JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Focus, we take a look at a prayer of commitment to the Lord.

Psalm 37:4 to 6 says, “Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.”

A relationship with God is the starting place to stand for a righteous cause. Jesus told us in John chapter 15 that our fruitfulness for the Gospel flows out of abiding in Him. When we experience a burden of our heart or have compassion for someone in a time of struggle, that could be God prompting us to activate our faith for a noble cause. Then, commit our plans to Him and see if He opens doors for us to serve in a productive way. Our journey of faith moves forward one step at a time as we walk with Jesus every day.

A prayer of commitment to the Lord is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus is found in Isaiah 25:1.

“LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago.”

The wonderful things that God does flow out of His perfect faithfulness. We can trust Him completely to follow through on His plans and promises. Long ago, He spoke through various prophets that the Messiah was coming. The world waited for hundreds of years after the prophecies were made. But eventually, Jesus was born, and fulfilled many prophecies about Him. He will fulfill more in the future. Jesus is the reason that we can live with hope and praise today.

The perfect faithfulness of God is a reason to praise Him in the Year of Focus.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus is found in Galatians 1:23 and 24.

The Apostle Paul was sharing his spiritual journey with the Galatian church. After his conversion, he was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that were in Christ.

Then he said, “They only heard the report: ‘The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.’ And they praised God because of me.

You might know of certain people whose lives were turned around dramatically by the Gospel. This is a reason for celebration. Not only is each convert saved and transformed, but their influence changes. Now, they are instruments of God’s grace to lead others to Jesus. That is what the Apostle Paul did. He was a living example of the miraculous power of God’s grace.

Changed Lives 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 King Hezekiah for deliverance.

Under threat from Assyria, King Hezekiah prayed to the Lord in Isaiah 37:18-“It is true, O Lord, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste all these peoples and their lands…..Now O Lord, deliver us from his hand so that all the kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O Lord, are God.”

God did come to the aid of King Hezekiah in response to his prayer.

When the circumstances of our lives leave us feeling insecure, that is the time to go to the firm foundation of our faith. The opposition we encounter may seem powerful and intimidating, but God is stronger. The Apostle Paul was aware of that reality. That is why he said, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Victory may have different outcomes, but they always lead to the glory of God.  Prayer is an effective way to fight our spiritual battles on our knees.

The Prayer of King Hezekiah for Deliverance is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus is found in Psalm 43, verses 3 and 4.

“Send me your light and your faithful care, let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell. Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God.”

These verses reflect a heart that is yearning to be near God and to celebrate Him. This is where God guides His followers-to a place of joy and delight in His presence.

God’s light of guidance and His faithful care of provision 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 David for intimacy with God.

It’s found in Psalm 63:1. “You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.”

David spoke these words while he was in the Desert of Judah. Without God in our lives, there is a void in our soul. We might be inclined to seek fulfillment in money, or pleasure, or in fame, or in human relationships. But those pursuits leave us as empty as a person in the desert chasing a mirage. The presence of Jesus nourishes our soul. His grace has a refreshing impact of forgiveness and freedom. He is the Bread of Life and the Living Water to fill our hunger and thirst for God.

David’s prayer for Intimacy with God is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus is found in Psalm 150, verses 1 and 2.

“Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness.”

It is fitting and good for God’s people to praise the LORD for who He is and what He has done.

He spoke the world into existence. He is our Creator. He is our Redeemer. He is our very best friend. His love never fails us. The cross is the evidence of the price He was willing to pay to forgive our sins and restore us to a relationship with Him.

His grace is an ever-present source of help in times of trouble. His face shines on His faithful followers with the favor of His peace.

God’s surpassing greatness and His acts of power 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 prayer with pure motives.

Jesus taught this in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6:5.

“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others.”

Then, Jesus directed our attention to the kind of prayer that God desires from us. “When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

Prayer is not for the purpose of being noticed by others, but for the purpose of seeking God with all of our heart. In a quiet conversation with God, we will find refreshment for our soul, and will see Him more clearly.

Prayer with Pure Motives is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus is found in Romans 11:33 to 36.

“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them? For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.”

This doxology was a response to the reality of God’s mercy. The wages of sin is death, and since we have all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory, we are deserving of judgment. But God has stepped in to release us from guilt, shame, and the punishment we deserve from those acts of disobedience. Instead of condemnation, we receive God’s favor and peace through faith in Jesus Christ. That is the marvelous mystery of the Gospel. A sinless Jesus was crucified so that guilty might be forgiven and set free. We may not fully fathom God’s love, but we can fully embrace Him and celebrate Him.

The richness of God’s wisdom and mercy 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 priority of prayer.

There is a very short verse in the Bible with a life-changing message.

First Thessalonians 5:17 simply says, “pray continually.”

This conveys the idea of staying connected with God throughout the day. Daniel was a man of God who prayed faithfully three times a day.  Jesus would spend time with His Heavenly Father very early in the morning. We can start our day with a faith focus by having a conversation with God. We can tell Him about our struggles and concerns. We can express our gratitude for His blessings. We can offer Him praise for who He is.

The conversation can keep going throughout the day as we think about God. Prayer expresses our dependency on His grace to do His will and honor His name. Prayer is vital communication that keeps our relationship with God vibrant.

The Priority of Prayer is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com