JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Focus, we take a look at the constant prayers and fellowship of the early church.

The early church was a thriving church, and a praying church. They looked to God as their source of strength and saw His power when they were gathered together.

Just after Jesus ascended to heaven, the disciples of Jesus went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Acts 1:14 says, “They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.”

God worked through their prayers and fellowship to bring them to a place of unity with each other. He guided them in decision-making. And He prepared them for Pentecost, when they were filled with the Holy Spirit. God is responsive to our prayers to build unity in the church, guide us in His will, and empower us by His Holy Spirit.

The constant prayers and fellowship of the early church are worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus comes from Luke 18:41 to 43.

Jesus said to a blind man who was pleading for mercy, “What do you want me to do for you?”

He replied, “Lord, I want to see.”

Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you. Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.”

Whenever we turn to the Lord with faith, we gain spiritual vision, because we see Jesus for who He is.

Second Corinthians 4:4 tells us that the god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers. However, verse 6 says that “God, who said, ‘let light shine out of darkness’, made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.”

“The light that God gives us to see 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 importance of humility as it relates to prayer.

James 4:10 says, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”

God’s favor is with the cry of the contrite heart.

Jesus said that the tax collector who humbled himself before God was the one who was justified by God, not the Pharisee who looked down on the tax collector.

God says that the healing of a broken land requires people who are called by His name to humble themselves and pray and seek His face and turn from their wicked ways.

These are just some examples in the Bible of how God lifts up those who recognize our need for God’s grace.

The importance of humility as it relates to prayer is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus comes from John 14:15.

Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commands.”

The really big command that Jesus impressed on His disciples was to love one another. As we remain in the love of Jesus, He gives us the ability to do this in a way that honors God and makes a difference in people’s lives for the Gospel.

Jesus was NOT talking about legalistic religion when He called us to keep His commands. He was calling us to obey Him with a heart of love and worship-the right actions with the right motives with the right attitude. This is how the Gospel spreads contagiously and fills the atmosphere with praise for God.

Jesus said in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

A loving relationship with 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 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