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

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus comes from Psalm 96, verses 1 to 3.

“Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth. Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.”

It is always fulfilling to look at an Old Testament passage like this with Jesus in view.

Jesus is our source of salvation. We honor God’s name, encourage one another, and find edification for our soul when we praise the name of Jesus with music and proclaim His salvation day after day.

His death and resurrection are worth remembering and celebrating every day, because those events remind us of His miraculous love and power to save. Every part of the world needs to hear this life-saving message.

The marvelous deeds of Jesus are reasons to praise God in the Year of Focus.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

I hope you’re ready to sing! I’ve got lots of anthems in the playlist for this week including “10,000 Reasons”, “Christ Be Magnified”, “King of Kings”, “You’ve Already Won”, “Firm Foundation”, “What A Beautiful Name” and many more. God bless you as you bring your heart and lift your song!

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Focus, we take a look at the prayer of Moses for wisdom.

It’s found in Psalm 90, verse 12-“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

Moses was seeking to understand the limited days on earth so that he might use his days wisely. He acknowledged in this Psalm that our days come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures.

Everyday counts. If we remember that every moment matters to God, then we will learn to be more intentional with how we spend our time. We will look for opportunities to serve God, build relationships, and to be thankful to God for the gift of life.

Ephesians 5:15 encourages us to seize the day this way: “Be very careful then, how you live-not as unwise, but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”

The Prayer of Moses, seeking wisdom for his days on earth, is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus comes from Psalm 92, verses 1 and 2.

It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High, proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night.

One of the ways we can talk with God in a meaningful way is to sing praises to Him. Worship music is an instrument of joy for the soul. We can tell Jesus how much we love Him, and reflect on His holy attributes of love and faithfulness every day. Those reflections remind us of the goodness and greatness of our God.

The love and faithfulness of God 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 one thing that David requested from the LORD.

In Psalm 27:4, David wrote, “One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.”

In her song, “More Than Anything”, Natalie Grant offers this heartfelt prayer, seeking a relationship with Jesus as her precious treasure.

“Help me want the Healer, more than the healing.  Help me want the Savior, more than the saving. Help me want the Giver, more than the giving. Oh help me want You, Jesus, more than anything.”

The one thing that David requested from the LORD is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com