord to strengthen His devoted followers.

Second Chronicles 16:9 says, “For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.”

God looks for ways to build up His faithful followers. This is a contrast to the devil, who seeks to destroy us. Consider Job.

The LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” Satan responded by saying that if God would strike everything he has, he would surely curse God to his face.

Job persevered through his trials and came out of that dark season with a refined faith shining like gold. Our faith gets God’s attention.

The Focus of the Lord to strengthen His devoted followers is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus comes from Psalm 100, verses 4 and 5.

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.”

That reference to “all generations” indicates that our generation is included. God has always been faithful and will remain faithful to His word and to His people forever.

How refreshing it is to wake up in the morning and reflect on the goodness of God! We are invited to enter His presence with a heart of worship as we prepare for each day to walk in His love.

The goodness and faithfulness of the LORD are reasons to praise Him in the Year of Focus.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Focus, we take a look at prayers in the name of Jesus.

In John 14:13, Jesus said to His disciples, “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”

There is power in prayer. To pray in the name of Jesus means that we are approaching the throne of grace through Jesus, and praying for God’s will to be done.

This does not mean that Jesus fulfills every item on our wish list, but He does hear us and acts on the prayers of His followers to bring glory to God the Father.

Prayers in the name of Jesus are worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus comes from Psalm 100, verses 1 to 3.

“Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.”

As God’s created beings, we were made with value and dignity. We are loved by our Creator. There is no greater joy than the experience of knowing Him as Lord over our lives and walking by faith in Him.  We are blessed to have the assurance that we belong to Him. His ownership of our lives means that He leads us with His guiding hand and cares for us with His compassionate heart.

Jesus said in John 10:11, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” His sacrifice for us communicates unfailing love that we can trust forever.

The value of belonging to 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 the prayer of commitment from Jonah.

For a time, Jonah tried to run away from God’s preaching assignment in Nineveh, but through a storm, ended up in the belly of a big fish. That is when Jonah expressed his change of heart in this prayer, found in Jonah 2:7 to 9.

“When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, LORD, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple. Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them. But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed, I will make good. I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the LORD.’

Jonah was given a second chance to follow through on his assignment. When we lose our way, a conversation with God can bring us back to our senses and into the flow of God’s will for our lives.

The prayer of commitment from Jonah is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus comes from First Samuel 7:12.

Samuel took a stone and set it up naming it Ebenezer, saying, ‘Thus far the LORD has helped us.’ The term ‘Ebenezer’ means ‘stone of help.’

This happened after Israel defeated the Philistines in a battle. Before the battle began, the Israelites requested for Samuel to keep crying out to the LORD God for them. Samuel did cry out to the LORD on Israel’s behalf, and the LORD answered him.

In the spiritual battles of our lives, prayer is a righteous weapon against the spiritual forces of darkness. In prayer we seek God’s help for our battles. In our victories, we remember God as our source of help, and thank Him. The profound message of the Gospel is that we have victory through Christ.

God’s help is a reason to praise Him in the Year of Focus.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Focus, we take a look at the prayer pattern of Jesus.

Luke 5:16 records that Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

In the midst of a busy ministry schedule, Jesus made prayer a priority. Jesus kept coming back to feed on His relationship with His heavenly Father. That fellowship was meaningful and important to Him.

The demands of a busy schedule may potentially lure us away from solitary places of prayer. The example of Jesus shows us that no matter how fast our pace of life, making time with God is necessary for nourishing life’s most important relationship. Then, from the fullness of our relationship with God, we have His joy and love to share with others.

The prayer pattern of Jesus is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus comes from Acts 19:17b to 20.

“The name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done. A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly…..In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.”

This is an example of what can happen when the name of the Lord Jesus is held in high honor in our gatherings-confessions are made, lives are changed, idols fall, and God’s word spreads and grows in power.

The name of Jesus means, “The Lord saves.” So, when we call on His name, we are pleading for His forgiveness and asking Him to save us from our sins.

The honorable name 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 the value of honesty before God.

Proverbs 24:26 says, “An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.”

Honesty feeds intimacy with God. We can be real with Him. If we feel guilty about something we have done, that is an opportunity to make a confession to God.

If we are sad, we can pour out our tears to God. Psalm 56:8 tells us He puts our tears in a bottle.

If we are happy, we can sing to God from a place of joy and delight.

The Psalms are filled with a wide range of emotions as the writers pour out their hearts to God. Strong relationships are built on honesty, and that is also true in our relationship with God.

The value of honesty before God is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com