JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Focus, we take a look at the Prayer of Moses requesting God’s Presence.

It’s found in Exodus 33:15. God and Moses were having a heart-to-heart conversation. That is the kind of conversation that builds relationships.

God said to Moses, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Moses said to Him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us?”

Sometimes, in our ambition to make things happen, we can move ahead without inviting God into our plans. It is better to go slower with God than to rush ahead of Him. Proverbs 16:3 puts it this way. “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” The presence of God is the power source for productive plans.

The Prayer of Moses requesting God’s Presence is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK-Today’s Praise Focus comes from Deuteronomy 6:5.

Moses said to the Israelites, “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”

Jesus later referred to this statement as the greatest commandment in God’s law. Nothing can be more focused that living a life that loves God with all of our being.

Flowing out of that experience of loving God will be a life of humble service that helps other people in their times of need. We will look for ways to draw attention to the name of Jesus as the focus of our worship. We will keep our priorities aligned to God’s purposes, and seek first His Kingdom and righteousness.  Love grows in our heart as we meditate on the love that God has for us and receive the precious gift of His grace.

First John 4:19 says that “we love because he first loved us.”

The love of God 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 of Moses to know God’s ways and find favor with Him.

In Exodus 33:13, Moses said to the LORD, “If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways, so that I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.”

Moses had a yearning to know God more deeply on a personal level, and so he requested to know God’s ways. He was teachable. Having God’s favor was important to Moses. He was more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth. This is the attitude that God honors with His favor.

James 4:6 says, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”  And Psalm 25:9 says that “the LORD guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way”. A heart that seeks after God will find Him and experience the treasure of knowing Him.

The prayer of Moses to know God’s ways and find favor with Him is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus comes from Psalm 89, verses 1 and 2.

“I will sing of the LORD’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself.”

The Psalmnist describes God’s faithfulness surrounding Him. He is true to His Word. He fulfills His promises. His love never fails, and His love never ends. That is how we can sing of the LORD’s great love forever, by being in His grace and standing firm in the hope of the Gospel.

The faithfulness of God 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 a prayerful response to the reading of the Scriptures.

There is great value in reading the Bible with a prayerful response, because we are seeking God’s help to live out what we believe to be true.

For example, in John 6:35, Jesus made the statement, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

We can respond to this claim by Jesus with this prayer:

Dear Lord, Your grace is sufficient for my needs. Thank You for Your unfailing love. Thank You for your dependable Word. I need You every moment of every day. Nourish me and strengthen me daily to live out my faith in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

A Prayerful Response to the Reading of the Scriptures is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus comes from First John 3:1.

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”

The key to joyful praise is to take notice of the extravagant love of God for us. The life He gives us on this earth, the gift of Jesus to us, and the blessings He pours out on us are signs of the Father’s delight to bless us with good and perfect gifts.

Embracing God’s love for us shapes our identity! We recognize ourselves to be children of God. It’s not a question of whether God loves us or not. That truth is expressed in the Bible. The question before us is how will we respond to the reality of His love? That makes all the difference in how we think of God, how we view other people, and how we see ourselves.

The extravagant love of God 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 impact of devotions on our journey with Christ.

Time alone with God is what many Christians call devotions, where we study God’s Word and take time for prayer.

According to Psalm 1:2, “blessed is the one…whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither-whatever they do prospers.”

Time with God is a refreshing experience that gives us the opportunity to know Him better and learn from Him. This is quality time that prepares us to do God’s will with a thriving faith. Jesus said in John 15:5, “I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit. Apart from me you can do nothing.”

The impact of devotions on our journey with Christ is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus comes from Daniel 4:34.

One of the most powerful kings in the world came to a place of humility to acknowledge the greatness of God.

“I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation.”

One of the themes in the book of Daniel is that human kingdoms rise and fall, but God’s glorious Kingdom is coming and will never end. It will be a righteous Kingdom with no corruption. It will be a peaceful Kingdom with no war. And it will be a Heavenly Kingdom with no death.

Hebrews 12:28 says, “Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.”

God’s Unshakeable Kingdom 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 finding refuge in God in times of trouble.

David wrote in Psalm 59:16-“I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.”

David wrote this when King Saul had sent men to watch David’s house in order to take his life. In times of danger, David sought refuge in the Lord.

His grace is the safest place for our soul. In God’s strong, loving arms, we find comfort and peace with God. His strength is the theme of our songs. Isaiah 40:11 reveals this picture of God with His people. “He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart.”

Finding refuge in God in times of trouble is worth examining for a faith-focused life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus comes from Luke 5:29.

“Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors were eating with them.”

This came after Jesus approached Levi at the tax booth. He simply said to Levi, “Follow me,” and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.”

Tax collectors had tarnished reputations in the days of Jesus. They were labelled in the company of sinners. Levi was invited to go in a new direction to follow the way of Jesus. He abandoned his old way of life to embrace the new. And one of the first things he did to express his gratitude to Jesus was to hold a great banquet for Him. Expressions of praise can be demonstrated in different ways, and one of those ways is to show gratitude to Jesus and to honor His name in the presence of others.

The invitation of Jesus to follow Him is a reason to praise God in the Year of Focus.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com